EUROPE - In just 4 days, 142 parliamentarians from across Europe, including 56 MEPs signed a call to action voicing deep concern over the recent attempts of the Slovakian Parliament to tighten the current abortion law.
Main changes of the proposed law no.154 includes the prolongation of the waiting time for an abortion from 48 to 96 hours and restricts the information doctors are allowed to provide. It will allow religious organisations to prepare information handouts for women, replacing those previously prepared by the medical provider. Moreover, it will require two separate medical opinions from different medical institutions permitting the procedure. As a consequence, timely access to abortions and comprehensive information about the procedure could become significantly restricted.
On Monday (Sept. 14), the letter, urging the National Council ruling coalition to respect the fundamental rights of all Slovakians to make autonomous decisions about their own bodies and reproductive abilities, was sent to the Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová and the President of the Slovak Parliament Boris Kollár.
The letter reminds the Slovak parliament,
By prolonging the waiting period, the National Council document, no.154, stands in direct opposition with good medical practice, international human rights, and WHO recommendations.
Additionally, the changes infringe upon the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner’s obligations for the Member States to ensure access to abortion care and specifies that any refusal of care on grounds of religion or belief by a medical professional may never be allowed to jeopardise women’s right to access sexual and reproductive health services.
As such, the letter points out that,
The law would harm women’s equality, dignity, autonomy, and bodily integrity, restricting their access to information and their rights to private life and health.
The 142 signatories live up to their responsibilities to safeguard the rights and the well-being of their electorate. This includes recognising that sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to abortion, constitute essential health services and that current governments have a responsibility to protect.
Therefore, parliamentarians from 28 countries, urge the National Council ruling coalition to respect the fundamental rights of all Slovakians to make autonomous decisions about their own bodies and reproductive abilities, which are at the very core of their fundamental right to equality and to refrain from adopting the bill number 154.
See the full letter and relevant press coverage below.