The Norwegian Parliament has approved a law increasing the maximum time for a woman to terminate a pregnancy from 12 to 18 weeks.
This marks the first update to abortion legislation in 46 years. Under the new rules, the requirement for abortion committees to assess the validity of the procedure has been abolished. Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre called the decision historic:
Our abortion legislation now aligns with the realities of modern times. Nearly 50 years ago, changes were made by a single-vote margin. Today, they were passed with a clear majority.
The parliamentary debate lasted all day. Some lawmakers expressed concerns that extending the limit could lead to more late-term abortions, while others emphasized the importance of protecting women’s rights.
Inspired by Norway’s decision, Denmark is also planning to allow abortions up to the 18th week of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the Slovak Parliament recently rejected an attempt to include abortion rights in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
