This year, roughly 950 abortions were performed in the first three months in Rhineland-Palatinate, a notable decline compared to the previous year's total of 3,324, as per the Family Affairs Ministry. The year prior saw 2,962 abortions. The majority of these abortions were legally warranted due to counseling regulations, applicable to about 910 cases. The remaining 40 were due to valid medical reasons.
The government supports decriminalizing abortions, aligning with the expert commission's suggestion of declassifying abortions as a criminal act during the initial stages. They view safe and legal abortions as a fundamental human right for women. However, they argue that this is presently challenging due to the classification of abortion as a criminal offense under the Criminal Code.
As per Section 218 of the Criminal Code, abortions are generally considered unlawful, but exempt from punishment in the first 12 weeks if the woman has undergone counseling or in specific medical situations.
The debate over decriminalizing Section 218 has been ongoing. Recently, a commission recommended decriminalizing abortions during the initial stages of pregnancy. Michael Frisch, an AfD politician, expressed concern over the decrease in abortions, having previously questioned the numbers with the Family Affairs Ministry.
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Germany decriminalized abortions in 1975 with the introduction of the "Act on the Termination of Pregnancies." This law allows for abortions under specific circumstances, such as potential risks to the woman's health or severely malformed fetuses. Minors under 18 require consent from guardians, while they can have abortions without consent if they lack the capacity to give informed consent. Recent developments in Germany focus on issues like access to abortion, informed consent, and the rights of minors, part of a broader global trend towards decriminalizing abortion and guaranteeing safe and legal reproductive healthcare.
