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Berlin – The Green Party parliamentary group wants to legalize abortion up to the 12th week in the coming months and establish alternative regulations outside of the penal code. “It is urgently time to change the law on abortion – Section 218 of the penal code,” says a resolution passed by the parliamentary group yesterday.

The alternative regulation of abortions should “focus on the self-determination of the pregnant woman and her care,” according to the parliamentary group. This should also reduce the stigmatization of those affected, but also of doctors. “The existing criminalization of doctors is no longer acceptable,” the parliamentary group continued.

In the future regulation of abortions, the parliamentary group wants to be guided by the recommendations of the “Commission on Reproductive Self-Determination and Reproductive Medicine”.

In addition to immunity from prosecution up to the 12th week of pregnancy, a right to counseling is to be established in the future. This would eliminate the current practice of requiring counseling at least three days before the abortion. The counseling can then be used at the request of the pregnant woman, and it should be free of charge and open to all outcomes.

In addition, the group demands that “practical learning of all methods of abortion must be an integral part of specialist training in gynecology and obstetrics.”

The care should be barrier-free and easily accessible. The abortion should also be carried out using the desired and medically recommended method. The cost of currently around 600 euros should be included in the standard care provided by statutory health insurance (GKV).

The group also demands that prevention work on unwanted pregnancy be improved. In addition to training, the group also demands free access to “medically prescribed contraceptives for everyone over the age of 22”.

The SPD faction had already passed a similar resolution before the parliamentary summer recess. It also called for abortions to be exempt from punishment, but without specifying a specific deadline. It said: “We are in favor of a deadline that is linked to the fetus’ ability to survive outside the uterus with sufficient time in between.” As soon as there is a chance of survival outside the womb in an individual case, abortion should be prohibited in principle. The Social Democrats also propose providing counseling for unwanted pregnancies.

After the summer break, it remains unclear how the FDP parliamentary group will position itself on the issue. So far, it has been rather negative towards the proposals presented by the “Commission on Reproductive Self-Determination and Reproductive Medicine” set up by the federal government in April 2024.

Most recently, several women’s associations and the federal states have supported the demand for a swift revision of legal requirements for abortion. Free and voluntary counseling is also part of this, demanded the Conference of Ministers for Equal Opportunities and Women in mid-June. © bee/aerzteblatt.de