Dutch Senate agrees to abolish consideration period for abortion

The Senate confirmed a bill on Tuesday. The Lower House had voted for this in January. It was a private member's bill from the PvdA (Social Democrats), GroenLinks (Green Left), VVD (Liberals) and D66 (Social Liberals). This is reported by Reformatorisch Dagblad.

These parties see the abolition of the five-day mandatory consideration time as a form of respect for women's free choice to decide about their bodies. They see the consideration time as paternalistic. The other parties, mainly the Christian groups, have brought up in the debate that in many fields, there is a mandatory reflection time, for instance, when you buy a house or even solar panels on your roof. In several Western European countries, there is a comparable period of consideration for abortion.

"Well-considered and careful"

In the 75 members' Senate, the bill was adopted with 57 votes in favour and 17 against. The Christian Democratic CDA was divided in its vote.

Currently, the five-day reflection period starts after a consultation with a doctor. It was intended to allow women to make a "well-considered and careful" decision about abortion. According to the initiators, however, women can take such a decision sooner. In consultation with a doctor, women will be allowed to decide for themselves how much time for reflection is necessary. This may differ per situation.

The amendment of the law is expected to take effect on 1 January 2023.

D66 party leader Jan Paternotte was delighted that the amendment had been passed. "Women are perfectly capable of working out for themselves, together with the doctor, how much time they need to make a decision. The government does not have to do that for the woman. This was the only statutory reflection period for a medical act, and it is good that this is now being removed."

VVD, PvdA and GroenLinks are also pleased. "This is an important step towards the freedom of women. A woman does not need a compulsory period of reflection to make a well-considered and careful decision about her own body," tweeted VVD party chairperson Sophie Hermans.

"Good that women can now decide for themselves, in consultation with their doctor, what they need", posted PvdA chair Attje Kuiken on Twitter. "What a special moment. More than two-thirds of the Upper House voted for our initiative law on the abortion consultation period", tweets GroenLinks MP Corinne Ellemeet.