Norway votes to allow abortions past 12 weeks
The Norwegian Storting during its opening. Photo AFP, NTB, Torstein Bøe
Northern Europe
Before the vote, pro-life organisations and politicians pleaded for the protection of life. A petition to oppose the new measure received over 50,000 signatures. Yet, these failed to sway the Norwegian parliament (the Storting) in their acceptance to increase the abortion limit to 18 weeks.
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Up until now, abortions were allowed in Norway for up to 12 weeks. In addition to allowing abortions up to 18 weeks, the Storting also voted that twin miscarriages can be "self-determined" up to the eighteenth week. Dagen further reports that healthcare professionals have the right to refuse an abortion, known as a conscience clause. When it comes to abortion boards or tribunals, some will be closed down to form new ones that will manage abortions in exceptional cases. Boards will now be formed to accommodate abortions between 18 to 22 weeks.
Tribunals must now consist of a female majority, including a doctor, and have the ability to provide "legal competence." Pregnant women seeking an abortion have the right to choose whether they want to go before that tribunal.
The newly passed bill also includes a clause on late-term abortions, Dagen noted in its recent report. When referring women to a late-term abortion regarding foetal abnormalities, the tribunal has a responsibility to determine the care before and after birth.
It is the first time in almost fifty years that the Norwegian parliament has revisited its abortion laws, according to AP. However, health professionals have long relaxed that limit, as several have had terminations in hospitals after the 12-week mark.
According to Norwegian Health Minister Jan Christian, the bill reflects the current situation. When women want to have an abortion after 12 weeks, it is rare for the hospitals to refuse their request, he says to the Associated Press.
Maria Elisabeth Selbekk has a different perspective. She works as an assistant general secretary at the pro-life organisation, Menneskeverd and is aware that hospitals allowed abortions past 12 weeks for many women. However, what is not spoken about, she says, is that at least 10 to 15 percent of women do not go through with an abortion. Selbekk said to CNE just before the law's passage that the law's approval would be a setback for pro-life organisations across the country.
Despite disappointment voiced from those fighting for life, Menneskeverd collected signatures for a petition that opposed the 18-week extension. Over 57,785 have signed the document, and it has now been submitted to the nation's health committee for review.
In the Norwegian parliament, the bill's passage led to a years-long debate.
For a proposal to be successful, there needs to be an 85 out of a 169-member majority in the Storting. Dagen reported previously that the Conservative Party and the Progressive Party were granted permission to vote according to their conscience.
Several said that they would vote to liberalise the abortion law. Although the country's Center party opposed the recent changes, it had given its members permission to vote on their own.
The liberal Venstre party, the author of the proposal, initially submitted their request for review in 2022, as previously reported by CNE. Although the party attempted to steamroll their proposal before the committee's conclusions, the largest party in Norway (the Labour Party) vetoed it. The Labour party said they wanted to have the review's assessment published before deciding. In 2023, the committee announced their results.
Those involved liberalising the nation's abortion law from 12 to 18 weeks, along with a couple of caveats. Doctors could opt out of those abortions if they wanted to through conscience clauses. Post-abortion support would also be offered if needed, CNE said.
Despite its legalisation in 1978, abortions remained low for several years. However, that changed in 2023 when almost 13,000 abortions were performed within that year, a nearly 7 per cent increase from 2022.
Approximately eight out of ten abortions take place in the ninth week, and the majority (nine out of ten) are carried out through medication, according to AP.
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