Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – Coinciding with the International Day of Violence Against Women, November 25, the Institute for Family Policies (IFP) a report entitled: “Abortion in Spain: 23 years later (1985-2008)” in the Parliamentary Sub-commission on abortion.
In fact, 23 years have passed since the law legalizing abortion was first approved in Spain, on July 5, 1985. Since then, the number of abortions has sharply increased, now making it not only the leading cause of death in Spain, but also the main form of violence against women. Facing this reality and following the government's announcement that it intends to establish a new abortion law, in order to expand its availability, the Report has been drawn up in an effort to show in a concrete and meticulous manner, how this phenomena has evolved, its present situation, its characteristics, and its reality in comparison to the rest of the countries in the European Union.
The effects of the present abortion law would not be remedied through the establishment of a law that would widen its implementation, increasing the number of abortions, but through a removal of its root causes, says Eduardo Hertfelder, President of the Institute for Family Policies (IFP). Thus, he considers that in order to resolve the problem, what is needed is an authentic effort in favor of the woman and child, which would occur in a revision of the present law and the implementation of aid programs for pregnant women, an increase in public resources (organizations, etc.), and the development of an authentic policy in providing pregnant women with information.
According to the statistics provided by the IPF Report on abortion, it is a drama of extremely great magnitude, which is rapidly on the rise and has led to the current reality that 1 out of every 6 pregnancies ends in abortion. It's 100% increase in the last 10 years, makes Spain the UE27 country with the greatest increase rate. It has also become the leading cause of violence against women.
Spain is also, along with Greece, the only UE27 country that places “no time limit” for the alleged “psychological risk to the mother,” making abortion to be used with the same facility as a method of birth control.
Thus, the IPF proposes that the present law be revised on at least the following points: elimination of the supposed “psychological risk to the mother” as the main cause for the problem in the law; establish a waiting period for reflection of at least 1 week before being able to proceed with the abortion; that the abortion be authorized by 2 doctors of Social Security following an analysis and after receiving a psychological support from a center for pregnant mothers and/or Mothers Network; the implementation/creation of centers for pregnant women and/or Mothers Networks; the regulation of the informed consent in abortions, that would include information for the pregnant woman on the psychological and physical effects of abortion of the women. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2008)
