Belgium: Debate on extending abortion time limit remains stalled
In Belgium, voluntary interruption of pregnancy (abortion) has been legal for 36 years. Currently, the law allows abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy under certain strict conditions. However, a bill proposes to extend this period to 18 weeks to better adapt to the reality of women's lives.
For three years, a scientific and political consensus seems to have existed on this issue. The majority of experts and political parties believe that this change is necessary. According to them, it would help women who discover their pregnancy late and prevent them from having to travel abroad, particularly to the Netherlands, to obtain care.
Despite this general agreement, the situation is currently blocked at the political level. A Flemish party is firmly opposed to this reform, thus preventing the vote on the new law. For women's rights advocates, this situation is incomprehensible, and some even describe this deadlock as an "insult" to female citizens.
For the time being, the text remains pending and the debate continues to divide the Belgian political landscape. Health associations and experts hope that discussions will resume soon to evolve legislation that they consider outdated in relation to current medical and social needs.