Row brewing over new abortion law in the Valencia region

10.07.2010 Women who go for a proceedure are being given iages of foetuses

A political row is breaking out following the decision of the PP controlled Valencia regional government to present women who present themselves for an abortion to be given 3D images of foetuses. Officially the women receive ‘ethical advice’ and ‘visual information on the formation of life’.

The Ministry for Equality has described the initiative as ‘coercive’ and the Department of Health assessors are now investigating whether it could be illegal.

It follows the changes in the abortion law in Spain which came into effect this week, and which give free abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy. Under the new law, when a woman goes for an abortion, she is given an envelope with information described as ‘simple, clear and objective’ and then given three days to be sure of her decision before any procedure is carried out.

The new law is also being challenged by the Partido Popular in the Constitutional Court, and other PP controlled regions have expressed opposition to the legislation, while the party headquarters has sent out instructions for the law to be applied while the Constitutional Court ruling is awaited.