A compromise on an advertising ban on abortions that was labouriously wrung out between Germany’s coalition partners is expected to be approved on Wednesday by the cabinet in Berlin.
The agreement between the conservative bloc led by Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Social Democrats (SPD) would allow pregnant women to inform themselves more easily than before about abortion options.
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Doctors and clinics would also be allowed to provide information about the fact that they perform abortions, currently illegal under German law.
For further information, however, women must refer to the authorities, counselling centres and medical associations.
There will also be central lists with doctors and hospitals to which pregnant women can turn.
The controversial section of German law, paragraph 219a, which criminalises “advertising” for abortions, remains in place, however is supplemented by new information options under the compromise.
The SPD and opposition parties had wanted to delete the paragraph from the penal code altogether; however Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their more conservative Bavarian allies in the Christian Social Union (CSU) refused.
A further compromise is that in the future contraceptive pills will be paid for health insurance until a woman’s 22nd birthday and not, as before, until the 20th birthday. (NAN)
