Abortion centres in Belgium have argued that the high number of procedures currently carried out highlights the need for an abortion law that "keeps up with the times". Politically, there is still ambiguity over the abortion law.
Since 2019, a majority has been forming among elected MPs to reform the abortion law in Belgium amid criticism that it is dated. An independent expert committee published its recommendations for abortion law reform in 2023, which included a proposal to raise the abortion deadline from 12 to 18 weeks – the most contentious point of the abortion debate.
The Flemish Christian-democratic CD&V party agreed to raise the period within which abortion is allowed from 12 to 14 weeks. But some months later, the Belgian Green parties (Groen and Ecolo) put a new bill on the table to raise the abortion deadline from 12 to 18 weeks. However, there is still ambiguity over Belgium's abortion law.
LUNA, the umbrella organisation of Dutch-speaking abortion centres in Belgium, and the VUB Dilemma centres have now launched a campaign calling for a new abortion law, reigniting the debate.
They argued that, with more than 10,000 clients approaching them for an initial consultation and nearly 8,300 procedures carried out in 2023, the need for quality abortion care is greater than ever. This can only be guaranteed with a law that "keeps up with the times", they declared.
Anyone could be affected
In Belgium, abortion has been legal under certain conditions since 1990: in principle, a pregnancy must be terminated before the end of the 12th week after conception.
Those wishing to have an abortion are also subjected to a mandatory reflection period of six days between an initial consultation and effective treatment. There is also an obligation to discuss adoption options. A doctor or pregnant woman who fails to comply risks a fine or even imprisonment.
The organisations joined the ranks of others such as Doctors of the World in calling for an extension of the abortion deadline to 18 weeks. They also want to abolish the mandatory six-day waiting period, which they argue is patronising. "Most women have thought very carefully about the abortion before going to a centre," they stated.
They argued that these recommendations reflect the needs of the sector, which is "more than ever confronted with the limitations of the current abortion law." Both organisations stressed that a change in law will not lead to more abortions, but will help more women when needed.
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The new campaign also advocates accessible and affordable contraception for women as well as men, stressing that cost should not be an obstacle in this, regardless of age. It highlights that an unplanned pregnancy could happen to anyone.
"One in five women in Belgium chooses to have an abortion at some point in her life. It is a persistent myth that it is mostly teenage girls, people on the fringes of society and singles who have unplanned pregnancies." Only 1% of the clients of Dutch-speaking abortion centres are under 18.
'End opposition'
In the wake of the campaign's launch, the liberal party Open Vld has also spoken out in favour of extending the abortion deadline from 12 to 18 weeks as well as abolishing the six-day waiting period.
Party chair Tom Ongena and MP Katja Gabriëls told Belga News Agency that they hope the Christian Democratic Party CD&V will give up its opposition to this fundamental right for women and "come to the right understanding when seeing these figures."
They also called for the right to abortion to be enshrined in the constitution to avoid what happened in the United States and Poland, where rights are being restricted.
