Portugal Sets Referendum to Legalize Abortions
October 20, 2006
Portugal’s parliament has agreed to call a national referendum to legalize abortion care up to the 10th week of pregnancy.
Currently Portugal has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, with the procedure only allowed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape, fetal malformation, or if a mother’s health is at risk.
Each year in Portugal thousands of women are hospitalized due to complications from botched backstreet abortions.