THE TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY TODAY IN FRANCE SOMETIMES FORCES WOMEN TO GO ABROAD.

LAW

The "Veil" law has been voted on January the 17th of 1975: it allows any woman to interrupt her pregnancy. This text has been voted for 5 years only, but an other law established in 1979 made it definitive..

The abortion can be carried out only if the intervention is made before the end of the tenth week of the pregnancy. In November 2001, a government bill has been presented and accepted by the French parliament : the lengthening is now 12 weeks of pregnancy.

FIGURES

In France, the number of abortions is quite important : today, the termination of pregnancy carried out inside the country is about 220.000 per year. Moreover, abortions on young women is an important problem because out of 10.000 under eighteen girls, 6.000 undergo the termination of pregnancy.

MIGRATIONS

The law of 2001 has been considered as a huge advance, but today, it seems to be insufficient when we realize the number of women who exceed the 12 weeks delay and who have to go abroad where abortion is sometimes allowed until the 5th month*. Indeed, we value that the number of French women going abroad (Holland, England, Spain) to put an end to their pregnancy is about 5.000 per year.

* The termination of pregnancy existed before the "Veil" law; the MFPF ("Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial) began to organize trips to England for women who wanted to have an abortion.

OTHER COUNTRIES

France is not the only country which allows abortion. Most of the other developed countries have voted laws to allow it. Ireland is the only exception which is always resisting in spite of international pressure. The variability of legal periods for abortion, shows the fragility and the arbitrary of the law about abortion. Here are some examples of periodes of time authorized for some countries :

Sources:

http://fsecaen.luttes-etudiantes.com/actualite/actions/ivg.htm
http://www.bibliorama.com/docs/avorter.htm

Sophie B. et Anne Sophie C.

 

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