The joint declaration was issued by Katrin Raczynski, board member of the HVD Bundesverband. The HVD is a member of Humanists International. The occasion was the 55th session of the Human Rights Council for the adoption of the German report on the Universal Periodic Review, a regular mutual review of the human rights records of all 193 UN member states.
In the statement, the HVD and Humanists International welcomed Germany’s declared intention to strengthen women’s right to self-determination and to create safe access to abortion, but also emphasized the need for progress.
What is needed is a decriminalization of abortion. The German Criminal Code currently stipulates that abortion is punishable by up to three years in prison. However, abortion remains exempt from punishment in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, provided that certain conditions are met, such as mandatory counseling for the pregnant woman. A government commission is currently examining “regulations for abortion outside the penal code”.
“We remind the government that abortion is not a crime, but a right of women that is protected by a number of international human rights instruments,” says Katrin Raczynski.
The HVD has long been a staunch advocate for the destigmatization and decriminalization of abortion. Existing regulations on time limits, counseling and indications must be reviewed and regulated outside of criminal law. The self-determination of women must not be played off against the need to protect the unborn child. The detailed position of the HVD can be found in the brochure “Zur Neuregelung von Schwangerschaftsabbrüchen“.
