The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association welcomes the parties’ declarations of intent in their clear women’s rights tendency. “We expect politicians to have the courage to at least strengthen pregnant women’s right to self-determination in the first months of pregnancy as quickly as possible. Ultimately, this also depends on the willingness of medicine and medical professionals to address this issue without fear. At present, the situation of unintentionally pregnant women who want to have an abortion continues to deteriorate,” explains Erwin Kress, spokesperson for the board of the Humanist Association of Germany.
The Expert Commission has left no doubt about this: The punishability of abortions in accordance with Section 218 of the German Criminal Code should be abolished for the “early phase” of pregnancy. However, the Commission’s report also makes it clear that at least “in the last third”, the protection of the life of the fetus must be taken into account when weighing up the options in accordance with the constitution. The work of the nine professors and the many expert opinions disappear into the filing cabinets for the time being.
The FDP does not want to pursue the issue any further, probably for fear of the CDU/CSU threatening to take the matter to the Federal Constitutional Court again if early abortion is legalized. Although the SPD’s position paper envisages a longer period for approval, for example up to the 20th or 24th week, and emphasizes that women’s rights must be reconciled “with the protection of the life of the unborn child”, it fails to give any consideration to such an arrangement. The Greens’ proposal includes the abolition of unlawfulness and the obligation to consult within the existing 12-week regulation.
On September 28, 2024, the international Safe Abortion Day will take place, preceded by a week of action for the abolition of § 218 StGB, especially in Berlin with the demonstration against the “March for Life” of anti-abortion activists on September 21, 2024. The Humanist Association of Germany is against the stigmatization of women through criminal law. However, it is calling for new, long-term strategies and wants to contribute to the formulation of proposals and drafts for new regulations on abortion, which can also be discussed controversially from different perspectives. “In the Bundestag, a fundamental change in the law outside of criminal law can only take place on the basis of convincing proposals that are capable of reaching a consensus,” emphasizes Gita Neumann, Federal Representative for Medical Ethics of the Humanist Association of Germany.
However, this would first require the many unanswered questions to be clearly addressed.
To this end, the association, together with the Humanist Academy of Germany, invites you to an admission-free
