Macedonia’s Constitutional Court has rejected a challenge to the changed law on terminations, adopted in September 2013, saying the changes do not prohibit abortion but only regulate the procedures. Several NGOs, among them ASTRA member H.E.R.A., had submitted complaints to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the new requirements put undue physical, administrative and time-related pressure on pregnant women. The changes oblige women to file requests for abortions, attend counselling, inform “spouses” of their intention and meet a gynaecologist. The change to the law further prohibits women from having a second abortion within a year.

One of the judges said that the new Law is not against the Constitution and that Republic of Macedonia has specific power of attorney to protect the children and the motherhood “I am against the abortion. For me the abortion is not exclusive right of the mother. It concerns the father, the broader family and the society itself. We should protect the unborn children, which life starts from conception”.

H.E.R.A. held a press conference on the issue and published an NGO reaction to this Court statement – read it HERE.

For more details click go to Balkan Insight.