Human autonomy is a fundamental human entitlement; decriminalizing abortion
In Soest, Westphalia, Pastor Birgit Reiche, Managing Director of Women's Help in Westphalia e.V., has called for a significant shift in Germany's abortion laws. Reiche advocates for the removal of § 218 from the Criminal Code, a move that could lead to abortions being recognized as part of medical basic care and financed by health insurance companies.
This call for action is part of a larger movement advocating for abortions to be decriminalized and regulated outside the Criminal Code. The Alliance for Sexual Self-Determination, the German Women's Council, and the Evangelical Women in Germany are among the groups pushing for this reform.
The current regulation of abortion according to § 218 StGB is increasingly criticized. Supply gaps, especially in rural regions, make access to medically safe abortions difficult. The ELSA study shows that many affected people have difficulty obtaining reliable information and local supply for abortions.
Reiche's call is accompanied by the belief that self-determination over one's own body is a basic human right, a sentiment echoed by the German Women's Council. The call for action emphasizes the need for a time limit solution outside the criminal code, accompanied by a legal claim to qualified, barrier-free counseling and comprehensive medical care.
The German Medical Assembly has spoken out in favor of decriminalization of abortions. However, the path towards reform remains contentious in Germany, amidst societal and political divisions. The country's balancing act involves respecting constitutional protections of unborn life and women's reproductive rights.
Political debates continue without a definitive shift towards full decriminalization yet, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the issue in the German socio-political context. This is mirrored in international trends, with some countries, like Sweden, rolling back abortion provisions, while others, such as South Korea, New Zealand, Colombia, and Mexico, are liberalizing their abortion access.
In Germany, the Evangelical Women's Help in Westphalia e.V. (EFHiW), a religiously affiliated organization traditionally engaged in women's support, has joined wider alliances calling for reform of the abortion laws. These groups argue for the decriminalization of abortion to remove the legal burdens and stigmatization faced by women seeking abortions.
The ongoing debate and calls for reform, including from the EFHiW and other alliances advocating for decriminalization or liberalization of abortion laws, suggest a need for a non-discriminatory, comprehensive, and law-based regulation of abortion in Germany. The ban by the Christian Hospital Lippstadt against its chief physician, Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Volz, to perform abortions for medical reasons, is currently fueling discussions.
As of 2025, abortion remains partially criminalized in Germany under the current legal framework, but the call for reform remains strong. The federal government is urged to take concrete steps towards reforming the law regarding abortions, aligning with broader global trends of liberalizing abortion access.
- Pastor Birgit Reiche, along with organizations like the Alliance for Sexual Self-Determination and the German Women's Council, are advocating for the removal of § 218 from Germany's Criminal Code, aiming to decriminalize abortions and recognize them as part of medical basic care.
- The German Medical Assembly and Evangelical Women in Germany have expressed support for decriminalizing abortions, believing it crucial to uphold the basic human right of self-determination over one's own body.
- International trends show a mix of countries rolling back abortion provisions and others liberalizing their access, with the ongoing debate in Germany mirroring this complexity. For instance, while Sweden is tightening its abortion laws, countries like South Korea, New Zealand, Colombia, and Mexico are making theirs more accessible.
- The call for reform in Germany's abortion laws is intensifying, fueled by issues like the ban at the Christian Hospital Lippstadt and the ongoing support from organizations such as the Evangelical Women's Help in Westphalia e.V. These groups push for a non-discriminatory, comprehensive, and law-based regulation of abortion in line with global trends.
