Medical Professionals' Commemoration Against Fetal Termination
Germany Moves Towards Easing Abortion Rules as Medical Association Advocates for Legal Reform
In a significant development, the German Medical Assembly has called for a relaxation of Germany's abortion laws, with a resolution passed on Thursday in Leipzig to regulate abortions in the first twelve weeks outside the Criminal Code. Previous reports from the "German Medical Journal" and the "Medical Newspaper" have highlighted this stance.
The interest group seeks to strengthen the supply of and legal certainty for physicians performing abortions, while maintaining the mandatory counseling for unwanted pregnancies. According to the German Medical Association, the counseling presents an opportunity to protect both the woman and the unborn life.
However, politically, such a step is not currently planned. The Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens had previously advocated for this change, but failed to gain the necessary majority in the Bundestag prior to the February federal election.
Abortion in Germany is currently illegal under Section 218 of the Criminal Code, though it is not prosecuted under certain conditions, such as counseling beforehand and in cases of medical necessity or rape. Critics argue that the current regulations criminalize abortion, create barriers to access high-quality care, and stigmatize those seeking and providing reproductive healthcare services.
The recent international and national criticism of Germany's abortion laws, particularly with regard to their impact on marginalized groups and equitable access to reproductive healthcare, highlights the need for reform. Human rights organizations have called for the decriminalization of abortion and for the laws to align with international human rights standards, making the process more accessible and less burdensome.
Campaigns to make abortion "free, legal, and accessible everywhere" continue to gain momentum, although as of June 2025, no concrete legislative changes have been enacted to fully decriminalize abortion within the first twelve weeks. The future direction of abortion laws in Germany depends on political will and ongoing pressure from civil society and international human rights bodies.
The German Medical Association advocates for legal reform of the country's abortion laws, seeking to regulate abortions in the first twelve weeks outside the Criminal Code. This move aligns with positions previously expressed in the "German Medical Journal" and the "Medical Newspaper."
The proposed changes aim to strengthen the supply of and legal certainty for physicians performing abortions while maintaining mandatory counseling for unwanted pregnancies. The association believes this counseling protects both the woman and the unborn life.
Despite the support from the German Medical Association, the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens have failed to gain the necessary majority in the Bundestag for this change, rendering it politically unviable at present.
Critics argue that the current regulations in Germany, which criminalize abortion under Section 218 of the Criminal Code, create barriers to access high-quality care and stigmatize those seeking and providing reproductive healthcare services. Human rights organizations call for the decriminalization of abortion, aligning the laws with international human rights standards and making the process more accessible.
