The traffic light coalition is apparently looking for ways to overturn the advertising ban on abortions.
The Union positions itself strictly against it.
Berlin - It is a hot topic worldwide: abortions.
The pros and cons are hotly debated in the United States, and Texas is currently debating an extremely rigid abortion law that has come into force.
In Mexico, the Constitutional Court ruled a total ban on abortion unconstitutional.
In Poland, protesters take to the streets against an abortion ban.
In Germany, too, the discussion about abortion could flare up again.
Specifically, it is about the controversial paragraph “219a - Advertising for the termination of pregnancy” in the Criminal Code (StGB).
Although the federal government reformed the paragraph in 2019, doctors and clinics have since been allowed to indicate that they are performing abortions.
But for additional information, such as how the abortions are performed, they still need to refer to official bodies.
Traffic light parties want to overturn advertising ban for abortions: No information for women in conflict situations
According to information from
Bild am Sonntag
, the SPD, FDP and Greens are currently discussing how they can delete Paragraph 219a of the Criminal Code.
The reason for the move is that the advertising ban makes it almost impossible for women in serious conflict situations to find out about abortions.
"Because doctors are not allowed to disclose details about the procedure, prices and method, there is a risk that the women affected will fall into the wrong hands and be exploited," quoted the newspaper Kristina Hänel.
The gynecologist has achieved a certain fame in Germany because she provided information about abortions on her website and was therefore sentenced to a fine.
Traffic light parties want to overturn advertising bans for abortions: The wrong image is conveyed to women
Hänel also criticizes the wrong image of women being conveyed: "These are not naive dummies sitting in my practice, but rather women who already have several children, live below the poverty line and cannot afford another child."
Efforts have already been made in the past to abolish Section 219a of the Criminal Code.
But so far the conservative camp has successfully opposed it.
In 2019, for example, a vote on this in the Bundestag, which with a high degree of probability would have been successful, was prevented by the government coalition made up of the Union and the SPD.
Traffic light parties want to overturn advertising ban for abortions: Not to do with the CSU
Even today, the Union is strictly against abolition.
"The advertising ban is intended to prevent information and business interests from being mixed up," says CDU member Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker of
Bild am Sonntag
.
“I'm not surprised that the traffic light wants to delete Paragraph 219a.
The unborn child does not seem to play a role. ”Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder has also declared that the CSU cannot do away with Paragraph 219a of the Criminal Code.
Traffic light parties want to overturn advertising ban for abortions: Fewer abortions in the past year
Overall, the number of abortions in Germany has been falling for years.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 100,000 abortions were reported in 2020.
In 2010 there were 110,400 abortions.
Almost all terminations were made in the past year according to the so-called advice regulation.
Since 1995, abortion has remained unpunished in the first twelve weeks if the woman takes advice beforehand.
The remaining four percent had medical reasons or the women were victims of a sex crime.