Enlarge image
Opponents of abortion demonstrate in Augsburg
Photo: IMAGO/Alexander Pohl / IMAGO/aal.photo
The abolition of the so-called advertising paragraphs for abortions is to be decided in the Bundestag.
The traffic light coalition is apparently already planning the next step against abortion opponents.
SPD, Greens and FDP want to stop protests by anti-abortionists in front of counseling centers.
"The path to the consultation must not be a gauntlet," said the parliamentary director of the SPD parliamentary group, Katja Mast, the newspapers of the Funke media group (Friday editions).
For women in pregnancy conflicts, "these supposed demonstrations are simply unbearable," added the SPD politician.
It cannot be the case that pressure is being exerted on women through apparent vigils in this difficult situation.
"You're on your way to a counseling center because it's required by law," said Mast.
"You can't choose that."
After long debates, the traffic light coalition wants to remove the controversial paragraph 219a from the penal code.
This Friday, the Bundestag in Berlin will discuss corresponding plans.
The paragraph regulates the ban on advertising for abortions.
So far, doctors have not been allowed to publicly offer detailed information about such interventions without fear of prosecution.
That should change.
Advertising ban for abortions "out of date"
From the point of view of Greens parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann, the so-called advertising ban for abortions is "out of date".
Haßelmann described this as "a step that is overdue in terms of women's and social policy".
"We are thus enabling urgently needed factual and medical information on abortion for women in need," said Hasselmann.
Aborting is never an easy or careless decision.
"In such a situation, access to good advice and information is not just a fundamental right, but a core element of self-determination over one's own body." This also helps women to find a suitable doctor for the procedure more easily.
The deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, Dirk Wiese, also emphasized the importance of the project.
»The treating physicians are the most important contact persons for the women and families affected.
An impending criminal liability of specialist staff is the wrong approach," said Wiese.
The SPD MP pointed out that "misleading or repulsive advertising for all types of abortions will continue to be prohibited" in the future.
The coalition wants to achieve this by amending the Medicines Advertising Act, which regulates misleading advertising for medical products.
In the future, it will also record abortions that are not medically advised.
mfh/AFP/dpa
