Spain has approved a draft bill which would eliminate the requirement for 16 and 17-year-old girls to have parental consent before terminating a pregnancy they may consider unwanted.

Per the aim of the new bill, it is focused on reforming a previous abortion law which was approved by the Popular Party in 2015. Government Spokeswoman, Isabel Rodriguez, disclosed that the bill represented “a new step forward for democracy”. According to statistics, if the bill is approved, Spain will become the first country in Europe to offer its workers paid menstrual leave.

The draft also noted that the Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill aims to give employees three days of sick leave for painful periods, and potentially extend it to five days for particularly intense or incapacitating pain. Regarding who is going to bear the cost of the sick leave, Spain authorities pointed out that the State Social Security System will pay for this sick leave, and will not be the responsibility of employers.

In Spain, according to an indigenous newspaper, voluntary abortion is allowed up until the 14th week of pregnancy. However, doctors in traditionally Roman Catholic Spain will still be able to sign up for a register of conscientious objectors. Equality Minister, Irene Montero, also revealed that government institutions have to “discard taboos, stigmas and guilt regarding women’s bodies”.

Other Components of the Bill

Abortions for 16 and 17-year-olds and sick leave for severe menstrual pain are all components of the new bill. Spain authorities have also said they will impose tighter restrictions on surrogacy, which is already banned in the country.

Additionally, the government has pledged to go one step further and ban advertisements for surrogacy agencies. It pointed out that surrogacy is a form of violence against women and categorises any type of forced pregnancy, abortion, sterilisation or contraception in the same way. The proposals in the Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill aim to boost the development of hormonal contraception for men, stressing that contraception is not the responsibility of women alone.

Women, A Priority for Spain Government

Spain’s left-wing coalition government came to power almost four years ago and has made women’s rights one of its key areas.

In the year 2020, the Spanish government announced its plans to change the law to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to seek an abortion without parental permission. Equality Minister, Irene Montero, said women should have the right to “decide about their bodies”. Prior to that, the then ruling government changed Spain’s abortion laws and mandated parental consent for those aged between 16 and 18.

More details about the new directive will soon be added.