Saxon State Women's Council calls for abortion to be removed from criminal law

According to the demands of the Saxon State Women's Council, abortions should become part of health care instead of the regulation in criminal law. “Women must be able to make self-determined decisions about their bodies and their lives,” said Grit Jandura, chairwoman of the Saxony State Women’s Council, according to a statement. “This also includes ensuring that women who decide to have an abortion have access to good advice and safe medical care.”

The fact that abortions are regulated in the criminal code contributes to stigmatization and does not do justice to the fact that it is about health care, Jandura continued.

Abortions are fundamentally illegal

In Germany, abortions are regulated in Section 218 of the Criminal Code. They are therefore fundamentally illegal, but not punishable within the first twelve weeks after advice. An abortion is legal if it has medical reasons - such as serious malformations of the fetus - as well as after rape and if there is a risk to the life, physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

According to the State Statistical Office, 5,250 abortions were registered among women living in Saxony last year, around 130 fewer than in 2024.