The Italian parliament has passed a law granting anti-abortion activists access to consultation clinics. The new measure by the far-right government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is causing a lot of outrage.
After the ‘Camera dei deputati’, the House of Representatives, approved the law last week, the Senate also gave the green light on Tuesday evening. This will allow groups “with qualified experience in maternity and maternity care” to access women considering abortion at public health clinics.
The government claims the amendment complements the original purpose of the 1978 law legalizing abortion. Clinics could now better collaborate with such activists to support motherhood and better inform patients, it sounds.
In several regions governed by right-wing politicians, ‘pro-life activists’ already had access to consultation clinics. This new measure could now be expanded at a national level.
“Back in time”
Elly Schlein, chairman of the Democratic Party (PD), the main opposition party, described the new law as a “major attack against women’s freedom.” The Five Star Movement believes that Italy has “chosen to take a step back in time”.
Prime Minister Meloni has repeatedly stated that she has no intention of changing the abortion law, known as Law 194. However, her opponents claim that she wants to make it more difficult to have an abortion.
It is already difficult to get an abortion in Italy, because a large number of gynecologists refuse the procedure for religious or moral reasons.
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Tags: Italy passes hotly controversial law antiabortion activists access consultation clinics
