Published: Less than 50 min ago
Danish girls between the ages of 15 and 17 will now be allowed to have an abortion without parental consent, according to the country’s equality minister Marie Bjerre.
The decision is announced on the same day that free abortion celebrates 50 years in Denmark.
“The government wants young women to be able to decide over their own bodies and their own lives. They should be able to decide for themselves whether they want to have an abortion,” writes the minister in a comment to Ritzau.
It is not yet clear when the changes will come into effect.
Today, the age limit for free abortion is 18 in Denmark. But in some cases, abortion can be allowed without parental consent.
Both experts and parties from both blocs have suggested lowering the age limit.
But in April, Interior and Health Minister Sophie Løhde announced that the government would wait for recommendations from the ethics council – expected to come this summer.
The limit for free abortion has not changed since Denmark became one of the first countries to introduce free abortion in 1973.
In Sweden, there is no age limit for having an abortion.