Abortion in Albania

Abortion in Albania was fully legalized on December 7, 1995.[1] Abortion can be performed on demand until the twelfth week of pregnancy.[2] Women must undergo counseling for a week prior to the procedure, and hospitals which perform abortions are not allowed to release information to the public regarding which women they have treated.[2]

During the government of Enver Hoxha, Albania had a natalist policy,[2] leading women to have abortions performed illegally or inducing them on their own. Eventually the country had the second-highest maternal mortality rate in all of Europe, and it was estimated that 50% of all pregnancies ended in an abortion.[2] Women found guilty of aborting their pregnancies would either be shamed socially by the Communist Party or sent to work in a reeducation program.[2]

In 1989 abortion was legalized in the case of rape and incest or if the patient was under the age of 16.[2] In 1991 abortion-by-application was introduced, allowing women to terminate their pregnancies for a variety of reasons if a board of medical practitioners agreed it was the best decision.[2] The 1995 law nullifies all previous laws.[1]

As of 2010, the abortion rate was 9.2 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Aborti – vrasje e fëmijës së palindur (in Albanian) Nr. 8045, data 07. 12. 1995, që është mbështetje e nenit të ligjit nr. 7491, të vitit 1991 "Për dispozitat kryesore kushtetuese" me propozimin e Këshillit të Ministrive, miratuar në Kuvendin Popullor të Shqipërisë.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Albania – ABORTION POLICY – United Nations
  3. ↑ "World Abortion Policies 2013". United Nations. 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2014.


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