Progressief Nederland proposes removing abortion from Dutch Criminal Code

Lisa Vliegenthart, a Member of Parliament for the Progressief Nederland (PRO) party, has submitted a legislative proposal to remove abortion from the Dutch Criminal Code. The initiative seeks to reclassify abortion as healthcare rather than a criminal matter, arguing that it should be governed by healthcare laws instead of the penal code.

Under current law, performing an abortion is a criminal offense unless specific exceptions are met, such as the fetus being under 24 weeks old and the procedure occurring in a licensed clinic or hospital. Vliegenthart emphasizes that the proposal aims to maintain existing quality and safety standards while ensuring women's autonomy. The party views this as a necessary step to protect reproductive rights against increasing pressures seen in other regions, with long-term goals including enshrining the right to abortion in the Constitution.