Safe Abortion Day: Calls for protection zones and legal reforms

On the occasion of international Safe Abortion Day, Austrian Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner has advocated for unrestricted access to abortion and the implementation of nationwide protection zones. Holzleitner stated that women should not face intimidation or harassment by opponents near clinics or counseling centers. She noted that while Vienna has a functioning model for protection zones, the federal government is currently working on a regulation to establish these zones across all of Austria to ensure women's right to self-determination.

In Germany, the day was also marked by various social and political discussions. In the Bundestag, Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig presented a bill to increase penalties for the use of knockout drops during sexual assaults, proposing a five-year prison sentence instead of the current two years.