The Danish coalition government announced today that it intends to lower the age limit for adolescent girls to terminate a pregnancy without parental consent from 18 to 15 years of age.
The Minister for Equality, the liberal Marie Bjerre, advanced the decision on the day that marks the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of abortion in Denmark and stated that it is “natural” to debate whether the regulations establish an “adequate balance”.
“The legal age for sexual relations is 15 years. It is also 15 years to be able to consent to treatment in the health system. That is why we believe that it is correct that an abortion can be done from 15 to 17 years without having to involve parents,” he added.
Bjerre admitted that terminating a pregnancy is not an “easy choice” and that it is important that young women in this situation look for support in their environment and turn to trusted people, such as friends, brothers or teachers, for example.
“It is a very difficult choice. But it is not a choice of the parents. It is the young woman’s, since it is about her own body and her own life,” he asserted.
The age limit for terminating a pregnancy without parental consent has not changed since Denmark introduced free abortion up to 12 weeks gestation in 1973.
