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Inclusion of abortion right in EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

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Updated 28mo ago

This resolution urges the European Council to start a process to amend EU Treaties and include the right to sexual and reproductive healthcare, including safe and legal abortion, in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The resolution specifically highlights the need to protect women, girls, and all individuals who can become pregnant, ensuring their bodily autonomy and right to decide freely on matters related to their sexuality and reproductive health.

It condemns the rollback of women's rights globally and within EU member states, urging countries like Poland and Malta to repeal restrictive laws. It also calls for the decriminalization of abortion and the removal of obstacles to accessing safe and legal procedures.

The resolution emphasizes that access to comprehensive sexuality education, free contraception, and family planning services is crucial. It also calls for increased funding for related services and support for civil society organizations working on these rights.

Documents

Inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

position · EN · 2026-04-02

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Analysis

AI-generated·4 Apr 2026·Source document·Unverified

The European Parliament urges the European Council to launch a Convention to revise the Treaties and add sexual and reproductive healthcare and the right to safe and legal abortion to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

What changes

Proposes adding 'sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to all related healthcare services without discrimination, including access to safe and legal abortion' to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Urges Member States to fully decriminalise abortion in line with WHO guidelines and remove obstacles to safe and legal abortion and SRHR access.
Calls for Member States to make abortion methods and procedures an obligatory part of the curriculum for doctors and medical students.

Expected impact

The resolution calls for the inclusion of the right to safe and legal abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which would establish a new fundamental right at the EU level.
The Parliament urges Member States to repeal laws and measures banning or restricting abortion and to decriminalise abortion, aligning with WHO guidelines.
The resolution highlights that criminalising, delaying, and denying access to abortion constitutes gender-based violence and disproportionately affects those with fewer resources.

Limitations

The document is a resolution and does not contain legally binding provisions for Member States. Its impact depends on subsequent legislative actions.
The document does not detail the specific legal or financial mechanisms for implementing the proposed changes to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The document does not provide quantitative data on the current prevalence of obstacles to abortion access across all Member States.

Learn more

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