{{Short description|none}} Abortion has been legal in [[Hungary]] under certain restrictions since 1953. The most recent change to abortion laws being Act LXXIX of 1992 on the protection of fetal life.<ref name="reproductiverights.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reproductiverights.org/world-abortion-laws/hungarys-abortion-provisions|title = Hungary's Abortion Provisions | Center for Reproductive Rights}}</ref><ref>https://srhr.org/abortion-policies/documents/countries/01-Hungary-Protection-of-Human-Life-Act-1992.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324162404/https://srhr.org/abortion-policies/documents/countries/01-Hungary-Protection-of-Human-Life-Act-1992.pdf |date=2018-03-24 }}{{full citation needed|date=January 2020}}</ref> Under the current laws, abortions may be performed up to 12 weeks due to socioeconomic factors but may be extended up to 24 weeks in certain circumstances like risk to woman's life, health, rape or fetal impairment. Access to abortion requires the woman to obtain a certificate from a gynecologist confirming the pregnancy then seek counseling from a midwife at the Family Protection Service at least twice and wait 72 hours before the procedure may be performed.<ref name="The abortion policy in Hungary">{{cite news |last1=Beni |first1=Alexandra |title=The abortion policy in Hungary |url=https://dailynewshungary.com/the-abortion-policy-in-hungary/ |access-date=15 November 2019 |publisher=Daily News Hungary |date=30 May 2019}}</ref>
== History of legalisation ==
=== Abortion in socialist Hungary === Abortion was subject to legal liberalization as early as 1953.<ref name="un">[https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc/hungary.doc Hungary - ABORTION POLICY - United Nations]</ref> The [[abortion law]] was changed three times since then, in 1956,<ref name="un" /> 1973,<ref name="crisis">Központi Statisztikai Hivatal (Hungarian Central Statistical Office): Demográfiai évkönyv 2005 (Demographic Yearbook 2005). KSH, Budapest, 2006. (ISSN 0237-7594)</ref> and 1992.<ref name="liberal">{{cite news |title=Hungarian Parliament Approves Relatively Liberal Abortion Law |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/18/world/hungarian-parliament-approves-relatively-liberal-abortion-law.html |work=The New York Times |date=18 December 1992 }}</ref> As a result of that, Hungary has long had a liberal abortion law, although certain obstacles for accessing abortion have always existed.<ref name="liberal" /> After the [[End of communism in Hungary (1989)|fall of communism in Hungary]], the country experienced serious social and economic distress; nevertheless, the newly emerging conservative Catholic forces have failed to convince the government to prohibit abortion: the new post-communist 1992 law largely mirrored the old one, in some ways being even more liberal than the former one.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Batár |first1=István |title=New abortion law in Hungary |journal=Entre Nous |date=June 1993 |issue=22–23 |pages=17 |pmid=12222239 |url=http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/publications/entre-nous/entre-nous/fertility-regulation-in-europe.-entre-nous-no.-2223,-1993 }}</ref>
===Current law=== Abortion is regulated under the ''Act LXXIX of 1992 on the protection of fetal life''.<ref name="reproductiverights.org"/><ref>https://srhr.org/abortion-policies/documents/countries/01-Hungary-Protection-of-Human-Life-Act-1992.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324162404/https://srhr.org/abortion-policies/documents/countries/01-Hungary-Protection-of-Human-Life-Act-1992.pdf |date=2018-03-24 }}{{full citation needed|date=January 2020}}</ref> Under this law, an abortion is normally allowed until 12 weeks. However, in certain circumstances the limit can be extended to 18, 20 or 24 weeks. A pregnancy may be terminated at any time if the fetus is lethally affected (i.e. [[anencephaly]]). The pregnancy can be extended to 18 weeks if the woman's health is in severe danger or is a result of a rape and that added to those conditions, the woman was not aware of her pregnancy before because of a medical condition or of an institution's mistake. To extend it to 24 weeks, the fetus must have a 50% risk of presenting a genetic or teratological malformation (see [[Birth defect]]).<ref name="The abortion policy in Hungary"/>
In 1998, the country's highest court demanded that a definition be supplied for the term "grave crisis situation", as there were concerns that women undergoing the procedure may not actually be in "crisis", and if they were, that they get [[Psychiatry|psychiatric]] help after their abortion.<ref name="un" /> On June 29, 2000, the [[Ministry of Health (Hungary)|Ministry of Health]] defined a "grave crisis situation" as "when it causes bodily or [[mental impairment]], or a socially intolerable situation".<ref name="crisis" />
The [[Hungarian Government]] organized an [[anti-abortion]] campaign in 2011 where posters were shown with an image of a baby in the womb, with the caption saying, "I understand that you are not yet ready for me, but give me up to the adoption agency, LET ME LIVE!" The Government has been sharply criticised for using [[Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund|European Union funds]] on the campaign. An [[EU Commission]]er [[Viviane Reding]] said that the campaign "goes against European values."<ref>{{cite news |title=EU funds used for Hungarian anti-abortion campaign |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-funds-used-for-hungarian-anti-abortion-campaign/ |work=[[EURACTIV]] |date=17 June 2011 }}</ref>
The new [[constitution of Hungary]], enacted in 2012, states that human life will be protected from the moment of conception,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13122745 |title=Hungary: Parliament votes for new constitution |date=18 April 2011 |first=Nick |last=Thorpe |newspaper=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> although, so far, the abortion law has not been changed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kata |first1=Janecskó |title=Hiába védett a magzat, nem szigorodik az abortusz |trans-title=Even though the fetus is protected, abortion is not tightened |url=https://index.hu/belfold/2011/03/11/az_abortuszrol_torveny_valtozasa_varhato |work=[[Index (Hungarian website)|Index]] |date=11 March 2011 |language=hu }}</ref>
Since 2017, because of demographic challenges, Orban's government has put in place a new [[Family policy in Hungary]] with the ''Family Protection Action Plan'', providing for example, a flat tax and family allowances in order to increase natality rates in Hungary.<ref>{{cite web |last1=KOVÁCS |first1=Zoltan |title=Hungary's Family Protection Action Plan: Here's what happens next and how we see it bearing fruit |url=https://www.abouthungary.hu/blog/hungarys-family-protection-action-plan-heres-what-happens-next-and-how-we-see-it-bearing-fruit/ |website=About Hungary |date=30 April 2019 |access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref> With this pro-natalist policy, hospitals have the rights to refuse to provide abortions, clinics that are providing them without trying to discourage women have to face political pressure and the government is putting in place anti-abortion campaigns in the metro and in the schools. Those campaigns are a violation of the European Union's rules regarding the financing programme that Hungary is receiving.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abortion in Europe Status Report |url=https://humanistfederation.eu/wp-content/uploads/Abortion-Status-Report.pdf |website=Humanist Federation |access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref>
In 2022 15 September, Hungary passed new abortion restrictions, with a [[Mandatory ultrasound]]s bill. Where women who are seeking an abortion will now be obliged to “listen to the foetal heartbeat” before they can have an abortion. This Bill was pushed for by the far-right [[Our Homeland Movement|Mi Hazánk]] (Our Homeland) party.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/en/hungary-enshrines-fetal-heartbeat-abortion-law/a-63105339 | title=Hungary enshrines 'fetal heartbeat' abortion law | DW | 13.09.2022 | website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/sep/13/hungary-tightens-abortion-access-with-listen-to-foetal-heartbeat-rule | title=Hungary tightens abortion access with listen to 'foetal heartbeat' rule | website=[[TheGuardian.com]] | date=13 September 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62892596 | title=Hungary decrees tighter abortion rules | work=BBC News | date=13 September 2022 }}</ref>
==The procedure== Hungary is influenced by Roman Catholicism, and, although abortion is legal, it is not easy to access: women must go through a specific procedure involving counseling, a waiting period, and a certificate from a midwife in order to obtain an abortion.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/4785/abortion-law-hungary |title = Abortion law Hungary}}</ref>
To terminate a pregnancy, the woman and, if possible, the father are required to meet with the Family Protection Service at least twice to receive information about the termination of the pregnancy. The woman has to bring a letter from her gynecologist to confirm the pregnancy and the specially trained midwife of the Family Protection Service will provide her information to choose another solution. If the woman still wants the abortion, she has to come back within 72 hours. The staff member will provide her information about the termination process and issue a hospital referral that the woman and, if possible, the father, must sign. On the day of the abortion, the woman can go to the health institution of her choice and must again sign documents confirming the termination of her pregnancy.<ref name="The abortion policy in Hungary"/> According to the [[Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women]], [[conscientious objection to abortion|conscientious objection]] among Hungarian doctors is an obstacle to abortion.<ref>https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/co/cedaw.c.hun.co.7-8.pdf{{full citation needed|date=January 2020}}</ref>
==Statistics== [[File:Percentage of conceptions which led to an abortion in Hungary.svg|thumb|Percentage of conceptions which led to an abortion in Hungary]] Between 2010 and 2015 the number of reported abortions per year dropped by 22.9 per cent, which was attributed to the introduction of pro-family measures by the [[Hungarian Government]]. Adoption is promoted by the state where women do not want to keep their baby. There are also educational classes and aid to families.<ref>{{cite news |title=Government pro-life actions lead to drop in abortions in Hungary |url=https://www.christian.org.uk/news/government-pro-life-actions-lead-drop-abortions-hungary/ |work=The Christian Institute }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sokkal kevesebb az abortusz Magyarországon |trans-title=Much less abortion in Hungary |url=https://www.origo.hu/itthon/20160613-sokkal-kevesebb-az-abortusz-magyarorszagon.html |work=origo.hu |language=hu }}</ref> In July 2022, it was reported that a number of medical practitioners willing to perform abortions had been decreasing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Egyre kevesebb magyar orvos hajlandó abortuszt végezni |url=https://www.napi.hu/magyar-gazdasag/abortusz-egeszsegugy-ellatas-terhesseg-orvos-szabadeuropa-szabalyozas-korhaz-mutet-nogyogyosz.756304.html |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Napi.hu |language=hu}}</ref> <br/> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left; font-size:95%;" |+ Source: Statistics of the [[Hungarian Central Statistical Office]]<ref>[http://www.ksh.hu/docs/hun/xstadat/xstadat_hosszu/h_wdsd001b.html?down=842 Population]</ref> |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! rowspan=2 width="50"|Year ! rowspan="2"|Number of reported abortions ! rowspan="2"|Induced abortion ratio per 100 live birth |- | 1950 || 1,707 || 0.9 |- | 1951 || 1,700 || 1.0 |- | 1952 || 1,700 || 1.1 |- | 1953 || 2,800 || 1.0 |- | 1954 || 16,300 || 7.2 |- | 1955 || 35,398 || 16.8 |- | 1956 || 82,463 || 42.8 |- | 1957 || 123,383 || 73.8 |- | 1958 || 145,578 || 91.9 |- | 1959 || 152,404 || 100.8 |- | 1960 || 162,160 || 110.7 |- | 1961 || 169,992 || 121.1 |- | 1962 || 163,656 || 125.8 |- | 1963 || 173,835 || 131.4 |- | 1964 || 184,367 || 139.5 |- | 1965 || 180,269 || 135.5 |- | 1966 || 186,773 || 134.9 |- | 1967 || 187,527 || 126.0 |- | 1968 || 201,096 || 130.2 |- | 1969 || 206,817 || 134.0 |- | 1970 || 192,283 || 126.7 |- | 1971 || 187,425 || 124.4 |- | 1972 || 179,035 || 116.8 |- | 1973 || 169,650 || 108.6 |- | 1974 || 102,022 || 54.8 |- | 1975 || 96,212 || 49.5 |- | 1976 || 94,720 || 51.1 |- | 1977 || 89,096 || 50.2 |- | 1978 || 83,545 || 49.7 |- | 1979 || 80,767 || 50.4 |- | 1980 || 80,882 || 54.4 |- | 1981 || 78,421 || 54.9 |- | 1982 || 78,682 || 58.9 |- | 1983 || 78,599 || 61.8 |- | 1984 || 82,191 || 65.6 |- | 1985 || 81,970 || 63.0 |- | 1986 || 83,586 || 65.2 |- | 1987 || 84,547 || 67.2 |- | 1988 || 87,106 || 70.1 |- | 1989 || 90,508 || 73.4 |- | 1990 || 90,394 || 71.9 |- | 1991 || 89,931 || 70.7 |- | 1992 || 87,065 || 71.5 |- | 1993 || 75,258 || 64.3 |- | 1994 || 74,491 || 64.4 |- | 1995 || 76,957 || 68.7 |- | 1996 || 76,600 || 72.8 |- | 1997 || 74,564 || 74.3 |- | 1998 || 68,971 || 70.9 |- | 1999 || 65,981 || 69.7 |- | 2000 || 59,249 || 60.7 |- | 2001 || 56,404 || 58.1 |- | 2002 || 56,075 || 57.9 |- | 2003 || 53,789 || 56.8 |- | 2004 || 52,539 || 55.2 |- | 2005 || 48,689 || 49.9 |- | 2006 || 46,324 || 46.4 |- | 2007 || 43,870 || 44.9 |- | 2008 || 44,089 || 44.5 |- | 2009 || 43,181 || 44.8 |- | 2010 || 40,449 || 44.8 |- | 2011 || 38,443 || 43.7 |- | 2012 || 36,118 || 40.0 |- | 2013 || 34,891 || 39.3 |- | 2014 || 32,663 || 35.7 |- | 2015 || 31,176 || 34.0 |- | 2016 || 30,439 || 32.7 |- | 2017 || 28,496 || 31.1 |- | 2018 || 26,941 || 30.0 |- | 2019 || 25,783 || 28.9 |- | 2020 || 23,901 || 25.9 |- | 2021 || 21,907 || 23.5 |- | 2022 || 21,779 || 24.6 |}
==See also== * [[Women in Hungary]]
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Hungary articles}} {{Abortion in Europe}} {{Abortion}}
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[[Category:Abortion in Europe|Hungary]] [[Category:Healthcare in Hungary]] [[Category:Law of Hungary]] [[Category:Abortion by country|Hungary]]