Abortion in Norway
Encyclopedia
The legality of and public opinion toward abortion in Norway has changed dramatically in the last 100 years. Current Norwegian
legislation and public health policy provides for abortion
on demand in the first 12 weeks of gestation, by application up to the 18th week, and only under special circumstances thereafter.
's legislation of 1687, abortion was punishable by death. By law of 1842, it was no longer a capital offense, but could be punished by up to six years of imprisonment and hard labor. In 1902, new legislation allowed for abortion in cases where the mother's life was in danger or the child would be stillborn.
gave a speech in Kristiania calling for legalized abortion on demand. She said that "the basis for all freedom is the governance over one's own body and everything that is in it. The opposite is the condition of a slave." ("Grundlaget for al frihet er rådighet over egen krop og hvad i den er. Det motsatte er en slaves tilstand")
In the period between 1920 and 1929, about 100 individuals were sentenced for illegal abortion. In one of Oslo's largest hospitals, 82 women died as a result of illegal abortions, and 3791 women were treated for injuries sustained under these procedures.
In 1934, the ministry of Justice named a committee to start work on new legislation on abortion, headed by Katti Anker Møller's daughter Tove Mohr. The following year, a campaign opposing the committee's work gathered 207,000 signatures. The government tabled the committee's work.
The political debate continued on the issue, though World War II
put other priorities in the public discourse. During the German occupation
, the maternal hygiene offices pioneered by Katti Anker Møller were shut down and all their materials put to the fire.
When the maternal hygiene offices reopened in 1950, abortion counseling became one of their main services. An estimated 3,000 legal abortions and 7,000 - 10,000 illegal abortions were performed each year in the 1950s. In 1956, the prevalence of illegal abortions reached such levels that a council on penal law recommended stiffer penalties for illegal abortions.
In 1960, a new law allowed abortion by application approved by a commission of two physicians, and only on the basis of medical, eugenic, or criminal criteria; and with the consent of the husband if the applicant was married. This law went into effect in 1964.
The application was made by the woman's physician on her behalf, and she made her case alone before the commission. In 1964, 72% of the applications were approved. By 1974, 94% were approved, and the rate increased steadily through the 1970s. Still, practice varied considerably.
In 1969, the Norwegian Labour Party
put abortion on demand on their platform, setting the stage for a mainstream debate on abortion within the broader framework of feminism
. Proponents of abortion on demand improved their organizational strength, forming in 1974 Kvinneaksjonen for selvbestemt abort ("The Women's campaign for abortion on demand"). At the same time Folkeaksjonen mot selvbestemt abort (the Popular Movement Against Abortion on Demand) was formed and led by Anne Enger Lahnstein
, submitting 610,000 signatures for their cause. The debate intensified, with feminists on one side of the issue, mainstream Christians on the other, and the medical community split.
Abortion on demand was put to the vote in Stortinget but unexpectedly failed to pass by one vote when Socialist Left party representative Otto Hauglin
voted against the bill. Although criteria for commission-approved abortions were somewhat relaxed, it became clear that abortion on demand would have to wait for the next session of parliament.
This period marked intensifying activism on both sides of the issue. The Christian newspaper Vårt Land
became the platform for those opposed to the pending legislation, whereas the Socialist and feminist press advocated for it. The non-Socialist parties were unified in their opposition to abortion on demand, maintaining that the commission arrangement was appropriate.
In 1978, after much preparation and activism, by among others physicians Berthold Grünfeld
and Axel Strøm of the Norwegian Labour Party
and Socialist Left Party
, respectively, passed with a one-vote majority the current law, which provides for: abortion on demand in the first 12 weeks, between the 13th and 18th week abortion by commission approval on medical, eugenic, criminal, humanitarian, or social reasons. After the 13th week of gestation, abortion is in principle outlawed except under exceptional circumstances. Soon after, bishop Per Lønning
resigned from his office in the Church of Norway
in protest against the new legislation.
Between 1999 and 2003, 1740 applications for abortions between the 12th and 16th week were considered by commissions in Norway. Of these, 1647, or 95.2% were approved http://www.ssb.no/vis/magasinet/slik_lever_vi/art-2005-02-18-01.html.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
legislation and public health policy provides for abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
on demand in the first 12 weeks of gestation, by application up to the 18th week, and only under special circumstances thereafter.
History
In Christian VChristian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
's legislation of 1687, abortion was punishable by death. By law of 1842, it was no longer a capital offense, but could be punished by up to six years of imprisonment and hard labor. In 1902, new legislation allowed for abortion in cases where the mother's life was in danger or the child would be stillborn.
Early activism
An important milestone for the issue of abortion on demand came on January 15, 1915, when Katti Anker MøllerKatti Anker Møller
Katti Anker Møller was a Norwegian feminist, children's rights advocate, and a pioneer of reproductive rights. She is known to posterity as the "advocate of mothers."...
gave a speech in Kristiania calling for legalized abortion on demand. She said that "the basis for all freedom is the governance over one's own body and everything that is in it. The opposite is the condition of a slave." ("Grundlaget for al frihet er rådighet over egen krop og hvad i den er. Det motsatte er en slaves tilstand")
In the period between 1920 and 1929, about 100 individuals were sentenced for illegal abortion. In one of Oslo's largest hospitals, 82 women died as a result of illegal abortions, and 3791 women were treated for injuries sustained under these procedures.
In 1934, the ministry of Justice named a committee to start work on new legislation on abortion, headed by Katti Anker Møller's daughter Tove Mohr. The following year, a campaign opposing the committee's work gathered 207,000 signatures. The government tabled the committee's work.
The political debate continued on the issue, though World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
put other priorities in the public discourse. During the German occupation
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, the maternal hygiene offices pioneered by Katti Anker Møller were shut down and all their materials put to the fire.
When the maternal hygiene offices reopened in 1950, abortion counseling became one of their main services. An estimated 3,000 legal abortions and 7,000 - 10,000 illegal abortions were performed each year in the 1950s. In 1956, the prevalence of illegal abortions reached such levels that a council on penal law recommended stiffer penalties for illegal abortions.
Gradual liberalization and a core feminist cause
| Year | Number of abortions | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 3455 | n/a |
| 1970 | 7941 | n/a |
| 1975 | 15132 | n/a |
| 1976 | 14754 | 0.542 |
| 1980 (on demand) | 13531 | 0.468 |
In 1960, a new law allowed abortion by application approved by a commission of two physicians, and only on the basis of medical, eugenic, or criminal criteria; and with the consent of the husband if the applicant was married. This law went into effect in 1964.
The application was made by the woman's physician on her behalf, and she made her case alone before the commission. In 1964, 72% of the applications were approved. By 1974, 94% were approved, and the rate increased steadily through the 1970s. Still, practice varied considerably.
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
put abortion on demand on their platform, setting the stage for a mainstream debate on abortion within the broader framework of feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
. Proponents of abortion on demand improved their organizational strength, forming in 1974 Kvinneaksjonen for selvbestemt abort ("The Women's campaign for abortion on demand"). At the same time Folkeaksjonen mot selvbestemt abort (the Popular Movement Against Abortion on Demand) was formed and led by Anne Enger Lahnstein
Anne Enger Lahnstein
Anne Enger, formerly Anne Enger Lahnstein is a Norwegian politician, but out of politics for the moment, as she is County Governor of Østfold. A former leader of the Centre Party, she is best known for her opposition to the European Union. She was the front person of the "No to EU"-campaign at the...
, submitting 610,000 signatures for their cause. The debate intensified, with feminists on one side of the issue, mainstream Christians on the other, and the medical community split.
Abortion on demand was put to the vote in Stortinget but unexpectedly failed to pass by one vote when Socialist Left party representative Otto Hauglin
Otto Hauglin
Otto Hauglin is a Norwegian sociologist and former politician for the Socialist Left Party . He was elected member of the Parliament of Norway from 1973 to 1977, representing Østfold county.-References:...
voted against the bill. Although criteria for commission-approved abortions were somewhat relaxed, it became clear that abortion on demand would have to wait for the next session of parliament.
This period marked intensifying activism on both sides of the issue. The Christian newspaper Vårt Land
Vårt Land (Norwegian newspaper)
Vårt Land is a daily newspaper published in Oslo. It has a nationwide target audience. Its average daily circulation in 2007 was 27.146, it was Norway's 23rd largest newspaper...
became the platform for those opposed to the pending legislation, whereas the Socialist and feminist press advocated for it. The non-Socialist parties were unified in their opposition to abortion on demand, maintaining that the commission arrangement was appropriate.
Abortion on demand
Berthold Grünfeld
Berthold Grünfeld was a Norwegian psychiatrist, sexologist, and professor of social medicine at the University of Oslo. He was also a recognized expert in forensic psychiatry, often employed by Norwegian courts to examine insanity defense pleas.-Biography:Grünfeld was born in Bratislava in what...
and Axel Strøm of the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
and Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
, respectively, passed with a one-vote majority the current law, which provides for: abortion on demand in the first 12 weeks, between the 13th and 18th week abortion by commission approval on medical, eugenic, criminal, humanitarian, or social reasons. After the 13th week of gestation, abortion is in principle outlawed except under exceptional circumstances. Soon after, bishop Per Lønning
Per Lønning
Per Lønning is a Norwegian bishop, theologian, professor and politician. Lønning received his Doctor of theology from University of Oslo in 1955...
resigned from his office in the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
in protest against the new legislation.
Current practices
Although some argued that easier access to abortion would cause abortion rates to increase, the number of abortions has remained stable since the early 1970s, especially when adjusted for demographic changes related to fertility.Between 1999 and 2003, 1740 applications for abortions between the 12th and 16th week were considered by commissions in Norway. Of these, 1647, or 95.2% were approved http://www.ssb.no/vis/magasinet/slik_lever_vi/art-2005-02-18-01.html.