© An Nelissen
In the American state of Florida, abortion is now prohibited after the sixth week of pregnancy. The stricter rules, which Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed more than a year ago, came into effect on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
Wednesday May 1, 2024 at 5:42 PM
Until now, abortion was possible up to fifteen weeks into pregnancy in Florida. The state was also a refuge for women from other states, where stricter rules often applied.
There are still exceptions to the new rules in Florida, including for abortion after rape, incest or medical emergencies.
US President Joe Biden’s election team reacted sharply to the tightening on Wednesday. “Today, an extreme abortion ban goes into effect in Florida, banning reproductive health care before many women know they are pregnant,” it said.
Opponents of abortion say the strict rules protect lives.
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the historic Roe vs. Wade ruling from 1973, which enshrined the right to abortion in the constitution. Since then, the states themselves have determined whether abortion is permitted and under what conditions.
In Belgium, an abortion for psychosocial (non-medical) reasons is possible up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. That is 14 weeks after the first day of your last period.