Abortion in Croatia

Abortion (Croatian: pobačaj, abortus) in Croatia has been a regulated medical operation since 1952, subject to various restrictions.

According to present law, abortion can be performed as an elective procedure until 10 weeks following conception, and in specific circumstances afterwards.

[3] Based on a provision in the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution,[3] on 21 April 1978, the "Act concerning the medical measures for materialization of the right to freely decide on the birth of children" was passed in SR Croatia.

[6] Critics say that this rule made abortion hard to obtain in some areas, while the proponents argue that every gynecologist has a constitutional right to refuse performing or taking part in the procedure.

In 2019, as part of Open Data Day, a female team from Code for Croatia developed a map of all these facilities and their approximate cost.

[14] There have also been annual prayer vigils held by Catholic activists, '40 Days for Life' aiming to change women's minds on abortion.

Past the first 10 weeks, abortions must be approved by a Commission of First Instance, consisting of a gynaecologist, another physician, and a social worker or registered nurse.

The commission can choose to approve the abortion if it is medically necessary to save the woman's life or preserve her health, whether during pregnancy or delivery or after delivery; if the child would likely be born with a serious congenital defect; or when the conception results from a criminal act, including rape and incest.

This discrepancy was likely the result of a confusion among the young people caused by the opinions of the Catholic Church and their own sexual needs that arise well before they are ready to enter marriage.