Abortion in Hungary

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.

[6] After the 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.

[5] 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!"

"[9] The new constitution of Hungary, enacted in 2012, states that human life will be protected from the moment of conception,[10] although, so far, the abortion law has not been changed.

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.

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.

[18] 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.