Abortion debate outside the US?

[Boer]

As I'm sure most of you know, in side the US abortion is a very hot topic. It is virtually always brought up in elections and we have even seen shootings and bombings over it. However, I really never hear anything about attitudes about abortion in other countries or if it is a political topic any where else.

How is abortion looked at in other countries, especially where politics are involved?

[Yorkshireman]

I would have thought its a non-issue in the UK as an election vote winner, I've never heard it mentioned much in any political debate, bearing in mind it was first legalised back in 1967. There has been parliamentary debates and bills put forward and voted on concerning the legal time limit but it does'nt seem to make much impact on mainstream politics. We do have groups such as the Pro-Life Alliance.

(Northern Ireland has different laws, its only legal in certain cases and as far as I'm aware is a political issue there, but women from there travel to the mainland for abortions.)

[Captain Blackadder]

In Australia it is not much of an issue really there was some hooplah a little while ago with the idea of forcing doctors to do the procedure. Apart from that nothing much allthough we did have an American style attack againest an abortion clinic once. A man walked in with a kerosene and a rifle and shot a guard.

[The Dude]

As I'm sure most of you know, in side the US abortion is a very hot topic. It is virtually always brought up in elections and we have even seen shootings and bombings over it. However, I really never hear anything about attitudes about abortion in other countries or if it is a political topic any where else.

How is abortion looked at in other countries, especially where politics are involved?

It's a non issue in Holland.

Want an abortion?

Go get one.

[Gelgoog]

It's a non issue in Holland.

Want an abortion?

Go get one.

everything is a non-issue in holland

[removeduser_487563287433]

As I'm sure most of you know, in side the US abortion is a very hot topic. It is virtually always brought up in elections and we have even seen shootings and bombings over it. However, I really never hear anything about attitudes about abortion in other countries or if it is a political topic any where else.

How is abortion looked at in other countries, especially where politics are involved?

There's no abortion debate in the UK. My only exposure to it has been when I worked at Parliament and very rarely extremely religious Christians would contact you saying it should be banned, but for obvious reasons that doesn't really count.

The only exception was, again when I was working at Parliament, there came a vote in the Northern Irish Assembly on the matter as to whether to legalise it. Sadly this was the first occaision when all the Northern Irish parties agreed on something. They were all against it. We got a Hell of a lot of correspondence from doctors, women's groups, Irish groups, and generally concerned people, and we couldn't do anything for them because I worked for an English MP and we were to keep out of Northern Irish domestic policy. We got more than our fair share of correspondence on the matter because my MP was the Shadow Minister for Women. It depressed me a lot. I can't tell you some of the horror stories the medical pressure groups had from teenage girls in Northern Ireland that had resorted to desperate measures. It made me want to alernatively sob and rage.

Of course, it's banned in the Republic of Ireland too, and that's a problem for the UK, because the Irish are massive hypocrites on the matter. Yeah, they're so moral they'll ban abortion, pats on the back all round. But they are able to keep this up by the blind eye they turn to the thousands of Irish girls that come to the UK for an abortion every year. It disgusts me.

[Gobmech]

Not an issue in Denmark. If you want an abortion, you get one (with your doctor's permission), and if you don't want one, you give birth to a child (!).

[Ardruire Iacób]

Of course, it's banned in the Republic of Ireland too, and that's a problem for the UK, because the Irish are massive hypocrites on the matter. Yeah, they're so moral they'll ban abortion, pats on the back all round. But they are able to keep this up by the blind eye they turn to the thousands of Irish girls that come to the UK for an abortion every year. It disgusts me.

Strangely enough, the people that appear most opposed to abortion are women. Same with the people most in favour of it. You'd expect women to support the pro-choice movement, but not so much the pro-life movement, which they yet do. Very odd. I've yet to see a man hand out leaflets condemning abortion.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Strangely enough, the people that appear most opposed to abortion are women. Same with the people most in favour of it. You'd expect women to support the pro-choice movement, but not so much the pro-life movement, which they yet do. Very odd. I've yet to see a man hand out leaflets condemning abortion.

Well I had to deal with more of my fair share of livid female doctors contacting me about Ireland's policy.

[Ardruire Iacób]

Well I had to deal with more of my fair share of livid female doctors contacting me about Ireland's policy.

Because you can change our constitution... Hell, women were also at the forefront of our divorce referendum (on both sides). Men generally aren't interested in women's issues over here.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Because you can change our constitution... Hell, women were also at the forefront of our divorce referendum (on both sides). Men generally aren't interested in women's issues over here.

I don't really see what your point is. That one group, male or female, should be forcing others not to get abortions (whilst happily packing them on their way to the UK for one) is. Nobody is forcing anybody to get an abortion. But people are forcing others not to get an abortion.

[Pious Agnost]

Yeah same here.

If you want an abortion, get one.

[Poach]

Here is a most useful study done, in 2005, on European values including Abortion.

http://www.thebrusselsconnection.be/...erall%20EN.pdf

As you can see, most European populations are generally pro-Abortion, with no countries showing an outright "yes" opinion, and 62% of Europeans thinking "no", 34% being "yes", and 4% being undecided.

The study itself shows interesting opinions on many questions, and even breaks down the results in terms of household income, political views etc. I'd recommend reading it!

[Arch-hereticK]

Herbal abortions (inducing miscarriages) are popular.

[Boer]

I thought Abortion in politics was mostly an American thing, looks like I was right.

Here is a most useful study done, in 2005, on European values including Abortion.

http://www.thebrusselsconnection.be/...erall%20EN.pdf

As you can see, most European populations are generally pro-Abortion, with no countries showing an outright "yes" opinion, and 62% of Europeans thinking "no", 34% being "yes", and 4% being undecided.

The study itself shows interesting opinions on many questions, and even breaks down the results in terms of household income, political views etc. I'd recommend reading it!

I found that very interesting, even the non-abortion parts.

[Arch-hereticK]

Abortion should not be a political issue.

[Jom]

Abortion should not be a political issue.

It should be if the only things stopping it from being legalised are outdated and frankly ridiculous religious views. In that case, politicians should push as hard as they can to legalise it but if it will lead to a loss of votes you can bet that they won't.

[AK47]

I think if they asked the people the question like this they would get different results:
Should abortion be Illegal after: Option1 5 months of pregnancy. Option 2. 4 month etc etc.

[Tiberius Tosi]

It should be if the only things stopping it from being legalised are outdated and frankly ridiculous religious views. In that case, politicians should push as hard as they can to legalise it but if it will lead to a loss of votes you can bet that they won't.

Rightly so that they are voting for anti-abortion measures if they are representing the wishes of their constituants. It is not just the religious who support banning and/or limiting abortion, and to propose that pro-abortion measures should be pushed through because many religious citizens support it because of their religious background is, in my opinion, undemocratic as you are limiting their opinions on matters because they have a religious affiliation.

This is a political representation matter that I am pointing out here, and I have no wish to engage in any kind of pro or anti abortion debate.

[Arch-hereticK]

It should be if the only things stopping it from being legalised are outdated and frankly ridiculous religious views. In that case, politicians should push as hard as they can to legalise it but if it will lead to a loss of votes you can bet that they won't.

It's exactly the same as making drugs illegal, it only pushes it under-ground and making it much MUCH more dangerous.