Religious groups in the Balkans intensify efforts to outlaw abortions

In Croatia, religious and neo-conservative groups are intensifying their efforts to ban abortions through vigils, marches, and public demonstrations, even though abortion is currently legal in the country. Many women are denied access to the procedure, leading them to seek abortion services in neighbouring Slovenia. This movement to ban abortion is a stark shift from Croatia’s past as part of Communist Yugoslavia, which protected abortion rights in its constitution 50 years ago. The debate on abortion rights has reignited in the country, especially after France recently enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution.

Following the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the new countries that emerged retained the existing laws related to abortion. However, a resurgence of nationalist, religious, and conservative sentiments in post-Communist Croatia has threatened the legacy of abortion rights. The gap between the laws allowing abortion and the practical difficulties in accessing the procedure has been widening, with many women facing obstacles in obtaining abortions due to conservative influences such as the Catholic Church. The Za Zivot movement in Croatia is actively campaigning against abortions, organizing prayers, vigils, and lectures in support of the unborn.

A story in 2022, involving a woman who was initially denied an abortion despite her child having severe health issues, sparked outrage and protests in Croatia. The woman eventually had the abortion performed in Slovenia. A study by a Croatian obstetrician revealed that a significant number of Croatian women travel to Slovenia for abortions, as some hospitals in Croatia have 100% of doctors refusing to perform the procedure as conscientious objectors. This trend of limited access to abortions is concerning for women’s health and lives, as the medical community in Croatia remains deeply divided on the issue.

Abortion rights in Yugoslavia date back to the 1950s when women’s organizations advocated for the inclusion of the right to abortion in the constitution. Yugoslavia’s constitution did not explicitly guarantee abortion but provided easy access to terminate pregnancies in clinics throughout the federation. The recent decision by France to include the right to abortion in its constitution has reminded activists in the Balkans of Yugoslavia’s progressive stance on abortion rights back in 1974. Countries like Serbia and Slovenia have also enshrined the freedom to choose whether to have children in their constitutions, while Bosnia allows abortion during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

The debate on abortion rights in Croatia reflects broader trends in the region, as religious and conservative groups push to restrict access to abortions. The growing divide between the legal framework and the practical challenges faced by women seeking abortions highlights the complex landscape of reproductive rights in the Balkans. Activists and women’s organizations continue to advocate for the protection of abortion rights, drawing inspiration from Yugoslavia’s progressive legacy and seeking to ensure access to safe and legal abortion services for women in the region.