The Faroese parliament, the Lagtinget, has voted to amend the territory’s restrictive abortion law, permitting access to abortion on request up until the end of the twelfth week of pregnancy. The decision, welcomed by Amnesty International Faroe Islands, marks a significant step toward ensuring safe and legal abortion services in the region.
Turið Maria, Director of Amnesty International Faroe Islands, praised the vote as the culmination of years of persistent advocacy by activists who sought to lift the severe restrictions that had long limited access to abortion. “These restrictions, some of the strictest in Europe, have endangered lives, jeopardized health, and forced many to travel abroad, mainly to Denmark, to access care,” she said.
Despite the progress, criminal penalties for those providing or assisting with abortion remain a critical concern. Maria emphasized that decriminalization is essential to protect both individuals seeking abortion and the providers and activists supporting them from punitive action.
The new law replaces the 1956 Abortion Act, which allowed abortions only under limited circumstances, including cases of rape or incest, threats to the woman’s life or health, fetal impairment, or social grounds. The latest parliamentary vote follows an initial approval on 3 December, where MPs voted 17 to 16 in favor.
While the vote represents a meaningful step forward, advocates note that full legal protections for abortion providers and recipients are still necessary to ensure comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare in the Faroe Islands.
