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What it is

Sexual health rights and rules for ending a pregnancy

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a government bill. Introduced by the Government. It was introduced on 26 September 2009. Introduced by: Gobierno.

Official title: Organic Government bill on sexual and reproductive health and voluntary interruption of pregnancy.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 121/000041· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The law guarantees fundamental rights in the area of sexual and reproductive health and recognizes the right to freely decided motherhood. No one may be discriminated against when accessing its benefits and services.
  2. Public authorities must guarantee information and affective-sexual education, universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, and access to safe and effective contraception. Latest-generation contraceptives are included in the common benefits package of the National Health System.
  3. The education system must include training in sexual and reproductive health, with prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. The Government will approve a five-year Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy with reviews every two years.
  4. A pregnancy may be ended within the first fourteen weeks at the woman's request, if she has received information about public benefits and support and at least three days have passed since then. Minors aged 16 and 17 decide for themselves, although at least one legal representative must be informed, unless there is a risk of serious conflict.
  5. For medical reasons, a pregnancy may be ended up to twenty-two weeks if there is a serious risk to the woman's life or health or a risk of serious fetal anomalies. Beyond that point, only in cases of fetal anomalies incompatible with life or an extremely serious and incurable illness confirmed by a clinical committee.
  6. The service is included in the National Health System benefits package and is guaranteed to all women regardless of where they live. Health professionals directly involved may file a conscientious objection in writing, and patient data is coded and deleted after five years.

Who it affects

  • Pregnant women: They can end a pregnancy within the time limits and cases provided, with prior information and guarantees of access, privacy and confidentiality.
  • Minors aged 16 and 17: They decide for themselves about ending a pregnancy, although a legal representative is informed unless there is serious conflict.
  • Health professionals: They may object in writing if directly involved, but must provide care before and after the procedure.
  • People with disabilities: Their right to sexual and reproductive health is guaranteed with support and accessible information.
  • Public authorities and the education system: They must provide affective-sexual education, sexual and reproductive health services, and a national strategy.

Words worth knowing

Interrupción voluntaria del embarazo
A voluntary abortion performed within the cases and time limits allowed by law.
Objeción de conciencia
Conscientious objection: the right of a professional to refuse to do something for personal reasons of conscience.
Cartera de servicios comunes del Sistema Nacional de Salud
The list of health benefits that Spain's public health system offers nationwide.
Comité clínico
A committee of doctors that confirms a diagnosis before the woman decides on the procedure.
Alta Inspección
A State function that checks whether the autonomous communities comply with the law.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced26 September 2009Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted29 September 2009The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments2 October 2009Groups propose changes.
  4. Committee17 November 2009A committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenary10 December 2009All 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senate17 December 2009The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOE24 February 2010It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 11 official steps on a timeline
Sept 2009Oct 2009Nov 2009Dec 2009Jan 201011. 26 September 2009: Presentación22. 29 September 2009: Comisión de Igualdad Publicación desde 29/09/2009 hasta 02/10/200933. 29 September 2009: Calificación44. 2 October 2009: Comisión de Igualdad Enmiendas desde 02/10/2009 hasta 18/11/200955. 17 November 2009: Comisión de Igualdad Mesa - Calificación desde 17/11/2009 hasta 17/11/200966. 17 November 2009: Comisión de Igualdad Debate de totalidad desde 17/11/2009 hasta 26/11/200977. 26 November 2009: Comisión de Igualdad Informe desde 26/11/2009 hasta 02/12/200988. 2 December 2009: Comisión de Igualdad Dictamen desde 02/12/2009 hasta 10/12/200999. 10 December 2009: Pleno Aprobación desde 10/12/2009 hasta 17/12/20091010. 17 December 2009: Senado desde 17/12/2009 hasta 24/02/20101111. 24 February 2010: Concluido - (Aprobado con modificaciones) desde 24/02/2010 hasta 23/03/2010

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

The same initiative in the other chamber:

Published in the BOE: Organic Law 2/2010, of 3 March, on sexual and reproductive health and voluntary interruption of pregnancy.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

Read the full method · Report an error