Pálsdóttir says abortion bill is being stalled

Hervør Pálsdóttir says a proposal to amend the Faroe Islands’ abortion law is being delayed, despite being fully examined. The Faroese parliament voted 18-15 on Monday to bring the bill back to the chamber from its legal affairs committee, KVF reported.

Pálsdóttir, a Tjóðveldi party member of parliament and a member of the committee, put forward the motion. The bill was introduced by Steffan Klein Poulsen of the Miðflokkurin party.

The parliament has since held a second reading, although the committee has not submitted a report. The bill would change the abortion law that took effect on July 1. Among other measures, it proposes making counselling and a reflection period compulsory before an abortion, and requiring women to state anonymously why they are seeking one.

During the debate, Bill Justinussen of the Fólkaflokkurin party called for the bill to be referred back to the committee.