Post by : Rameen Ariff

The Faroe Islands have taken a historic step by voting to legalise abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, overturning one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws. After decades of debate, the self-governing territory finally approved the reform with a narrow 17–16 vote following an intense parliamentary session on Thursday.

For years, abortion in the Faroe Islands was legal only in very limited cases, such as rape, incest, or when a woman’s health was at risk. Under the previous law, introduced in 1956, women often faced a complicated and invasive process, requiring approval from doctors and medical boards. Both the woman and the doctor risked criminal charges if the strict conditions were not met.

Calling the vote “a truly historic day”, MP Ingilín Didriksen Strømm, one of the lawmakers who proposed the bill, said the change finally acknowledges women’s autonomy. She said the reform “guarantees access to safe healthcare” and allows women to make decisions about their own lives without fear or stigma.

The new abortion law is expected to come into force on 1 July next year. It marks a major change for the remote North Atlantic archipelago, home to around 56,000 people and known for its conservative social values. More than three-quarters of the population belong to the Lutheran church, and earlier attempts to reform abortion laws repeatedly failed — including a tied vote last year that prevented the bill from passing.

Pro-choice groups say the decision is long overdue. Bjørt Lind from Fritt Val, a leading campaign group, described the reform as “a colossal change”, noting that abortion had long been a taboo topic in Faroese society. She said women often avoided speaking about their experiences due to fear and shame.

Amnesty International’s Faroe Islands branch also welcomed the reform, calling it “a huge step for human rights, bodily autonomy and access to safe abortion”. The organisation pointed out that many Faroese women previously had to travel to Denmark — where abortion is allowed up to 18 weeks — because access at home was so limited.

Across Europe, 43 countries permit abortion on request during early pregnancy. Only a handful — including Malta, Poland, Liechtenstein, Andorra and Monaco — still enforce highly restrictive policies. The Faroe Islands had long been among them.

Opponents of the new law argue that the fetus’s rights should be protected. MP Erhard Joensen, who voted against the bill, said he respects the outcome but believes many citizens do not support the change and may attempt to reverse it in the future.

Despite the divided opinions, Thursday’s vote marks one of the most significant social reforms in modern Faroese history and signals a shift in a society traditionally known for its conservative stance.

#Global News