Sweden Government Wants Nation to be International Abortion Haven

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 7, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Sweden Government Wants Nation to be International Abortion Haven Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 7, 2005

Stockholm, Sweden (LifeNews.com) — A new governmental report published by the government in Sweden says the European nation should work to become the world’s abortion capital. The nation, which already has some of the most pro-abortion laws in the world, wants to open itself up to allowing free abortions for nonresidents.

"We suggest that foreign women be allowed to have abortions in Sweden," head of the government-commissioned study Eva Eriksson told reporters.

Since the mid-1970s, Sweden has offered its citizens free abortions paid for at taxpayer expense through its socialized health care plan up through the 18th week of pregnancy. But abortion advocates criticize that law as too restrictive because only citizens of Sweden can take advantage of it.

Most European nations and other countries around the world allow nonresidents to obtain abortions.

Eriksson’s report, titled "Abortion in Sweden," advocates allowing foreigners to have abortions Sweden but would not extend to them the same federal funding granted to residents, according to an Associated Press report.

"Sweden’s EU membership already today implies that women from another EU country should be offered abortion in Sweden despite the wording of the abortion law," Eriksson said.

The trend towards allowing non-citizens to have abortions began last year when neighboring Denmark changed its laws to allow abortions for anyone.

Only four countries who are members of the EU prohibit abortions entirely: Ireland, Malta, Poland and Portugal. Portuguese officials want that nation to change its laws and have set up a national referendum for a vote next year.

Before Sweden legalized abortions, women traveled to Poland to obtain abortions and now the situation has reversed with Poland limiting abortions and Sweden expanding them.