Most cases of abortion are illegal in Germany, which report says is not compatible with international standards

Abortions in Germany should be legalised within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a government-appointed commission has recommended.

While abortion is rarely punished, it remains illegal in Germany, except for specific circumstances including when a woman’s life is in danger, or she is a victim of rape, while the prerequisite for any termination is a consultation with a state-recognised body.

Advocates of a law change have welcomed the investigation into the country’s legal framework, calling the law outdated and detrimental to women. Even in the cases not considered illegal, the procedure must take place within the first three months, except when there is a compelling reason to carry it out later.

The all-female expert commission on reproductive self-determination and reproductive medicine was set up by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party government after the desire to change the 153-year-old law was anchored in its coalition agreement.

  • @ryathal
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    62 months ago

    It’s really just social safety nets that Europe is more liberal about. Many things are fairly conservative. The protected designation of origin laws are a pretty good example.

    • Neuromancer
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      -52 months ago

      I’ve never thought much about the origination laws. Why do you consider them conservative? Seems more about keeping labeling honest. I only know a few instance such as parm cheese and champagne

      • @ryathal
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        42 months ago

        There’s nothing special about the champagne region that makes it better for sparkling wine than some other region. Similar for parmesan or kobe beef. It’s absolutely a conservative view to say only things from the original area can use the name.

        • @[email protected]
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          22 months ago

          Yeah, but it’s a brand. There’s nothing special about the Coca-Cola company that makes it impossible for other soda manufacturers to make brown sweet drinks either, but they have exclusive rights to the name.

          Why would you even want to name your sparkling wine after the Champagne region unless you’re making it there? It’s because the name has a value, and the origin laws are there to protect that value.

        • @[email protected]
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          2 months ago

          And you’re free to make your region famous for its sparkling wine, out-shining the Champagne.

          DOP products always have a very long cultural history, and also cannot be properly replicated outside of the region – you can make good products that might even be similar, but you can’t make the thing because the product depends on the local microclimate or whatnot.

          There’s another label for things that can be reproduced outside of the region. Say, Kabanosy staropolskie: You can make Kabanosi all you want with any recipe, if you want to make “Old Polish Kabanosi” you have to use the actual original time-honoured recipe. If you don’t want to then don’t call it that.

          All this stuff is essentially trademarks that are given to regions, or even recipes, instead of individual producers.

        • Neuromancer
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          -12 months ago

          I have never seen it better, but the name defines the location.