A new law came into force on Thursday which stops women going for an abortion being harassed by demonstrators outside clinics in Spain.
The measure came into force on Thursday a day after the law was published in Spain’s Official State Bulletin (BOE).
Spain’s penal code has been amended resulting in anti-abortion demonstrators facing a year-long prison term if they try to convince women not to terminate their pregnancies.
The ban also applies to the harassment or intimidation of health staff at abortion clinics.
Anti-abortion campaigners say they are simply praying outside clinics.
Demonstrators from the anti-abortion group, Right to Life, gathered outside the parliament in Madrid last week when the change was announced.
Many women in Spain have to use private clinics for abortions as ‘most’ obstetricians and gynaecologists in the public health systems refuse to carry out terminations, according to the OMC doctors’ association. »
