Hungary eases abortion rules

Hungary’s government has announced changes that will ease abortion rules and strengthen protections against violence against women, marking a shift from the conservative policies of former prime minister Viktor Orban. The proposals would remove a requirement for women to hear fetal vital signs before an abortion and make emergency contraception available without a prescription.

Most abortions are permitted up to 12 weeks in Hungary, or up to 24 weeks in cases of severe developmental abnormalities. Introduced in 2022, the “heartbeat regulation” required medical providers to show evidence of fetal life; it drew criticism from doctors and women’s rights groups and did not reduce abortions, according to Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The government also plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention and criminalise the misuse of intimate images, while improving the treatment of domestic violence victims in criminal proceedings.