Lithuanian PM calls women's right to abortion sign of progressive society

VILNIUS - Women's right to terminate a pregnancy is a signs of a progressive society, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says.

"I think it is an attribute of a progressive society. Women should not only have the right to it, but also the opportunity to do so," he told reporters at the Seimas on Thursday.

Paluckas also backs the idea that women should have their abortion services paid for by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund.

"If we give a right and do not fund it, then it's not a right," Paluckas said.

Later in the day, lawmakers are set to debate a bill on reproductive health, which proposes legalizing abortion by law and to provide this service free of charge.

The existing abortion procedure is defined by the health minister' decree.

The new bill has been submitted by a group of MPs from the ruling and opposition groups.

The bill states that that the law should define the abortion procedure and state that in the absence of medical indications, a pregnancy may be terminated up to the 12 weeks, and up to the 22 weeks in the case of medical indications.

A termination could also be carried out up to 22 weeks after rape or in the case of pregnancy resulting from incest.

The bill stipulates that abortion can be carried out surgically or medically, and that the service of medically assisted termination can be provided remotely at a pregnant woman's request.

"A modern approach is still lacking in the field of termination of pregnancy: the medical abortion method is still rarely used due to legal uncertainties, and women are still forced to choose surgical abortion more often," the explanatory note to the bill says.

The bill also establishes principles for the provision of reproductive health services, ensuring their accessibility, availability, quality, confidentiality and the individual's right to informed and free choice.

It also provides for the provision of assistance to survivors of sexual violence, including free medical, psychological and social assistance, specialized support centers throughout the country, emergency contraception and infection prevention.

The bill also aims to ensure that public sexual education is comprehensive, science-based and includes information on reproductive health, contraception, abortion, prevention of sexually transmitted infections and promotion of reproductive health.

The bill also includes science- and human rights-based, inclusive and equitable sexuality education, taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and reproductive health science institutions.