Prominent organizations, Spotlight and Pro Familia, are publicizing events around "Day of Safe Abortion"
Advocacy for Repeal of Paragraph 218 of the German Criminal Code Continues
As of mid-2025, efforts to repeal Paragraph 218 of the German Criminal Code, which criminalizes abortion, continue with advocacy from various organizations and politicians. Paragraph 218 remains in the Criminal Code, regulating abortion, although there have been ongoing calls for reform or repeal to enhance women's reproductive rights.
Organizations like Pro Familia Pforzheim and Spotlight counseling center Pforzheim are among those demanding changes to ensure better access to abortion services and to remove the penal consequences of abortion under this law. They advocate for the complete repeal of Paragraph 218, treating abortion as a healthcare issue rather than a criminal one.
Advocates demand improved access to counseling and abortion services, emphasizing support and information provision without stigmatization. They also call for enhanced legal protection and self-determination for women regarding reproductive health decisions. The removal of legal barriers that currently penalize women and providers involved in abortion procedures is another key demand.
Public figures like Catherina Pieroth-Manelli, a politician and advocate cited in 2025, have publicly called for the repeal of not only Paragraph 219a (which concerns advertising abortion services) but also Paragraph 218 itself, promoting women's health and autonomy as vital reasons for reform.
While detailed specifics on the exact current legislative status beyond these advocacy efforts are not available, the information indicates a continued push by civil society and some politicians to modernize Germany’s abortion laws by removing the criminal penalties under Paragraph 218 and emphasizing women's rights and healthcare access. These organizations urge lawmakers to align legal frameworks with contemporary social and medical standards on reproductive health.
In Pforzheim, the display case in the train underpass has been filled with information on self-determination and demands regarding abortion. Both organizations demand comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including the inclusion of contraception and abortion in statutory health insurance.
Julia Freiburg of pro familia Pforzheim calls for access to comprehensive abortions due to the rise of right-wing groups and parties. Claudia Jancura, director of the Spotlight counseling center, emphasizes the need to remain vigilant and loud regarding reproductive rights.
International "Safe Abortion Day" has been celebrated annually on September 28 since 1990, a testament to the global movement advocating for women's reproductive rights. As the debate continues in Germany, it is clear that the issue remains a crucial one for many organizations and individuals fighting for women's health, autonomy, and rights.
Science and health-and-wellness are essential aspects that advocates focus on as they push for the repeal of Paragraph 218, which currently criminalizes abortion in Germany. Specifically, they advocate for mental-health considerations in women's health, emphasizing the importance of accessible counseling and information provision, as well as self-determination in reproductive health decisions.
