Spain Approves Menstrual Leave, Teen Abortion And Trans Laws

MADRID, Spain — The Spanish parliament approved legislation on Thursday expanding abortion and transgender rights for teenagers, making Spain the first country in Europe to grant workers paid menstrual leave.

Equality Minister Irene Montero, a member of Spain’s left-wing coalition government’s junior partner, the “United We Can” Party, was the driving force behind the two laws.

Because of changes in sexual and reproductive rights, 16- and 17-year-olds in Spain can now have abortions without parental consent. Period products will now be provided free in schools and prisons, while hormonal contraceptives and the morning-after pill will be provided free in state-run health centers. The menstrual leave policy allows employees experiencing debilitating period pain to take paid time off.

In addition, the amendments codify the right to an abortion in a state hospital. Currently, more than 80% of termination procedures in Spain are performed in private clinics, owing to many doctors in the public system who refuse to perform them, citing religious reasons.

Under the new system, state hospital doctors with written objections will not be forced to do abortions.

Spain Approves Of Abortions With Out Parental Consent

The abortion law expands on legislation passed in 2010, which marked a significant shift for a traditionally Catholic country, transforming Spain into one of Europe’s most progressive countries on reproductive rights. The right-wing Popular Party’s challenge to allowing abortions in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy was rejected by Spain’s constitutional court last week.

Separately, lawmakers approved a package of reforms on Thursday that strengthened transgender rights, including allowing any citizen over the age of 16 to change their legally registered gender without medical supervision.

Minors Still Need Judge Permission To Transition

Minors aged 12 to 13 will need a judge’s permission to change, while their parents or legal guardians must accompany those aged 14 to 16.

Previously, transgender people required a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from multiple doctors. The second law says that LGBTQ people can’t get “conversion therapy,” and lesbians and single women who want IVF treatment can get help from the government.

The center-left coalition government is currently under fire for another of Montero’s signature projects, a new sexual consent law that was intended to strengthen rape protection but has instead resulted in the reduction of prison sentences for hundreds of sex offenders.

In cases of alleged sexual assault, the “Only Yes Means Yes” Law makes verbal consent the most important factor. The government is now attempting to draft an amended version to end the controversy ahead of elections later this year.

The right-wing parties that makeup Spain’s main opposition bloc have strongly opposed the three initiatives.

SOURCE – (AP)