The Hungarian government has announced the preparation of large-scale legislative changes aimed at expanding women's access to medical services and strengthening protection against domestic violence. In particular, the authorities intend to allow the sale of emergency contraceptive drugs without a prescription and revise the current rules on termination of pregnancy.
This was announced by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar on Thursday, November 12. Details of the legislative initiatives are provided by the Hungarian publication Portfolio.
One of the main changes will be the removal of the mandatory prescription for purchasing emergency contraceptive drugs. Currently in Hungary, such medications can only be obtained with a doctor's prescription. The government plans to eliminate this restriction so that women can get the necessary drugs faster.
In addition, the authorities intend to revise the so-called fetal heartbeat rule, introduced in 2022. Under the current requirements, before terminating a pregnancy, a woman must undergo a procedure to be informed about the signs of fetal life, including its heartbeat.
The new version of the legislation provides that after receiving medical information, a woman will be able to decide independently whether to undergo the relevant procedure.
According to the Hungarian government's assessment, the current requirement has not led to a reduction in the number of abortions, but has created additional ethical problems and psychological burden for patients.
A separate block of reforms concerns stricter liability for domestic and sexualized violence. The authorities propose to strengthen the rules of restraining orders for victims, as well as establish separate criminal liability for the illegal use of intimate photographs and video recordings.
Legislative changes should enshrine the principle of voluntary consent to sexual acts. Additional procedural guarantees will be provided for victims of domestic violence during criminal investigations.
According to Magyar, according to expert estimates, about 50 women die in Hungary each year as a result of partner violence. The government considers it necessary to strengthen protection mechanisms so that victims can receive help without the threat of repeated violence.
The authorities also plan to expand medical, social, financial and psychological support for pregnant women. A separate program will be aimed at providing low-income women and girls with necessary personal hygiene products.
Another initiative will be the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
At the proposal of 44 women deputies of the parliamentary faction of the Tisza party, the government intends to initiate the relevant procedure in parliament.
The Convention provides for the obligations of states to prevent violence, protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice. Hungary signed the document, but has not ratified it to date.
The preparation of reforms was preceded by consultations with medical specialists, civil society organizations and representatives of religious communities. In September, the Hungarian Ministry of Health reported on the completion of one of the stages of discussion of the rules for termination of pregnancy and emergency contraception.
The changes announced on November 12 are still at the stage of legislative initiatives. Specific dates for the entry into force of the new rules have not been named. Until their official adoption, the current procedure for obtaining emergency contraceptive drugs and performing medical procedures remains in force.
