Marie Stopes International Romania Calls For Abortion Law Change

July 11th, 2008



MARIE STOPES INTERNATIONAL ROMANIA CALLS FOR ABORTION LAW CHANGE



Marie Stopes International Romania (MSIR) has called the recent ordeal of Florina, an 11 year-old Romanian girl who was denied an abortion after being raped by her uncle, an “international embarrassment” and has vowed to campaign for abortion law reform.



While expressing relief that Florina had ultimately received treatment in the United Kingdom , MSIR emphasised the responsibility of Romania’s legislators to ensure that the situation never happens again.



“If our health system cannot provide essential services and support to a young rape victim like Florina, then the system needs to change,” said Cornelia Francisc, Programme Director at MSIR. “I am frankly appalled that Romania refused timely help to one of its own children leaving her to travel abroad in search of an abortion from a foreign doctor. It was traumatic for the girl and an international embarrassment for Romania,” she added.



Ms. Francisc was explicit that Florina’s ordeal highlighted the need to make improvements to Romania’s abortion law: “The current time limit on abortion is simply too low to offer the protection needed by women and girls in vulnerable situations. We call on the Romanian Parliament to take up this issue immediately on their return from recess. In the meantime we will be working with our partners in government, civil society and the media to build public pressure on them to do so.”