Acció Feminista Slams Andorra Govt for Keeping Abortion Criminalized in Penal Code Reform
Feminist group accuses Andorran authorities of lacking will to decriminalize abortion despite reform promises, as the new Penal Code leaves women punishable for terminations. They demand a court review citing constitutional flaws and global evidence of harm from bans.
Key Points
- Acció Feminista criticises unchanged Article 117 punishing women for consenting to abortions.
- Eli Royo calls reform 'nothing' despite government promises, urges Constitutional Court challenge.
- Claims rules violate dignity, equality, health rights and discriminate by sex.
- Warns of risks from unsafe abortions or travel abroad due to criminal penalties.
Acció Feminista has criticised the Andorran government's Penal Code reform for failing to decriminalise abortion and is calling for a Constitutional Court challenge to the rules that penalise women for consenting to pregnancy terminations.
The organisation highlighted that the reform, approved in July and published in August, left Article 117 unchanged. This provision punishes women who agree to interrupt their pregnancies. Eli Royo, Acció Feminista's secretary, described the outcome as amounting to "nothing" despite earlier public commitments, according to comments reported by El Periódic.
Royo argued that the criminalisation breaches constitutional protections, including human dignity, life and physical and moral integrity, privacy, equality without sex-based discrimination, and health safeguards. She urged General Councillors who opposed the reform to file an unconstitutionality claim, questioning whether the state can use penal law to force women to continue unwanted pregnancies. The group stressed that the penalty falls solely on women, creating direct sex-based discrimination.
Acció Feminista warned that such rules push women toward unsafe clandestine procedures or risky travel abroad, endangering their health amid a lack of post-procedure support due to legal fears. Royo noted: "If your life is at risk, there's nothing you can do. It's as if the state says: 'Sorry, but no.'"
The organisation called out both government and opposition for inaction. "Neither the government nor the opposition is doing anything," Royo said.
Other groups reacted differently to the reform. Stop Violències labelled the criminalisation a human rights violation driven by misogyny. Institut Andorrà de les Dones president Judith Pallarés called the removal of abortion from the Penal Code a step forward, even short of full legalisation, as it would improve medical support and information access in line with global standards—though government plans lack detail.
Acció Feminista persists in pushing for safe voluntary pregnancy interruption, sexual and reproductive rights, via legal action and public campaigns.
Related Articles
Other articles from Catalan-language sources about the same story:
- Diari d'Andorra•
Acció Feminista vol portar al Constitucional la penalització de l’avortament
- El Periòdic•
Acció Feminista veu «insuficients» els passos cap a la despenalització i demana portar la regulació al Constitucional
- El Periòdic•
Acció Feminista titlla d’«insuficients» els passos cap a la despenalització i demana portar la regulació al TC
- Bon Dia•
Acció Feminista reclama un recurs al Constitucional contra la penalització de l’avortament
- Diari d'Andorra•
Acció Feminista reclama portar al Constitucional la despenalització de l’avortament
- Altaveu•
Acció Feminista malfia del Govern per la despenalització de l'avortament: "manca voluntat política"