Health of adolescents - at the forefront

The theme of family relations, health of the younger generation prevailed during today's plenary session. Following the divorce, the people's representatives discussed the legal basis for the artificial termination of pregnancy by persons under the age of 18 years. The Ministry of Health, on behalf of the government, prepared a legislative initiative that is based on taking care of the health of girls. It is about increasing the age threshold for an abortion from 15 to 18 years with notification of parents or legal representatives about it. The initiative is based on concern about the large number of abortions among adolescents (80% of pregnancies in adolescence end with medical or surgical abortion).

The law-in-draft proposed by the government caused a lively discussion during the plenary session. It was the same at the meeting as a profile parliamentary committee, where three medical deputies did not reach a unanimous opinion, and “The Obnovlenie” (Renewal) parliamentary faction.

Different opinions sounded today. As usual, supporters and opponents of the adoption of legislative initiatives led in their favor to various arguments. In particular, that in Russia, in Ukraine, as well as in our republic now, this age is 15, and in Moldova - 16.

It is important in such a situation to strengthen preventive work, the people's deputy supposes.

He was supported in this respect by the vice-speaker of the parliament Galina Antyufeeva, who considers that the consequences of adopting this legislative initiative are not calculated.

The counter-arguments in support of the adoption of the government law-in-draft were presented in a speech of Deputy Ilya Vasiliev.

Deputy Prime Minister Stanislav Kasap, speaking before the deputy corps, noted that the main thing for developers of the law-in-draft is the health of adolescents.

Stanislav Kasap also said that the supreme executive body is ready to discuss the change in the age threshold proposed in the law-in-draft to notify parents of the intention of the minor to have an abortion.

Having received these assurances, by the majority of votes the Supreme Council adopted the law-in-draft "On protection of the reproductive health of citizens and on family planning".