Spain’s parliament on Thursday passed laws that make it easier for transgender people to change their gender, as well as expand the opportunities for women to have an abortion.
The law on facilitating the change of gender was adopted with 191 votes “for” and 60 votes “against”, as well as with the abstention of an unusually large number of deputies – 91.
Reform in the field of abortion was supported by 185 legislators, 154 were against.
The Gender Change Law allows children and young people from the age of 12 to change their gender identity. For children over 14 years of age, parental consent will be required, and for younger children, the judge’s approval will be required. Those over the age of 16 will be able to decide for themselves.
The conservative opposition and the Catholic Church criticized the law, and the idea also sparked debate in the left-wing government coalition.
The new abortion law guarantees the possibility of performing an abortion in state health centers, as well as reduces the age threshold from which a woman can perform an abortion without parental consent to 16 years of age. The law also eliminates the three-day “cooling off period” that was previously mandatory.
Free “morning-after pills” are also guaranteed by law.
Another innovation is the so-called “menstrual holiday”, which allows women not to go to work and stay at home in case of severe menstrual cramps.
