News

By Patrick B. Craine

PARIS, France, September 3, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Concerned about abortion access in the city of Paris, the Mayor's office presented an action plan last week that involves offering chemical abortions without hospitalization in five 'planning centres' or abortuaries around the city, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The chemical abortions will be available up to five weeks, and the City hopes that it will make it easier for women to get abortions.

Sérénade Chafik of France's Planned Parenthood spoke of abortion access as an “obstacle course.”  “The law is not applied,” she said.  “After eight weeks of pregnancy, it becomes difficult to find a doctor willing to perform abortions.”

Currently, French law allows abortion-on-demand until the 12th week after which they can be performed in exceptional cases with the approval of two doctors.

Planned Parenthood contends, as reported by AFP, that every year between 3,000 and 5,000 go abroad to get abortions.

According to AFP, in 2007 there were 13,700 abortions in Paris, compared with 209,700 reported in all of France in 2006.