The Lagtinget, the parliament of the Faroe Islands, has made a significant leap in women’s rights, recently passing a new abortion law that allows women to terminate their pregnancies freely up to the 12th week.
Hervør Pálsdóttir, a representative from the Tjóðveldisflokkurin party, shared the news with Ritzau. The proposal narrowly passed with 17 votes in favor and 16 against, echoing the close call it faced during its second reading just days earlier.
Pálsdóttir, one of the key figures behind this landmark legislation, expressed her elation at the outcome. “This is a great and historic moment,” she remarked. “Faroese women now have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. Many women have fought tirelessly for these rights, and I believe this change fosters a greater sense of respect from our country.”
Until now, abortion in the Faroe Islands was permitted only under specific circumstances—such as when a woman’s life or health was seriously at risk or in cases of rape or incest. Notably, a similar proposal was narrowly defeated last year, highlighting the contentious nature of the topic; the previous vote ended in a 15-15 tie, requiring a majority for approval.
The abortion legislation had remained unchanged since 1956, making this development all the more historic.
The news has elicited joy from Majbrit Berlau, the secretary general of the organization Sex & Society. “Congratulations to everyone in the Faroe Islands for finally gaining access to free abortion—52 years after Denmark,” she celebrated. “It has been a long and difficult debate, one that required significant effort from many. But today, we have secured Faroese women the right to control their own bodies.”
She pointed out that many women in the Faroe Islands had previously felt compelled to travel to Denmark to undergo the procedure.
With a population just shy of 55,000, this milestone reflects not only a shift in policy but also a pivotal moment in the evolving conversation around women’s rights in the archipelago.
/Ritzau/