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TOWARD A NEW ABORTION LAW IN SWITZERLAND

NCJ Number
14895
Journal
Revue internationale de criminologie et de police technique Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1973) Pages: 388-397 P 388-397
Author(s)
G O SEGOND
Date Published
1973
Length
12 pages
Annotation
EXPLANATION OF CURRENT PROVISIONS OF THE SWISS CRIMINAL CODE AND OF THREE PROPOSALS TO DECRIMINALIZE THE OFFENSE AS FORMULATED BY A FEDERAL COMMISSION.
Abstract
THE PRESENT LAW ALLOWS ABORTION ONLY IN CERTAIN MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE NUMBER OF LEGAL ABORTIONS IN SWITZERLAND IN 1970 WAS 22,000 AND THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL ABORTIONS WAS ESTIMATED AT 50,000. THE ALTERNATIVES FORMULATED BY THE COMMISSION REFLECT THE CURRENT DIVISION OF SWISS PUBLIC OPINION CONCERNING DECRIMINALIZATION. ONE PROPOSAL WOULD LEGALIZE ABORTION ON REQUEST DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY, WHILE THE OTHER PROPOSALS WOULD REQUIRE CERTAIN MEDICAL, JUDICIAL, ETHICAL, GENETIC, OR SOCIAL JUSTIFICATIONS. THE ARTICLE INDICATES SOME OF THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL GROUPS WHICH SUPPORT THE SEPARATE PROPOSALS, INCLUDED IS A TABLE SHOWING THE RATES OF BIRTH IN 1969 AND LEGAL ABORTION IN 1970 FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SWISS CANTONS (STATES). --IN FRENCH