Abortion in Andorra

Nativity scene from a church in Encamp.

Abortion in Andorra is illegal in all cases; the Co-Princes of Andorra are the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell, who is required to adhere to Roman Catholic teaching on pregnancy. Around 88% of its population identifies as Roman Catholic.

Andorra, along with Vatican City, are the only two European countries where abortion is completely illegal.[1]

## Law on abortion[edit]

The Constitution of Andorra states:[2]

> Article 8

> 1\. The Constitution recognises the right to life and fully protects it in its different phases.

> 2\. All persons have the right to physical and moral integrity. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

> 3\. The death penalty is prohibited.

The Penal Code (Code Pénal) prohibits a number of offences against prenatal human life (contre la vie humaine prénatale) alongside offences against independent human life after birth (contre la vie humaine indépendante).[3] Article 107 states, in relation to forced abortion:

> Whoever causes the abortion of a woman without her consent must be punished with a prison sentence of four to ten years and disqualification any health profession for up to ten years.

Article 108 outlaws abortion with consent:

> Whoever causes the abortion of a woman with her consent must be punished with a prison sentence of three months to three years and disqualification from practising any health profession for a period of up to five years.

Article 109 adds:

> Whoever by serious recklessness causes an abortion must be punished with a penalty of arrest or a fine of up to €30,000.

Article 120 protects the unborn child from other forms of assault:

> Any person who causes in an implanted embryo or in a foetus a lesion or disease seriously impairing his development or causing him physical or psychological defect persisting beyond birth must be punished with a prison sentence of three months to three years and disqualification from practising any health profession for up to six years.

The law has no explicit exceptions to its prohibitions.[4] However, under the double effect principle in Catholic medical ethics, an intervention which would unintentionally cause the death of an unborn child is permitted where this would save the life of a pregnant woman (for example, in the ending of an ectopic pregnancy).[5][6][7]

## Proposals[edit]

The Stop Violències movement led by the psychologist Vanessa Mendoza Cortés campaigns against gender-based violence and for the legislation of abortion in Andorra.[8][9]

In 2018, Pope Francis intervened in the debate by stating that the approval of any legalisation would result in the abdication of Bishop Joan Enric Vives Sicília as Co-Prince.[10]

## Abortion abroad[edit]

Women in Andorra who choose to terminate a pregnancy usually travel to either neighboring Spain or France where abortion is widely available.[11]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Only Malta and Andorra prohibit abortion under any circumstances". 5 December 2017.
2. ^ Constitution of the Principality of Andorra. Andorra: Consell General. 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
3. ^ "Nouveau Code Pénal" (PDF). www.legislationonline.org. OSCE. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
4. ^ "Facts and figures about abortion in the European Region". World Health Organization, Europe. World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
5. ^ "Only Malta and Andorra prohibit abortion under any circumstances". 5 December 2017.
6. ^ Bernhard, Meg (2019-10-22). "Andorra's abortion rights revolution". POLITICO. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
7. ^ "Penal Code of 11 July 1990. (Butlletí Oficial del Principat d'Andorra, Vol. 2, No. 21, 21 July 1990, pp. 378-96.)". 1990. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
8. ^ "Vanessa Mendoza Cortés | Front Line Defenders". 2021-11-19. Archived from the original on 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
9. ^ "Ms. Q&A: Vanessa Mendoza Cortés on Ending Violences". msmagazine.com. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
10. ^ Vella, Ricard Poy, Andorra la (November 5, 2018). "El Vaticà avisa que l'avortament faria abdicar el Copríncep". DiariAndorra.ad.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
11. ^ White, Christna (9 April 2018). "The Ms. Q&A: Vanessa Mendoza Cortés is Demanding a Better Future for Women in Andorra". Ms.blog.

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