ABORTION RIGHTS IN RUSSIA

 

” It is often claimed that Russia isn’t traditional and Christian but degenerate and decadent because of its high abortion rates.”

 Soviet women commonly resorted to abortion as a way to end unwanted pregnancies. In the post-Soviet decades, the emergence of a market economy, the availability of modern contraceptive methods, and increased knowledge about contraception have all contributed to improving sexual culture. The number of abortions has decreased significantly and would have declined even more rapidly were it not for certain issues, among them the absence of a system of sex education.

But in 1920, rate of abortion has been increased.      

 

 RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Law No. 5487-1 of 22 July 1993 on Fundamentals of Russian Federation Legislation on Public Health Care.

Article 36. Artificial abortion

Every woman has the right to decide independently the question of motherhood. Artificial abortions are performed at a woman’s request within the first 12 weeks of the gestation period, when socially indicated within 22 weeks, and any stage of pregnancy whenever medically indicated and with the woman’s consent.

Artificial abortions are performed within the limits of programs of mandatory health insurance in institutions licensed for this type of activity by physicians with special training.

The list of medical indications for artificial abortion is determined by the Russian Federation Ministry of Health and the list of social indications, according to the statute approved by the Russian Federation Government. Illegal abortions are subject to criminal liability as established by legislation of the Russian Federation.

Decree No. 485 of 11 August 2003 on the List of Social Indications for Induced Termination of Pregnancy.

Current law

During the 2000s, Russia's steadily falling population (due to both negative birth-rates and low life expectancy) became a major source of concern, even forcing the military to curtail conscription due to shortages of young males. On 21 October 2011, the Russian Parliament passed a law restricting abortion to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, with an exception up to 22 weeks if the pregnancy was the result of rape, and for medical necessity it can be performed at any point during pregnancy. Abortion can only be performed in licensed institutions (typically hospitals or women's clinics) and by physicians who have specialized training. The physician can refuse to perform the abortion, except the abortions for medical necessity. The new law is stricter than the previous one, in that under the former law abortions after 12 weeks were allowed on broader socioeconomic grounds, whereas under the current law such abortions are only allowed if there are serious medical problems with the mother or fetus, or in case of rape.

 

 Recent statistics

Since the 1990s, abortion in Russia has been in steep decline. Abortion halved in the period between 1990 and 2000, going from 4 to 2 million abortions approximately. Abortions per 1000 women aged 15–49 went from 114 to 55 between 1990 and 2000. In 2010, this was reinforced when total live births surpassed the total number of abortions in Russia for the first time in the 21st century. In 2013 1 million abortions were performed, 28 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–49. In 2021 the number had reached approx. 400k, decreasing by a factor of 10 since 1990, with the rate per 1000 women aged 15–49 dropping to 12.

 

 The exceptionally high rate of induced abortion in Russia (204/100 live births in 1991) and of abortion-related genital tract infection and infertility implies an urgent need for both the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and less invasive abortion techniques. Vacuum aspiration is gradually replacing curettage as the abortion method of choice for first-trimester abortions, and research is being conducted on pharmacologic abortion involving prostaglandins in combination with RU-486. Infertility, which affects 10-15% of married Russian couples, accounts for 50% of visits to the largest gynecologic hospitals. 92% of women and 49% of men in couples with impaired fertility exhibit pathology of the reproductive system, primarily prior inflammatory morbidity of the genitalia. The use of surgery to correct these impairments is largely unsuccessful, especially when there has been prior treatment with the hydrocupration method. The Federal Family Planning Program for 1993-97 reflects increased awareness of the problem; among its goals are the creation of state and social structures for a family planning service, mass media campaigns, the preparation of educational materials on the avoidance of unwanted pregnancy, and staff training in sex education and family planning.