Hungary eases abortion and emergency contraception rules in breakthrough for women’s rights

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Thursday that the government will ease access to emergency contraception and roll back a controversial abortion rule as part of a series of women's rights reforms.Marking a sharp break with the policies of former premier Viktor Orban, the measures also include stronger protections for victims of abuse and ratification of an international treaty on violence against women.Prime Minister Magyar said in a Facebook video: “We are proposing a comprehensive package of measures to curb all forms of violence against women, for the safety and dignity of Hungarian women.”It comes after Mr Magyar claimed a historic victory in Hungary’s elections back in April, ousting Trump and Putin ally Mr Orban after 16 years in power. Pollsters predicted a record voter turnout, with Hungarian television showing long queues ⁠outside some voting stations in Budapest.Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar (Getty)Mr Magyar said ratifying the Istanbul Convention would be a "long overdue debt" of the Hungarian state. The treaty, drawn up in 2014, is designed to prevent violence against women and domestic violence. Signatories are required to criminalise rape based on the absence of consent.Mr Magyar said the government would amend the criminal code to strengthen protections for women, including rules governing restraining orders.Misuse of intimate images will become a criminal offence, while victims of domestic violence will receive special treatment during criminal proceedings."We are making it clear that sexual acts can only take place with the voluntary consent of the other party," Mr Magyar said.Meanwhile, women will no longer need a prescription to obtain emergency contraception, and the government will introduce measures to tackle "menstrual poverty", he said.A 2022 rule passed by the Orban government will also be amended. It requires pregnant women seeking an abortion to provide evidence from a healthcare provider of a definitive sign of life, widely interpreted as a foetal heartbeat.Doctors and women's rights groups criticised and protested against the change, calling the procedure "cruel" and "humiliating".Mr Magyar said the rule had failed to reduce the number of abortions while raising "serious bioethical questions" and causing additional trauma for women facing difficult circumstances.