Italy moves to allow anti-abortion activists inside clinics

ROME — Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been accused of taking the country back to “medieval times” by tabling legislation that gives anti-abortion activists a place in abortion clinics.

Before coming to power, Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, promised not to touch the right to abortion, established under certain conditions in 1978.

But on Tuesday her party introduced an amendment permitting healthcare authorities “to involve non-profits with experience providing maternity support in family planning clinics.”

The measure is part of legislation that the lower house of parliament approved on Thursday afternoon by a margin of 140 votes to 91, paving the way for a final vote in the upper chamber.

It promises to add to criticism that Meloni is effectuating a hard-right agenda at home while projecting herself as a moderate on the international scene. 

While Meloni's party claims it wants to inform women of measures available to mothers — such as financial assistance and welfare arrangements — in order that abortion not be driven by economic pressures, critics say the amendment makes it easier for anti-abortionists to intimidate women and restrict their rights.

Meloni has so far kept her promise not to repeal Italy's abortion law, but opponents describe an increasingly hostile environment for women. Due to the influence of the Catholic church and the substantial number of conscientious objectors in gynecological departments, access to abortions can be problematic in Italy.

Healthcare authorities in regions controlled by Meloni's majority variously offer women money not to abort and impose hospital stays for those taking an abortion pill. Members of that majority have also proposed laws that would force women to listen to a fetus' heartbeat before aborting, or that would give a fetus full legal rights, turning abortion into murder.

Women’s associations protested outside parliament this week, with coordinator Gabriella Marando saying: “Family planning clinics are lay, socio-cultural spaces in order to guarantee wellbeing, self-determination and a free choice on motherhood and abortion, and there can be no third parties, particularly religious-inspired ones.”

Francesco Boccia of the opposition Democratic Party wrote on Facebook:  "They are playing with the rights and freedom of women. We will not permit them to return Italy to medieval times."

Another opposition MP, Gilda Sportiello from the 5Star Movement, said the presence of anti-abortion groups near or inside clinics "is organized harassment, intended to make the woman feel guilty and to humiliate her."

Sportiello on Tuesday proposed legislation that would make abortion a constitutional right, telling parliament she had previously had an abortion. She was subsequently verbally attacked by members of the governing majority, she told POLITICO.  

“I did this so that women who are contemplating this choice at this moment, when all of Italy is talking about abortion and they might be feeling judged, don’t feel so alone," she said.

Meloni’s party insists it doesn't want to revoke Italy's abortion law, known as 194, but aims instead to enforce a clause that allows clinics to take advantage of "collaboration by suitable groups and voluntary associations so as to help overcome the reasons why a woman might decide to terminate a pregnancy.” Brothers of Italy says the new amendment is in the spirit of this clause, which it claims has never been applied.

Fabio Rampelli, deputy speaker of parliament and a senior MP in Meloni’s party, told the legislature: "No one wants to reform or cancel the 194 [law], but to apply it in its entirety … We intend to apply it and not ignore it, as we have always said.”

In doing so, Meloni's government is defying the direction of travel in other European countries. In the U.K., for example, anti-abortion associations are not allowed in the vicinity of abortion clinics, while in Spain hindering women from seeking an abortion carries a prison sentence.

Spanish Minister for Equality Ana Redondo condemned the Italian measure, writing on X that "organized pressure against women who want to terminate a pregnancy means undermining a right recognized by law." Meloni retorted that Redondo was "ignorant" of Italy's laws.

Italy's upper chamber votes next week on the bill, which is expected to pass comfortably.