A government proposal to extend the abortion time limit by two weeks and allow surrogacy was criticised by an opposition MP who called the practice a form of modern slavery for poor women.
Opposition Democratic Party MP Zheni Gjergji on Tuesday criticised a proposed legislation reproductive health and rights in Albania, saying that allowing surrogacy will affect poorer women in the country.
The government has already published the proposed law for public consultation. It includes extending the time limits for abortions from 12 to 14 weeks, while abortions for the protection of a woman’s health are to be allowed for up to 22 weeks.
The law regulates the rights to donate and receive donations for assisted pregnancy and approves assisted pregnancy rights for married heterosexual couples and single females, but not for homosexual couples.
For the first time in Albania, the law will also permit surrogacy, a process in which a woman carries and delivers a child for a couple or individual. It will allow surrogacy only if the beneficiary woman is proven to be sterile.
But MP Gjergji suggested that it might cause suffering for poorer women.
“This paves the way for massive abuse and modern slavery and can transform Albania into a large criminal laboratory,” Gjergji said.
She also complained about effective lack of free healthcare in the country, including for reproductive healthcare. Some 60 per cent of all healthcare expenditures in Albania are paid for by people out of their own pockets rather than from taxes.
Albania legalised abortion in 1995, and unlike many other countries, abortion rights has so far not become a topic of political debate.
However, this could be about to change as some opposition MPs have leaned toward conservative policies, complaining about a lack of protection for the institution of the family and airing related conspiracy theories about the government or rights activists.
