In 2006, abortion in Portugal was legal under specific circumstances, but public hospitals were performing fewer than 800 legal abortions per year, largely for foetal malformation.

Services were clearly limited and even unavailable to the fullest extent of the law resulting in illegal and potentially unsafe abortion as the only option for many women.

Through this project, our Portuguese Member Association played a key role in the pro-choice campaign held around the referendum in March 2007.

The project research and effective media activities saw abortion legalized on request up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

The project has since facilitated access to high quality abortion services through a telephone helpline, developing regulations for the new legislation and the training of service providers.