How Italy is Emptying Its Abortion Law

Women manifesting in Italy to defend their right to abortion. Image by Antonella Beccaria via Flickr.com under licence CC 2.0

Italy has on paper a liberal abortion law. Yet, in practice it is becoming more and more complicated for women to terminate their pregnancy, and the number of illegal abortions is reportedly increasing. Religious beliefs and political weakness when it comes to defending this constitutional right of women are keeping Italy in the Dark Ages of reproductive rights.