# Hungary Eases Abortion Restrictions in Women's Rights Overhaul New government reforms scrap mandatory fetal heartbeat listening and ratify the Istanbul Convention. - **Source:** [DW – World](https://www.dw.com/en) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/fbf92331-0b99-44b9-9e6c-b262c400db2a ## Policy Shift Under Magyar The Hungarian government announced a major overhaul of reproductive health policies on Thursday. Prime Minister Peter Magyar proposed these changes to break away from the conservative framework established by his predecessor, Viktor Orban. The reforms aim to modernize women's rights and address long-standing criticisms regarding the country's previous restrictive healthcare regulations. ## Scrapping Heartbeat Mandates Authorities will remove the controversial 2022 regulation that required women to listen to fetal vital signs before undergoing an abortion. Medical professionals and rights groups previously condemned this practice as cruel and humiliating. Prime Minister Magyar noted that the policy failed to reduce abortion rates and raised significant bioethical concerns for patients. ## Access to Contraception Beyond abortion procedures, the government is expanding access to reproductive healthcare by making emergency contraceptive pills available without a prescription. This change simplifies the process for women seeking urgent care. By removing the medical provider barrier, the administration aims to improve public health outcomes and provide more autonomy to citizens regarding their bodies. ## Ratifying Istanbul Convention Hungary plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty focused on preventing violence against women and domestic abuse. The previous administration had blocked this move, citing concerns over gender ideology. This treaty requires member states to criminalize rape based on the absence of freely given consent, aligning Hungary with broader European standards. ## Criminal Code Revisions The legislative package includes updates to the criminal code to enhance protections for women. Specifically, the government intends to classify the misuse of intimate images as a criminal offense. Furthermore, the reforms aim to strengthen the treatment of domestic violence victims during criminal proceedings to ensure their safety and dignity throughout the legal process. ## Legal Framework for Consent Prime Minister Magyar emphasized that sexual acts must strictly require the voluntary consent of all parties involved. By adopting the Istanbul Convention, the government clarifies its stance on sexual violence. This shift marks a departure from the previous government's opposition to the treaty, which had previously isolated Hungary from many other European Union members. ## European Context and Alignment The Istanbul Convention, established by the Council of Europe in 2014, promotes human rights across the continent. While most EU members have already ratified the treaty, Hungary joins a small group of nations moving toward adoption. Other countries like Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Slovakia have yet to ratify the agreement. ## Ending Political Inaction Magyar described these measures as a commitment to ending an era of inaction regarding women's rights in Hungary. The reforms represent a significant pivot in national policy, impacting both medical access and legal protections. Observers will now monitor how these legislative changes are implemented and their long-term effects on Hungarian society and law. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dw.com/en/hungary-eases-abortion-restrictions-in-women-s-rights-overhaul/a-79931614?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._