Spain bans harassment or intimidation of women going for abortions

Madrid — Spain has criminalized the harassment or intimidation of women going for an abortion under new legislation approved on Wednesday by the Senate. The move, which involved changes to the penal code, means anti-abortion activists who try to convince women not to terminate their pregnancies could face up to a year behind bars.

The measure was proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist party and will come into effect after being published in the official state bulletin in coming days.

Anyone trying "to impede [a woman] from exercising her right to voluntarily interrupt pregnancy" through "bothersome, offensive, intimidating or threatening acts" will face jail time of between three and 12 months, or community service, the text says.