Back on January 28, 1935, Iceland took a bold and groundbreaking step by passing a law that made therapeutic abortions legal under certain defined circumstances. With this move, the country established itself as one of the first Western nations to adopt such legislation, paving the way for other countries to eventually follow suit.

Key Provisions of the 1935 Legislation

  • The 1935 law was notably wide-ranging in its approach to authorizing abortions. It took into account risks to both physical and mental health, along with a woman's social circumstances and the potential for specific hereditary diseases or congenital disabilities.
  • Socioeconomic Factors: A woman's social situation was factored into the decision, meaning that legal abortion could be granted when her life circumstances were considered particularly difficult.
  • Eugenic Considerations: Under the 1935 law, abortion was also permitted when a substantial risk existed of specific hereditary diseases or congenital disabilities.

To ensure both medical oversight and patient safety, the legislation required that all abortions be carried out by licensed physicians within approved medical facilities. This strict framework was designed with a clear purpose: shielding pregnant women from harm and curbing the prevalence of dangerous, underground procedures — ultimately offering reassurance that women's health remained a central priority.

Background

It's worth noting that Iceland wasn't actually the first nation to take this step. The Soviet Union had already legalized abortion back in 1920. Still, Iceland's 1935 law placed the country among Europe's trailblazers in permitting abortion under defined conditions, and its example helped push other nations toward similar decisions. Sweden, as one notable case, introduced its own abortion legislation in 1938, though it only allowed the procedure on limited grounds.

Iceland went on to broaden the legal grounds for abortion in 1975, and the country's laws have continued to develop in the decades since. As of 2019, Icelandic law allows abortion on request up to the 22nd week of pregnancy — a reflection of the nation's enduring dedication to reproductive rights and women's autonomy.

Through the regulation of abortion, Iceland's underlying goals were clear: protecting the health of women, lowering maternal mortality linked to unsafe procedures, and fostering broader social well-being.