Luxembourg's parliament voted on Tuesday to eliminate the mandatory waiting period for abortions while rejecting a proposal to extend the legal timeframe for the procedure.

On Tuesday, lawmakers in Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies approved a measure abolishing the mandatory "reflection period" previously required before an abortion. However, the legal timeframe for abortion – currently set at 12 weeks of pregnancy – remains unchanged.

The reform, outlined in Draft Bill 8490, addresses multiple aspects of women's and girls' self-determination. Among its provisions, the bill bans virginity certificates and hymenorrhaphy, practices that have drawn criticism for perpetuating gender-based harm.

Diane Adehm, the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) MP serving as the bill's rapporteur, emphasised that such practices are not isolated incidents but occur globally – including in Luxembourg. "We don't tolerate violations of personal integrity under the guise of culture or tradition," Adehm stated. She added that the legislation reinforces protections for women, establishes clear legal standards, and affirms Luxembourg's commitment to individual autonomy.

A key change under the bill is the removal of the three-day waiting period previously mandated between an initial consultation and the abortion procedure. The move received broad parliamentary support, with only the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) opposing it. The ADR argued that eliminating the waiting period could lead to the trivialisation of abortion.

Separately, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) proposed extending the legal cut-off for abortions from 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. Taina Bofferding, head of the LSAP parliamentary group, argued that the adjustment would grant women who discover pregnancies later more time to make informed decisions while allowing for better assessment of foetal health.

However, the motion was rejected, with opponents citing concerns over the foetus' advanced development at 14 weeks.