Legal Opinion on Abortion

A new legal opinion from the University of Bern by Manuela Hugentobler, commissioned by the Liechtenstein Human Rights Association (VMR), assesses the current legal framework and the popular initiative “Time-Limit Solution for Liechtenstein” from a human rights perspective.

The opinion shows that human rights protect personal autonomy and the right to decide whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy. An absolute ban is not permissible under human rights law. Where abortion is legally permitted, information and access must be guaranteed in practice, in a timely manner, and free from discrimination.

International human rights bodies have repeatedly recommended that Liechtenstein remove barriers to access, reduce criminalization, and ensure safe access to abortion. According to the report, the proposed time-limit approach generally falls within the scope of human rights and, in key respects, better meets human rights requirements than the current regulation.

The expert opinion thus provides an important foundation for the current discussion in Liechtenstein. The key findings are also summarized in a clear and concise brochure:

Legal Opinion on Human Rights and Abortion 2026

Brochure: Human Rights and Abortion 2026