Hungary eases abortion restrictions in women's rights overhaul

The reforms mark a break the the conservative policies of former PM Viktor Orban. The controversial "heartbeat regulation" is to be scrapped and women are to be better protected against violence. Under the planned changes to the so-called "heartbeat regulation," women will no longer be forced to listen to the vital signs of the fetus before an abortion.

The changes proposed by the new government under Prime Minister Peter Magyar are a significant break with the conservative policies of his predecessor Viktor Orban . The country also plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention, a treaty aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence. Hungarian law allows for most abortions to be performed up to 12 weeks, and up to 24 weeks in cases of severe developmental abnormalities.

Until now, women were required to have a medical provider show them evidence of a definitive sign of fetal life, commonly understood as the so-called "fetal heartbeat," before deciding whether to have an abortion.