A cross-party group of German parliamentarians has introduced a bill to legalize abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Currently, abortions are not legal but are not penalized if certain conditions are met, such as mandatory counseling.

The proposed legislation aims to remove these legal ambiguities by making abortions lawful up to the 12th week, while maintaining the requirement for counseling but eliminating the three-day waiting period.

The bill also suggests that abortions should be regulated under the Pregnancy Conflict Law rather than the Penal Code, and that health insurance should cover the costs.

This initiative is supported by 236 members from various parties, including the SPD, Greens, and Left Party, and is expected to be discussed in the Bundestag before the upcoming elections.

The move is seen as a significant step towards enhancing women's reproductive rights and autonomy in Germany.