Hungary to ratify Istanbul Convention and scrap abortion heartbeat rule under Magyar

The package

Prime Minister Péter Magyar set out the measures on Thursday, 12 November, in a video posted to Facebook. The package covers ratifying the Istanbul Convention, scrapping a 2022 rule on the fetal heartbeat, and making emergency contraceptive pills available without a prescription. Magyar described the government's aim as ending a period of inaction, and the initiative was put forward by 44 women MPs from his Tisza party. Tisza won the April elections and ended 16 years in power for Viktor Orbán, Magyar's predecessor. On X, Magyar summed up the package in English:

“Historic steps to protect Hungarian women.”

The Istanbul Convention

Hungary is one of five EU member states that have signed the Istanbul Convention without ratifying it, alongside Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia. The Council of Europe treaty on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence was concluded in 2011 and entered into force in 2014. Orbán's government opposed it, arguing that the treaty promoted 'gender ideology'. The convention requires rape to be criminalised on the basis of the absence of freely given consent, and it includes separate protections for migrant and asylum-seeking women. Magyar tied the consent standard to the treaty in these words:

“We are making it clear that sexual acts can only take place with the voluntary consent of the other party.”

Abortion rules

The 2022 decree required women to be shown evidence of the fetal heartbeat before deciding whether to have an abortion. Magyar said the rule raised 'serious bioethical questions' and had not led to fewer abortions. Under current law, abortions are allowed up to 12 weeks, and up to 24 weeks in cases of severe genetic or developmental abnormalities. Women must still meet social and family services workers before the procedure, and the reports do not say that this requirement is changing. Emergency contraceptive pills will be sold without a prescription, which Magyar said would prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the number of abortions.

Domestic violence and criminal law

Magyar also announced tougher criminal law and action against all forms of domestic violence. The package criminalises sharing intimate images without consent and changes the rules on removing abusers from victims' homes. Victims of domestic violence are to receive special treatment in criminal proceedings. Magyar also mentioned tackling period poverty as part of the same package. A 2024 EU survey found that 54% of Hungarian women had experienced physical, psychological or sexual violence from a partner, the highest rate in the study.

Reactions and next steps

Patent, a women's rights association, welcomed the announcements on Facebook. Its statement said Hungary still had a lot of work ahead, starting from a very low base with the worst figures in the European Union. Magyar later posted again on Thursday, welcoming the positive reactions and thanking Hungarian women. No date was given for parliamentary action, for the ratification of the convention or for the repeal of the 2022 decree.