A working aid from the Central Office of the State Women's Representatives (ZGF) is intended to provide gynecologists and counseling centers in Bremen with legal certainty in dealing with abortions after rape.
Abortions performed on the grounds of criminological indication, meaning abortions carried out after rape, are legal in Germany. They are covered by health insurance, and the mandatory counseling required without such an indication, as well as the three-day waiting period between counseling and the abortion, are waived. Although provided for by law, criminological indication is rarely used in practice. One of the main reasons for this is that many doctors feel uncertain about issuing such an indication. The guide "Abortion on the Grounds of Criminological Indication for Individuals Aged 18 and Over" includes an easily understandable explanation of the legal situation, concrete instructions for issuing a criminological indication, a template with legally sound wording, and information on performing and billing abortions following rape. It also provides addresses in the state of Bremen for referral counseling services, practices, and facilities that perform abortions.
State Women's Representative Bettina Wilhelm: "Those affected by sexualized violence should receive uncomplicated, legally sound, and easily accessible support in their already stressful situation. This guide helps to reduce existing uncertainties among doctors regarding the criminological indication and to improve the care of those affected."
The guide can be downloaded from the ZGF website: www.frauen.bremen.de/arbeitshilfe
The guide was initiated by the Berlin Round Table – Healthcare for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence and authored by Rona Torenz and Karin Wieners of the Network for Healthcare after Sexual Violence. Based on this, and in cooperation with the Bremen State Association of Gynecologists, the Senator for Health, Women and Consumer Protection (SGFV), the Bremen Violence Protection Clinic, Cara. Counseling Center for Pregnancy and Prenatal Diagnostics, and pro familia Bremen, Dr. Mo Urban, a consultant at the Center for Gender Studies, developed the guide for the state of Bremen.
Source: Senate Press Office, Abortion after rape – Press Office of the Senate, April 28, 2026