Opinions and public relations to (the right to) abortion: the case of Slovenia

Delo analizira stališča javnosti do pravice do abortusa v Sloveniji v letih sprejemanja slovenske ustave - konec 80. let in v začetku 90. let prejšnjega stoletja do danes. Slovenija ima eno bolj liberalnih zakonodaj glede pravice do abortusa. Kljub temu pa razprave o 55. členu ustave, ki govori o svobodi odločanja o rojstvu otrok in ki po uradni obrazložitvi vključuje tudi pravico do abortusa, potekajo tako rekoč vsakodnevno. Le-te se praviloma povečajo v obdobju volitev in so vedno povezane z nacionalizmom. V letu 1990 je bil odnos javnosti do abortusa bolj liberalen kot v letu 1969. V letih od 1990 do 2000 sta stališče in odnos javnosti do abortusa nihala, prav tako v letih od 2000 do 2015. Vidna so tudi večja nihanja v obdobju volitev in ob povečanju javnih razprav. Na mnenja in stališča javnosti torej vplivajo tudi nasprotniki pravice do abortusa, ki z moralno manipulacijo zavajajo javnost ter izvajajo pritisk na posameznice, ki se soočajo z nezaželeno nosečnostjo.This paper analyzes the publics’ opinions on the right to abortion in Slovenia during the adoption of the Slovenian Constitution in the end and of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s to date. Slovenia has one of the most liberal legislations on the right to abortion. Nevertheless, the debate about the article 55. of the Constitution, which speaks about the freedom of decision-making regarding the birth of children and which, according to official explanation, also includes the right to abortion, takes place almost daily. The debates are as a rule enlarged during election periods and are always related to nationalism. In the 1990s the public opinions towards abortion were more liberal than in 1969. In the years from 1990 to 2000, the position and opinions of the public to abortion fluctuated, this is also true for the period from 2000 to 2015. There are also significant fluctuations during election periods when there is an increase in public discussions. Opponents of the right to abortion therefore influence opinions and views of the public. They are misleading the public with moral manipulation and they also exert pressure on individuals who face unwanted pregnancies