Hungarians protest change in abortion rules

A woman holds a sign as she attends a protest against a new anti-abortion rule imposed by the government, in Budapest, Hungary, September 28, 2022. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - More than 1,000 Hungarians protested on Wednesday against a change in abortion rules that took effect on Sept. 15, which women's rights groups say would "humiliate" and torment women while having no effect on the number of abortions.

Under the rules amended by Conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government, pregnant women must submit evidence from their healthcare provider of a definitive sign of life, widely interpreted as the heartbeat of a foetus, before requesting the procedure.