IVF referendum in Slovenia

In a referendum, the people of Slovenia voted to overturn a new law which would have allowed single women and lesbians access to IVF.

The opponents of the law managed to force a referendum by gaining the support of 34 of the 90 politicians in the Slovenian parliament.

After about half of the votes had been counted it was clear that the preliminary result showed there was an overwhelming majority of people in favour of curtailing access.

Although there was only about 30 percent turnout, 73 percent of the ballots counted so far voted against allowing single women to have IVF treatment, preferring to limit access to married women, who were already able to access IVF under existing law.

The law, which was only two months old, had been criticised by religious and conservative groups. The Roman Catholic Church argued that to allow single women to have children in this way was an assault on the family and would deprive those children of their right to have a father.

Supporters of the law, including the Slovenian minister for health, Dr Dušan Keber, believe that children are not necessarily harmed by not having a father. But the country is thought to be about 80 percent Catholic, with a strongly conservative attitude to family values.

If the final results, once announced, show the same majority the law will be suspended and only married women will be able to have IVF.