The way pre-abortion psychological counseling is conducted in Belarus has come under renewed scrutiny after the medical initiative White Coats reviewed the methodological manual “Family Pre-Abortion Counseling”. The initiative argues that the manual goes beyond providing information and contains guidance on how psychologists can persuade women to reconsider their decision to have an abortion.

The issue is particularly significant because Belarusian law recognises women’s right to abortion, while the legal provisions concerning pre-abortion psychological counseling remain unclear. Article 27 of the Law on Healthcare states that a woman seeking an induced abortion has the right to identify family members who may receive pre-abortion psychological counseling. However, the law does not clearly state whether the woman herself can refuse such counseling.

The difference between information and pressure

Counseling before a medical procedure can play an important role when it provides accurate information about available options, the procedure, possible risks and alternatives, while supporting the person in making an informed decision.

According to White Coats’ analysis, however, the Belarusian manual goes further. It contains a table of possible arguments a woman may give for seeking an abortion and recommendations on how a psychologist should respond in order to change her position.

For example, when a woman raises financial difficulties, the manual recommends shifting the discussion towards the value of the child’s life and the forms of state support available. When career concerns are raised, the material places emphasis on the value of motherhood compared with professional fulfilment. White Coats argues that such recommendations turn counseling from an informational process into a form of psychological influence.

An unclear legal framework

The issue is not new. According to REFORM.news, legal scholar Dzyana Berahautsova raised concerns in 2019 about differences in the way pre-abortion counseling was applied across Belarusian regions.

One example cited in the report concerns a perinatal centre in Barysau, where a doctor and a priest reportedly participated in conversations with women seeking abortions. This raises questions about the principle of a secular state and about a woman’s right to decide whether she wants to take part in such counseling.

Psychological pressure can affect reproductive autonomy

The decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy is personal and may be influenced by medical, economic, family and social circumstances. For this reason, access to accurate information and quality healthcare should be separated from pressure aimed at producing a particular decision.

The issue is also relevant in the context of recent discussions in Belarus about restricting access to abortion in private medical centres. In January 2026, authorities announced a proposal to prohibit abortions in private clinics, citing, among other reasons, differences in the reported effectiveness of pre-abortion counseling.

Against this background, the way counseling is defined and implemented becomes an important part of the wider debate about meaningful access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Counseling should support a decision, not replace it

Pre-abortion counseling can have an important role when it is voluntary, confidential, based on accurate medical information and responsive to the needs of the person seeking care. Its purpose should be to support an informed decision rather than determine what that decision should be.

The debate in Belarus highlights the importance of protecting individual autonomy in reproductive healthcare and ensuring that access to medical services does not become a process of pressure, fear or guilt.

Original source: REFORM.news, original article in English