Denmark wants to lower the age at which a young woman can request an abortion without her guardian’s consent to 15 from the current 18, Gender Equality Minister Marie Bjere announced today.

The government announced its decision to support this proposal on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the passing of the law which gave women the right to choose abortion. Denmark was one of the first Western European countries to legalize abortion, in 1973. Previously abortion had to be approved by a doctor.

Young women under the age of 18 are allowed to have an abortion, but only with the consent of their parents.

“Abortion can stir up a lot of emotions, guilt and shame. Asking for parental consent for under 18s can be embarrassing and have serious consequences,” Bjere tweeted. “We want to change that so that young women choose whether or not to involve their parents” in the process, she added.