Nicola Zingaretti, president of Italy’s Lazio region, declared that doctors have a duty to provide certificates for abortion care, as well as prescriptions for contraception, regardless of any conscientious objector status, L’Espresso reported in June. Although conscientious objection may still be invoked exclusively in reference to performing abortion procedures, the decision removes some of the obstacles that have blocked access to abortion in Italy. According to a 2013 L’Espresso report, the preponderance of doctors claiming conscientious objection meant that women experienced significant delays in examination, certification and scheduling for abortion care, which is legal up to the 12^th week of pregnancy.

The decision has a great significance for Lazio, where 91 percent of gynecologists refuse to perform abortions in some or all circumstances, gynecologist Mirella Parachini told Italy’s Il Messaggero newspaper.