Frozen in time: Andorra, a European exception

Nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees, Andorra is an anachronism. It's been run by two co-princes since the Middle Ages: the president of the French Republic and the Bishop of Urgell in the Spanish region of Catalonia. Andorra's 80,000 residents have had the same institutions for the last 700 years.

Vanessa Mendoza Cortes has become a household name in Andorra. The 41-year-old risks being jailed for having complained to the United Nations about the ban on abortion in the principality. Her NGO Stop Violenciès helps hundreds of women. But none of them can publicly share their experiences for fear of prosecution. However, one woman did agree to speak to us anonymously in this report.

Most Andorran woman in need of an abortion head to Barcelona, a three-hour drive away, where a termination costs between €300 and €2,000.

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