In spite of a history of egalitarian law under state socialism promoting the equality of women, and the adoption of major international human rights treaties including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which are equivalent to domestic law, there remains a large gap between the rights granted by law and the ability to exercise those rights. Contraceptives are legal but inaccessible. Women's health is seriously imperiled by illegal abortions. Modern methods of contraceptives are not widely available, and where they are available they are often prohibitively expensive. In Russia the cost of condoms is the equivalent of two-thirds of a week's worth of wages.
Abortion is often the only way for women to control their fertility.
Hungary has chosen a different route. Hungary recently created 20 emergency contraception units in hospitals around the country. Abortion is now illegal except under certain extreme circumstances. Although abortion is legal in Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania and Russia, there is a growing trend towards restrictions in the region. Only Lithuania guarantees anonymous testing.