It's a historic moment in Spanish law.

In the largely Catholic country, congress passed a new abortion law allowing girls as young as 16 to have an abortion without parental consent.

184 politicians voted for the new legislation which will also allow abortions up to 14 weeks.

It also means the procedure can be carried out at 22 weeks if the mother or fetus are at high risk.

But the approval of the legislation is strongly opposed by the Spanish Family Forum, whose president says it's against public opinion.

[Benigno Blanco, President, Spanish Family Forum]:
"I think this is a law, well actually it's not that I think.  It is a law that is clearly against public opinion. According to surveys carried out in Spanish media, between 60 and 70 percent of the Spaniards reject it."

In the capital city Madrid, which has often played center stage for anti-abortion protests, people on the streets echoed the forum's views.

[Ana, Resident, Madrid]:
"I don't like it. Absolutely not. As proof, I can tell you that I have four sons and the idea never passed through my head. So I do not agree with it. I hope that they think about it and reconsider it."

[Raquel, Resident, Madrid]:
"It seems bad to me. Because if 16-year-old girls don't have to tell their parents, that's not right to me."

The procedure is a controversial topic in a country where up until recently considered abortion to be a crime.

The law introduced by the socialist government will now be debated in the Senate.