European Parliament needs to send strong message to Member States that abortion rights are human rights

Today, the European Parliament will debate a report on Sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women's health. The adoption of this report shows the European Parliament is fully committed to protect and promote SRHR. The report also denounces that some Member States still have highly restrictive laws prohibiting abortion except in strictly defined circumstances. This results in women having their SRHR denied - a form of gender based violence. The EPP has put forward their own resolution which has excluded all important language about the right to access to safe and legal abortions. The report will be voted on tomorrow. The Greens/EFA urges all Members of European Parliament to vote down the EPP proposal and adopt the SHRH report.

Alice Kuhnke MEP, and Greens/EFA coordinator of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality comments:

“Tomorrow’s vote is crucial. The rise of the anti-gender movement in Europe, against sexual and reproductive health and rights, women's rights and LGBTI rights is unacceptable. We need to reassure European citizens that we will keep fighting for everyone’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. These are human rights and they are not negotiable. Under any circumstances.

“The European Parliament needs to protect the right and freedoms of its citizens, and strongly condemn Member States that are limiting the access to free abortions, limiting LGBTQI-rights, and ban trans people from access to healthcare and support. We cannot let the ever growing influence of anti-human rights organisations and right-wing and nationalistic politicians stand in our way.” 

Sylwia Spurek, Greens/EFA MEP and member of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality comments:

“In the midst of this global backlash for SRHR it is crucial that the European Union shows strong leadership and support for womens and LGBTQI peoples rights. There is a wide range of remaining obstacles to SRHR in the EU, particularly for women and vulnerable groups. This situation has been aggravated by the current regression in women’s rights in some EU member states. On top of this, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions have negatively affected women’s access to healthcare, including SRH services, and have exacerbated existing structural gender inequalities. EU member states must remove the exiting barriers and restrictions to the full exercise of these fundamental rights and ensure full access to safe and legal abortions.

“I urge my colleagues in the European Parliament to vote down the EPP alternative proposition and instead join us to show the citizens of the EU and the rest of the world that we will stand up for and promote SRHR in Europe and beyond.“

More:
Follow the debate here
Read the report on Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the EU, in the frame of women's health.