Give the women of Europe the right to free abortion!
All around the world, women are denied their right to free, legal and safe abortions. Even in Europe, women are deprived of the control over their own bodies and the number and spacing of children. It is the everyday reality facing women in Ireland, Poland and Malta.
When a state denies a woman the right to her own body, integrity and health, it is a violation of her human rights. A woman deprived of the choice of carrying out or terminating a pregnancy is being violated in that precise way.
Despite this, abortion is still considered a health issue in the European Union and sorts under the principle of subsidiarity; to be regulated by the individual member countries. But why should the principle of subsidiarity include a human right that, due to biological reasons, only concerns women, when the respect for human rights in all other matters is a criterion for the EU-membership?
Nowhere in the world should a woman be forced to use a hanger, eat washing powder or see a quack doctor to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, when safe abortion methods are available.
A cornerstone of the European Union is to work for gender equality and health.Therefore, women who lack the access to free, legal and safe abortions in the EU-countries such as Ireland, Malta and Poland, can no longer be ignored. The governments of these countries must be put under pressure.
It is time for the EU to secure the right to free, safe and legal abortions and render it a human right.
Do you want to put pressure on the European power holders? Join 5799 others in collecting one million signatures for the right to free abortion. Sign the Make Noise for Free Choice.
Liberal Women’s report on
the importance of a global free choice
- Free choice is a human right
- Free choice is a global concern
- Free choice is freedom from oppression
A new perspective on free choice
Not long ago, sexual and reproductive health and rights were excluded from the list of other Human Rights. Fortunately, this is no longer the case/this has changed. But these rights are constantly challenged, even here in Europe.
It is not long ago since sexual and reproductive health and rights were recognized as human rights. However, these rights are constantly challenged, even in Europe. We cannot accept that women’s fundamental rights are neglected and brushed aside. The European Union must be a watchdog; ensuring the choice, access and quality of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
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We support the initiative
Name: Baroness Sarah Ludford
Title: Liberal democrat Member of the European Parliament for London
More info: Spokeswoman for the British Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament on the Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs committee and Vice-Chairwoman of the European Parliament's Human Rights Sub-Committee.
Web: www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk
Name: Wanda Nowicka
Title: President Federation for Women and Family Planning and ASTRA Secretariat, Poland
More info:
Name: Mrs Sophie in 't Veld
Title: Dutch Member of European Parliament (ALDE)
More info:
Name: Lone Dybkjær
Title: Radikale Venstre, member of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), 1994-2004 member of the European Parliament
More info: Spokesperson for women and equal rights for Radikale Venstre
www.lonedybkjaer.dk
Name: Gudrun Schyman
Title: Spokesperson Feministiskt initiativ, former Party Leader of Vänsterpartiet
More info: www.schyman.se
www.feministisktinitiativ.se
Name: Claes Borgström
Title: Lawyer
More info: Former Equal Opportunities Ombudsman of Sweden,
Spokesperson Gender Equality issues, Social Democratic Party.
Name: Eva-Britt Svensson
Title: Member of the European Parliament, Vänsterpartiet
More info: Chairwoman of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.
www.evabrittsvensson.se
www.vguengl.org
Name: Åsa Regnér
Title: Secretary General RFSU (the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education)
More info: RFSU (the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education) is the leading organisation in Sweden in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights. RFSU has no party political or religious affiliation.
www.rfsu.se
www.rfsu.org
We took the initiative
Name: Birgitta Ohlsson
Title: President of Liberal Women
More info: This campaign has been initiated by Birgitta Ohlsson, Member of the Swedish Parliament since 2002,
President of Liberal Women and Spokesperson Foreign
Affairs Liberal Party.
Web: birgitta.nu
Mail: birgitta.ohlsson@riksdagen.se
Name: Liberal Women
Title:
More info: Liberalakvinnor.se
