a conference in Cayenne to talk about abortion

It was January 17, 1975. The Veil law was promulgated and decriminalized voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) in France. 50 years later, where are we in Guyana? ? This question is somewhat the common thread of the discussions which will take place this Friday, January 17, 2025 at the auditorium of the EPCC Les Trois-Fleuves (EnCre), in Cayenne. The meeting is at the initiative of the CRSA (Regional Health and Autonomy Conference) and the Guyane Perinatal Network.

Throughout the day, experts, including health professionals, will provide their insight on the subject. Christiane Taubira, former Minister of Justice, will be the main witness of the meeting. The Guyanese is one of the women who recounted their experience on camera in the documentary Just listen to women.

In terms of abortion, Guyana stands out as the French territory which uses it the most. Which raises questions about the circulation of information both on contraception and on sexual health. The organizers of Friday's conference are also working on a popularization action specifically aimed at school audiences. It should be around March 8, in connection with the International Day of Struggle for Women's Rights.

8h : Welcome of participants

8:15 a.m. : Opening words
– Nadia Thomas, President Guyana Perinatal Network
– Laurent Bien, Director General of the Guyana Regional Health Agency (ARS)
– Christiane Taubira, Minister and great witness to the event

9h00 : General introduction

– Laurent Bien : Regional strategy for sexual and reproductive health
– Nadia Thomas, gynecologist, president Guyana Perinatal Network :“State of the art of abortion in France and Guyana
– Grégory Beriet, public health historian at the University of Guyana : The Veil law, symbol of the struggles against gender discrimination and for access to sexual and reproductive rights
– Adrien Guilleau, midwife : Right to abortion, a fight that is still ongoing. State of play around the world
– Discussion. Moderator: Yves Bhagooa, president Regional Health and Autonomy Conference

10h30 : Talking about abortion in the age of social networks

• Guylaine Vernet, General Coordinator of Family Planning 973 : Presentation of the Young Ambassadors for Girl-Boy Equality program, in the presence of young ambassadors
  – Gérôme Guitteau, journalist at France Guyane, : Social networks, information associations on sexual health. Obstacles to abortion?
  – Amandine Bebruyker, anthropologist in charge of Guyana Perinatal Network projects : Talking about abortion in the age of social networks: an introduction to the report from the Women's Foundation / ISD on anti-abortion mobilization in France
  – Isabelle Hidair-Krivsky, anthropologist at the University of Guyana, regional director responsible for women's rights : Anthropology of the birth rate in Guyana: families, beliefs and social networks
  – Discussion. Moderator: Nadia Thomas, President of the Périnat Guyane Network

14h : Thinking of being fertile as a teenager in Guyana

– Victoire Charvet, midwife coordinator of the adolescent pregnancy course at the Guyana Perinatal Network : Adolescent pregnancy journey and support for abortion in Guyana
– Soraya Nicolaus, midwife at CTG : Presentation of the Sexual Health Center
– Louise Vuylsteker, sexual and reproductive health referent midwife at the ARS : Iterative IVG: trying to understand the repetition phenomenon
– Nathalie Barthelemi, academic sexual health officer and Chitale Remonja, medical technical advisor, both with the rectorate : The challenges of accessibility of contraception and contraceptive information
– Marion Grosini, Coraline Vaz & Joanna Zeludkiewicz, project managers at Guyana health promotion. Presentation of the pleasures of Parsou, a Guyanese educational tool for sexual and reproductive rights
– Discussion. Moderator: Fabien Sublet, doctor of pharmacy, host

16h30 : Closing of the conference by Christiane Taubira

Entrance is free but requires registration.