Six months after the inclusion of abortion in the Constitution, gatherings are organized this Saturday, September 28 in Paris and in several cities in France on the occasion of the international abortion rights dayto demand “guarantees” from the new government of Michel Barnier.
In Paris, the gathering is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Port Royal at the call of the collective “Abortion in Europe, women decide”, which brings together feminist associations and unions including Family Planning, the CFDT and the National Collective for women’s rights.
The inclusion in March of the “guaranteed freedom” of access to voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) in the Constitution – a first in the world – “is not enough”, believes the collective in a press release. “The conditions in which” this freedom “is exercised” could always be revised downwards.”
Measures against anti-abortion activists
“Nothing guarantees human and material resources, the double conscience clause of medical personnel still exists,” he laments.
The collective calls for access to abortion “in all territories”, the “guarantee for all of the choice of methods” (surgical or medicinal), the effectiveness of education sessions on emotional and sexual life in schools. And measures against “anti-abortion activists” who “spread false information” on the internet.
According to a study carried out by the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) and published Wednesday,
243,623 abortions were recorded in France in 2023or 8,600 more than in 2022. But for feminist associations and for 9 out of 10 French people (89%), obstacles persist, particularly in terms of structures and deadlines, according to an Ifop barometer published by Family Planning on Thursday.
More than half of women surveyed (54%) who had an abortion in a health facility say they had to wait more than seven days to get an appointmentagainst the five recommended by the High Authority for Health (HAS).
“These situations must not last”
“There remain many obstacles” and “brakes have been clearly identified” whether “in terms of information, access to health centers, delays”, declared the new Secretary of State responsible for Gender equality Salima Saa during the presentation of the barometer. “These situations must not last.”
For the Alliance Vita association, which campaigns against abortion, access to abortion has on the contrary been “simplified, even trivialized” by the “elimination of reflection periods” and “the continued possibility of resorting to teleconsultation for a medical abortion.
Accused of having chosen a “reactionary” government with conservative ministers on societal issues, Prime Minister Michel Barnier assured in mid-September that “acquired rights”, particularly in matters of abortion, would be “fully preserved”.
Read more
