{"id":4589,"date":"2022-07-04T10:13:16","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T08:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/?p=4589"},"modified":"2022-09-28T11:06:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T09:06:27","slug":"roe-v-wade-how-the-us-supreme-court-ruling-affects-abortion-rights-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/roe-v-wade-how-the-us-supreme-court-ruling-affects-abortion-rights-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Roe v Wade – How the US Supreme Court ruling affects abortion rights in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On June 24th 2022, the abortion rights of millions of US Americans were taken away. The US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, putting an end to the constitutional right to abortion in all 50 States of America.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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It is a landmark ruling that will have wide implications for gender equality, human rights and freedoms all across the globe.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Access to abortion will now be limited or illegal for millions of people in the US, in some cases even if the unwanted pregnancy is the result of rape, incest or brutality. This could set a precedent for countries returning to conservative abortion legislation, endangering the lives of people who seek abortion. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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When abortion is illegal and criminalised, pregnant people turn to unsafe measures to get rid of their unwanted pregnancies. And we all know that taking away legal access to abortion does not lead to fewer abortions. It leads to unsafe and dangerous abortions. The W<\/em>orld Health Organization (WHO) noted that a staggering <\/em>45 per cent of all abortions around the world, are unsafe<\/em><\/a>, making the procedure a leading cause of maternal death.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Could our abortion rights in Europe also be stripped away soon? <\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What do we know about the backlash on sexual and reproductive rights and health in Europe? And what can we do to defend abortion rights across the world?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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We talked abortion rights with 6 feminists who are putting up a hell of a fight for sexual and reproductive freedom and justice in Europe. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Abortion rights are under attack in the USA – but abortion is also under threat in Europe<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Abortion is legal throughout most of the EU, though the circumstances under which the termination of a pregnancy is allowed vary<\/a> according to each country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In a huge win for our rights, last year the European Parliament declared<\/a> access to safe abortion a human right. However, in practice, access to abortion varies widely across Europe because it is considered a matter for national governements. Let\u2019s go on a tour of Europe and look at different cases of abortion rights within the EU – Ireland, Malta, Poland, Northern Ireland, and Germany.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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The Greens\/EFA have called to add the right to abortion into the EU Charter of fundamental rights. This July Plenary the European Parliament<\/a> will debate the resolution.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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“We are afraid that Meloni wants to go further and to maybe follow Orban\u2019s steps and require women to be psychologically \u201cconsulted\u201d before the procedure.<\/strong>“<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Benedetta<\/figure>
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Benedetta Scuderi is Co-spokesperson of FYEG (Federation of Young European Greens). We talked to her about the situation on sexual and reproductive rights in her home country, Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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After recent elections in Italy, the country will face a radical right coalition government under Giorgia Meloni\u2019s Brothers of Italy party. People in Italy are starting to worry about what this means for abortion rights.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What should feminists across Europe know about the situation on abortion access in Italy?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Abortion in Italy is possible since 1978 due to the famous \u201c194 law\u201d. People in Italy can have an abortion until the 90th day of their pregnancy. After that it is only possible between the 4th and 5th month of pregnancy for medical reasons. There are specific reasons to ask for an abortion procedure and self-determination is not among them. However, law vagueness allows a wide interpretation for what reason accessing an abortion is possible in any case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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This law came in after years of fights between the feminist movement in Italy and the catholic groups requests. The compromise is clearly seen in two main aspects of this law, the possibility of conscientious objection for doctors to not offer an abortion procedure after a 7 day waiting period after consultation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Lately, more and more doctors are not operating abortion using their objections right. The State is not implementing any solutions to always guarantee a minimum number of doctors per hospital who are available for abortion. Therefore, access to abortion is getting complicated, and the situation is even worse in more conservative regions, like those run by Meloni\u2019s Fratelli d’Italia. They also prohibited abortions pills, further limiting the access to legal and save abortion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What is at risk now, after the elections in Italy in September 2022?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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After the elections there is a high possibility that the access to safe abortion procedures will be further undermined. First, what has been happening in those regions governed by conservatives might be happening in the whole country. This could lead to a strict limitation of access to abortion, especially for more vulnerable groups who might not have time and resources to move around the country to find a doctor who can provide a save abortion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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However, there is more. Throughout her campaign, Giorgia Meloni clearly stated she wants to properly implement the first part of the 194 law. This is the part where the law requires a consultation with a doctor 7 days before the abortion procedure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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We are afraid that Meloni wants to go further and to maybe follow Orban\u2019s steps and require women to be psychologically \u201cconsulted\u201d before the procedure. Even worse, her government might decrease the cases in which abortion is possible and subject the access to a medical approval. These are not just fears, this could happen at any time now and we can\u2019t let it happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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How can we in the European Parliament support your rights?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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We would like to see a European declaration for save and legal access to abortion and we want it to be included in the EU Chart of Fundamental Rights. The EU should also set minimum standards for abortion accessibility and women safety for the Member States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Access to safe abortion means access to health care. Access to safe abortion is a human right, and the EU should treat it like so. We must stay strong and united to win this fundamental fight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Access to safe abortion in Ireland: \u201cThey will never, ever stop coming for our reproductive rights. And we will never, ever stop fighting for them.\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Tara<\/figure>
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Tara Flynn is an Irish actress, author and pro-choice activist. She has been a vocal campaigner for reproductive rights and the repeal of Ireland’s 8th amendment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What is the situation for abortion access in Ireland?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Here in Ireland, we voted by a landslide to repeal the constitutional ban on abortion in 2018. However, the pushback from anti-choice quarters remains. There still isn’t wide enough access. People with problems in later term are still having to travel. There’s an unnecessary three day wait, which serves no purpose other than to assume that the person making this very personal decision doesn’t know their own mind. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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I think the most important thing people should know is this: even though a majority of people in Ireland understand that abortion has always been needed and always will be – and they very clearly voted to reflect that – conservative forces will always be coming for our bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. We need to stick together, keep the pressure on our politicians, and not let our guard down for a second.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Are you afraid the Roe v Wade US Supreme Court ruling will impact the abortion rights in Ireland?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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There’s a long-standing relationship between anti-choice forces here in Ireland and those in the US, even if it\u2019s not always overt. They fought our campaign for abortion rights tooth and nail. I have no doubt they feel emboldened by the overturning of Roe. But we’re not going anywhere – certainly not back to punishing pregnant people in need and removing their privacy and dignity. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The pro-choice community in Ireland – what kept your abortion rights activism going in challenging times?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The pro-choice community in Ireland really came together and held each other up. I used to say, “It’s not a sprint. Nor is it a marathon. It’s a marathon we’re being asked to do at a sprint.” What I meant by that is, we all need to do our part and we can’t leave it up to “them over there” or “activists”. By taking any action – even supporting a friend through a crisis pregnancy – you’re an activist. In that way, we need the race to be a relay: one person takes an action today, someone else the next. It’s far too easy to burn out. That’s why we have to do this together.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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“Taking away the right to abortion in the US is an attack on our rights<\/strong><\/strong>. <\/strong><\/strong>But it will hit women of colour, disabled women and other marginalised communities the most<\/strong><\/strong>“<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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\"Orla<\/figure>
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Orla O\u2019Connor is the Director of National Women\u2019s Council (NWC), the national women\u2019s membership organisation in Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>

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What\u2019s happening in the US is an attack on women\u2019s rights. It\u2019s about control and power over women\u2019s bodies and women\u2019s lives. As with all reproductive rights restrictions, it is the most marginalised who will bear the brunt of this. It is women of colour, disabled women and pregnant people. Those who don\u2019t have the resources to travel to states that do provide the care. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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In Ireland, we know that restrictions in our legal framework and poor geographical coverage of services are also having a disproportionate adverse impact on marginalised communities here. I hope the US ruling will strengthen our collective resolve to demand that the ongoing Abortion Review<\/a> tackles the legal barriers and brings our abortion care in line with WHO guidelines<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Lessons from the US Supreme Court Ruling Roe v Wade – We cannot be complacent<\/h5>\n<\/div>
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The lesson from the US is that we can\u2019t be complacent. We have to express solidarity with those directly impacted by the Supreme Court decision. We must continue to effectively organise and advocate for true reproductive rights here in Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Support and solidarity with a broad range of fellow reproductive health and rights advocates has been one of the most sustaining and fulfilling parts of my career to date. It\u2019s so important to have that support system and to work together to achieve the change we know is urgently needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Poland imposes a near total ban of abortions in 2020 – Millions take on the streets for their abortion rights<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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\"Magdalena<\/figure>
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Magdalena Ga\u0142kiewicz is a women\u2019s rights, animal rights and climate activist, and Secretary General of the Polish Green Party.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>

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Could you describe the situation of abortion access in Poland right now ?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>
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In practice, abortion is prohibited in Poland. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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It is banned by the hands of the Polish Catholic Church and right-wing populists in power. They want to please the religious extremists and the international network of the Tradition Family and Property (TFP) sect. The TFP has a strong position in Poland thanks to the ruling right-wing populist coalition. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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The fight for freedom and human rights is a struggle between two realities. The reality of an authoritarian, patriarchal-religious-conservative past with an eco-feminist, sustainable and empathetic future. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Abortion bans in Poland and now in the US – how are they connected?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>
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The overruling of Roe v Wade worries me because the impact on the change of law in the US was made by the same international sect as in Poland. And it is both rich republicans from the US and Russian oligarchs who finance this Tradition Family and Property (TFP) sect.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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If we do not resist together, the ban will spread from the US and Poland to other EU countries. It will spread through the EU, starting in Central and Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\n Let\u2019s support each other. Let\u2019s talk boldly about our abortion experiences. Let\u2019s not be afraid. Let us unite – the thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of us. Together, we will be strong! \n