“Did you miss the European demonstration for the right to abortion? Watch some videos!”

[Brussels, 14 February 2014] The demonstration that took place on the 29 of February in Brussels to support abortion rights in Europe and Spain was a big success as it can be seen in the videos below. The demonstration was supported by more than 2000 people who gathered together in Brussels to protest against the new draft bill to restrict the abortion in Spain and demand access to abortion everywhere in Europe. This video, made by PES Women, shows the very nice atmosphere of the demonstration. In it, Viviane Teitelbaum, President of the European Women’s Lobby, explains which were the messages that the delegation of NGOs sent to the Spanish Ambassador in Belgium. MEP Zita Gurmai, President of PES Women, MEP Edite Estrela (S&D Portugal and rapporteur of the report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) and MEP Iratxe García Pérez take the floor to explain why the are rising to support right to abortion in Europe and Spain. On the 20 December 2013, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved a draft bill aiming at reforming the current law on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). If approved, abortion would be allowed in Spain only in the case of rape or if the pregnancy poses a serious physical or mental health risk to women. Any abortion carried out that does not fall under the two permitted categories will be considered a crime, leaving women in Spain with two choices: travel abroad to get a safe and legal abortion or having an “underground” abortion with serious threats to their health. If approved, this new bill would lead to a 30 years step backwards in the rights of women and to the failure of the Government to fulfill its fundamental role to promote gender equality and human rights. The demonstration in Brussels was co-organised by the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), the European Humanist Federation (EFH), the Platform “Abortion Rights”, the International Planned Parenthood Federation – European Network (IPPFEN), Catholics for choice and the Socialist Party. As it can be seen in the videos below, the atmosphere at the demonstration was excellent. EWL Belgian Members, le Conseil des Femmes Francophones de Belgique (CFFB) and the Nederlandstalige Vrouwenraad (NVR) and its partners organisations (Le Monde selon les Femmes, Amazone, l’Université des Femmes, FPS, Vie Féminine, and many more) took also part in the demonstration.

Find more pictures here.

Manifestación en contra de la ley de reforma del aborto 29-01-2014 from diagonal on Vimeo.

 

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