News

Conspiracy at European Parliament to create an abortion right in the EU

A number of MEPs and pro-abortion NGOs gathered at the European Parliament to discuss strategies to liberalize abortion in all Member States.

Brussels, Tuesday 18th Oct. The Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU), a radically pro-abortion non government organization (NGO), in cooperation with 17 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) sponsored an event in the Parliament titled ‘Abortion - Making It a Right for All Women in the EU’, The aim of the meeting was to discuss strategies to place abortion on the EU agenda, despite the fact that it is beyond the competence of the EU, being reserved to the governments of the Member States.

The event included other pro-abortion NGO’s such as Catholics for a free Choice , International Planned Parenthood (IPPF) and hosted women from various Catholic European countries who contended that prohibition on abortion in their country is a violation of their human rights.

The main strategy outlined at the meeting by Katalin Lévai (PSE, Hungary) is to have a Written Declaration signed by 50% of the MEPs to seek a mandate from the European Parliament to push the abortion agenda forward and to try to create a legal framework in the EU for a right to abortion. To implement this written declaration, over half of the MEPs must sign it.

The speakers mainly attributed their failed efforts to galvanize public support, and the support of politicians, to the influence of the Catholic Church. Ignoring solid scientific evidence that that the unborn child is human and has a right to life, they attacked religious institutions for impeding the recognition of so-called abortion rights. They stressed that it was important to focus on language. There was a consensus that pushing forward the term ‘sexual and reproductive health rights’ on the EU agenda, is the most effective means to introduce abortion.

Among the strategies discussed to make abortion a human right were issues such as: the right to life of the mother, the right to health, the right to privacy, the right to physical integrity the right to human dignity etc. Using the human rights argument, it was claimed, would enable the EU to put pressure on Member States, by claiming, for example, that it is discriminatory to ban medical practices needed only by women. It would be then possible to claim that the EU must intervene on gender equality or on public health grounds.

It was also clear that Concordats with the Holy See, such as the one about to be signed by Slovakia, make pro-abortionists very nervous, according to Olga Pietruchova from Prochoice Slovakia. The treaty with the Holy See will allow medical workers to refuse to carry out or be involved in abortion or abortion related practices, on grounds of conscientious objection. Many are already using this right, which infuriates those involved in the abortion industry. All present were encouraged to find ways to pressure the EU to prevent any further similar agreements, which would protect workers from being subjected to tasks that go against their conscience and morals.

Early sexual education was also strongly favored to prepare young minds to accept abortion as women’s rights.

Not everyone in attendance were in support of either abortion or the strategies outlined and a number of pro- life interventions were made. One participant expressed her anger that the case of rape victims is systematically used to advance the abortion agenda. She admitted that she was a rape victim and would have kept her child had she become pregnant. She added that she would have refused to go through a second act of violence against her body by choosing abortion.

A member of the Belgian Committee for abortion, Dr Kiebooms, pointed out that the current liberalization of abortion and of sexual education in Belgium has actually helped to increase abortion and it was imperative to find effective ways to reduce the number.

The event was sponsored or supported by the following MEPs: Austria: Karin Resetarits (ALDE/ADL), Belgium: Anne van Lancker (PSE), France:Claire Gibault( ALDE/ADLE), Alain Lipietz, (Verts/ALE), Germany:Lissy Groener (PSE), Hungary: Katalin Lévai (PSE), Ireland: Proinsias De Rossa (PSE), Lithuania: Rolandas Pavilionis (UEN), Netherlands: Sophia in 't Veld (ALDE/ADLE), Poland: Józef Pinior, (PSE), Portgual: Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL),Ana Maria Gomes (PSE), Jamila Madeira (PSE), Spain:María Elena Valenciano Martinez-Orozco (PSE) Sweden: Anna Hedh, (PSE), Lena Ek (ALDE/ADLE) Eva-Britt Svensson (GUE(NGL), United Kingdom: Baroness Sarah Ludford (ALDE/ADLE).

Speakers and participants included: Wanda Nowicka, executive director of the Polish Federation for Women and Family Planning, Dr Emmanuel D. Bezzina from Malta, Esmeralda Kuliesyte, Executive Director of Family Planning and Sexual Health Association Lithuania, Rosie Toner, director of counseling services, Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), Olga Pietruchova, executive director of Prochoice Slovakia, Vicky Claeys, Regional Director International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPFEN), Katarina Lindahl, general director RFU, Elfriede Harth, European Representative of Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC), Christina Zampas European Legal advisor for Reproductive Rights.