After the US Supreme Court overturns the right to abortion, the EU parliament wants to include the right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. MEPs adopted a corresponding resolution in Strasbourg on Thursday, also expressing solidarity with girls and women in the US. The European Parliament strongly condemns the decline in women’s rights, the statement said.
The background to Parliament’s move is a decision by the US Supreme Court, which overturned the country’s relatively liberal abortion law in late June. Thus, the mostly conservative court allowed for stricter abortion laws to the point of banning.
Following the decision, several US states have enacted sweeping abortion bans – but the right to abortion must remain in several states.
“No majority decision of the citizens”
“This was not a majority decision by American citizens, but the decision of a few, mostly male politicians who presume to want to control the bodies of women. That should be a warning signal for us in Europe,” SPÖ MEP Evelyn Regner warned in a broadcast. .
Still many restrictions in Europe
“Because while rejection of abortion bans is high in Europe, there is also highly organized activism here, often supported by the US. In addition, there are legal and de facto restrictions on abortion almost everywhere in the EU.”
German Green MEP Terry Reintke said: “Ideological trench warfare should no longer be waged against women’s bodies and health.” Many conservative and Christian Democrat MEPs – including EPP group leader Manfred Weber (CSU) – voted against the resolution.
Serious allegations against doctors in Poland
Some EU Member States have strict abortion laws: in Malta, abortions are banned – illegal abortions can lead to prison terms for those affected. Poland tightened its strict abortion law in autumn 2020. Since then, abortions have only been allowed after rape or when the mother’s life or health is in danger.
The family of a mother who died earlier this year has made serious allegations against treating doctors after the law was changed. Accordingly, because of the strict abortion law in Poland, they would not have dared to save the woman’s life through an abortion.
Abortions in Austria only “without penalty”
In Austria, “abortions are not punishable and therefore not legal in the first three months of pregnancy,” explains Regner. “So the debate on women’s self-determination in Europe will continue!”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
