EUROPEAN UNION – Will access to safe, legal abortion finally become a right in the European Union?

JANUARY 28, 2022
International Campaign for Safe Abortion

A number of Members of the European Parliament have been pushing to include the right to safe, legal abortion in the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. But that push did not start only on the day after French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to open this debate in the EU Council. In fact, the European Parliament had already addressed this question on 24 June 2021, calling on the European Union (meaning all its member states), to ensure the right to legal and safe abortion in a push to improve women’s sexual and reproductive health in response to Covid-19. A non-binding resolution was passed by 378 to 255 votes at that time. Now it’s back on the table. But would the vote be by each country, or by their MEPs?

Continued: https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/news/european-union-will-access-to-safe-legal-abortion-finally-become-a-right-in-the-european-union/

28.01.2022

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News

Charter of Fundamental Rights

Poland’s abortion ruling focus of debate in EU parliament

by VANESSA GERA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted Feb 9, 2021

WARSAW, Poland — Most European Parliament lawmakers on Tuesday lashed out at Poland’s near-total abortion ban Tuesday, with several lawmakers arguing it was a fundamental violation of women’s rights.

Even though some praised authorities in Warsaw for what they called a defence of Christian values and human life, many in the major political groups were critical of the measure in the staunchly Roman Catholic nation.

Continued: https://www.news957.com/2021/02/09/polands-abortion-ruling-focus-of-debate-in-eu-parliament/

09.02.2021

Alternative for Germany

Law and Justice party

Ireland – ‘Very different situation’ – Harris ‘frustrated’ that ‘No’ side compares proposed abortion law to that of UK

'Very different situation' - Harris 'frustrated' that 'No' side compares proposed abortion law to that of UK

Shona Murray
May 14 2018

Minister for Health Simon Harris has hit out at ‘inaccurate’ claims by the ‘No’ side about the government's legislation should the eighth amendment be repealed in the referendum.

He said posters depicting people with down syndrome and other disabilities claiming these people were "only alive" because of Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws were “upsetting”.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abortion-referendum/very-different-situation-harris-frustrated-that-no-side-compares-proposed-abortion-law-to-that-of-uk-36904203.html

Ireland: Ministers raise concerns over abortion poll

Ministers raise concerns over abortion poll
Saturday, September 16, 2017

By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
Irish Examiner Political Correspondent

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and two of his ministers have questioned whether the Eighth Amendment referendum will be passed if it allows unrestricted access to abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Mr Varadkar, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Fine Gael’s deputy leader Simon Coveney said they doubt the vote will be backed by the public if the Citizens’ Assembly recommendation is included in any final referendum wording.

Continued at source: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ministers-raise-concerns-over-abortion-poll-459084.html

16.09.2017

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Ireland: Taoiseach not sure public would back Citizens’ Assembly’s stance on abortion

Taoiseach not sure public would back Citizens' Assembly's stance on abortion

The Assembly said terminations should be allowed without restriction up to the 12th week of pregnancy.
Sept 15, 2017

THE TAOISEACH HAS said he’s not sure if members of the public would support the Citizens’ Assembly’s recommendations on Ireland’s abortion legislation.

Speaking at the Fine Gael think-in today, Leo Varadkar said: “I honestly don’t know if the public would go as far as what the Citizens’ Assembly have recommended. Public opinion polls have indicated that they wouldn’t, but that may change during the course of the debate.

Continued at source: The Journal: https://www.thejournal.ie/eighth-amendment-referendum-3600112-Sep2017/

Ireland: State rejects UN demand on abortion

Ellen Coyne

September 24 2016, The Times

The government is disregarding its human rights obligations by not legislating for access to abortion despite being advised to do so by several UN committees, Brendan Howlin has said.

The state yesterday rejected a recommendation from a UN review body to repeal the Eighth Amendment, which equates the life of a woman with that of her foetus.

Last May Frances Fitzgerald appeared before the UN’s universal periodic review committee, where successive governments called on Ireland to comply with international human rights standards by making abortion accessible to women in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities.

[continued at link]
Source: The Times

24.09.2016