Labour MEP makes plea for abortion to become fundamental right in EU Charter

Cyrus Engerer calls for the introduction of abortion to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in Brussels debate that follows French constitutional enshrinement

14 March 2024
by Matthew Vella

Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer billed himself the first Maltese in Brussels to have spoken in favour of women’s full bodily autonomy, in an impassioned intervention to a debate calling for abortion to become a fundamental right in the European Charter of fundamental rights.

Engerer, who has not yet committed himself to a re-election campaign for the 2024 elections, quoted various experiences of anonymous women who had to carry out illegal abortions in Malta due to domestic violence, rape, or illness.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/ewropej/128109/labour_mep_makes_plea_for_abortion_to_become_fundamental_right_in_eu_charter

14.03.2024

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Cyrus Engerer

Elisa Ferreira

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

European Charter of Fundamental Rights

Women call for tougher EU stance on Poland’s abortion laws

At least six women have died in Poland after doctors refused to terminate their pregnancies due to the constitutional court’s ruling on abortions.

By Priyanka Shankar
Published On 18 Nov 2022

Brussels, Belgium – Fighting for justice and women’s rights in Poland has become an integral part of Barbara Skrobol’s life since September 22, 2021.

This was the day her sister-in-law, Izabela Sajbor, died of sepsis at a hospital in southern Poland after doctors refused to terminate her pregnancy after finding foetal defects, due to Poland’s stringent abortion rules.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/11/18/women-call-for-tougher-eu-stance-on-polands-abortion-laws

European Parliament urges EU to make abortion a basic right

The European Parliament voted to make abortion a fundamental right in the 27-nation bloc. The vote is a reaction to the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.

July 7, 2022

The European Parliament endorsed a resolution which calls for adding "everyone has the right to safe and legal abortion" into the charter of fundamental rights within the EU.

On Thursday, 324 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favor of the resolution, with 155 voting against and 38 absent from the assembly in Strasbourg, France.

https://www.dw.com/en/european-parliament-urges-eu-to-make-abortion-a-basic-right/a-62396892

07.07.2022

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abortion is a human right

MEPs slam Polish abortion ban: ‘Women will suffer

By ELENA SÁNCHEZ NICOLÁS
BRUSSELS, Feb 10, 2021

MEPs have condemned the near-total ban on the right to abortion in Poland, following the entry into force of the country's Constitutional Tribunal ruling.

The highly-politicised court initially ruled last October that all abortions for severe and irreversible foetal abnormalities were unconstitutional, limiting the already very restrictive abortion law in line with Roman Catholic doctrine.

Continued: https://euobserver.com/political/150876

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

MEPs condemn Poland’s near-total abortion ban

Lawmakers tried to put pressure on Warsaw in parliamentary debate.

BY MAÏA DE LA BAUME
February 9, 2021

MEPs on Tuesday condemned Poland's almost total ban on abortion and called on the European Union to step up its fight against what they see as more backsliding on fundamental rights in the country.

Last month, Poland's top constitutional court published its reasoning on a verdict that tightened the country's already tough abortion laws. The verdict means abortions will be permitted only in cases of rape, incest and when a mother's life is endangered. The initial court ruling, issued in October, stated that abortions for reasons of fetal abnormality violate the constitution, which effectively banned most abortions in the country.

Continued: https://www.politico.eu/article/mep-condemn-poland-abortion-ban/

’We’re standing with you’: MEPs hit out at Poland over abortion crackdown

By Euronews
25/11/2020

A majority of European lawmakers who took part in a debate on abortion rights in Poland expressed solidarity with protesters, vowing to "join them in this battle till the very end".

MEPs debated Polish abortion rights on Wednesday afternoon and will vote on a resolution on Thursday.

Continued: https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/25/we-re-standing-with-you-meps-hit-out-at-poland-over-abortion-crackdown

Abortion rights: An open wound in many European countries

By Alexandra Brzozowski and Raffaella Margaryan
Nov 18, 2020

Poland already had one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, and is on the verge of tightening it even further. But a closer look at other European countries shows the trend does not go towards liberalisation either, while at EU level, the European Commission is legally unarmed.

The protest against a strict abortion ban in Poland continues and is now turning into an anti-government movement.

Continued: https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/abortion-rights-an-open-wound-in-many-european-countries/

Malta: PD breathes sigh of relief following anti-abortion assurances

PD breathes sigh of relief following anti-abortion assurances
hFarrugia says AG should draft opinion to confirm government view

Saturday, January 6, 2018
by Philip Leone Ganado

The Democratic Party welcomed yesterday the government’s clarification that a Bill intended to fight domestic violence would not decriminalise abortion under any circumstances.

Godfrey Farrugia, one of the PD’s two members of Parliament, said the Attorney General should nevertheless draft an opinion to confirm the government’s interpretation of the proposed law.

Continued at source: https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180106/local/pd-breathes-sigh-of-relief-following-anti-abortion-assurances.667121