Abortion in Italy: a combination between neo-fascism and neoliberalism

The experience of Non Una di Meno Padua reflects a situation in Italy, where the right to abortion is diminishing due to conscientious objection, lack of information and the presence of "pro-life" groups, all in the context of a far-right government and cuts to public health.

12 May 2025
Margherita Gobbo, Translated by Ciarán Lawless

Non Una di Meno (NUDM, "Not One Less") is a transfeminist movement that began in Argentina in 2015, then spread globally, fighting against patriarchy, male violence, and gender-based violence. Active in several Italian cities, NUDM, among other activities, has taken action in defence of family planning clinics: public social and health services dedicated to sexual and reproductive health, born out of the feminist struggles of the seventies and institutionalised by law in 1975. Originally created as social, political and feminist health centres as well as gynaecological hospitals, these clinics have been under growing attack for years, with closures and funding cuts.

Continued: https://voxeurop.eu/en/abortion-italy-fascism-neoliberalism/

Eva Barrionuevo, a doctor on the frontlines in Argentina: ‘We know that abortion rights don’t last forever and we will have to fight for them’

The physician says misinformation, pharmaceutical shortages and peer intimidation are on the rise during Javier Milei’s presidency

Mar Centenera
Buenos Aires - MAR 11, 2025

Doctor Eva Barrionuevo, 39, says there are women in her northeastern Argentinian province of La Rioja who think abortion is no longer legal. Women who believe that it has been banned by President Javier Milei, because they heard him equate the voluntary termination of pregnancy with “aggravated murder.” That they are coming to her hospital later and later in their pregnancies, some of them already in their second trimester, due to a lack of information. That they have once again turned to the clandestine drugs that were widely used before abortion was legal, which are less effective and more dangerous than those distributed free of charge by today’s healthcare system. Every day, Barrionuevo fights back against these misconceptions and the growing fear among her fellow doctors who also accompany voluntary pregnancy terminations. It is her mission to guarantee a woman’s right to decide whether she will become a mother, a right that was officially won at the end of 2020 in her country, but is now at risk.

Continued: https://english.elpais.com/international/women-leaders-of-latin-america/2025-03-11/eva-barrionuevo-a-doctor-on-the-frontlines-in-argentina-we-know-that-abortion-rights-dont-last-forever-and-we-will-have-to-fight-for-them.html

11.03.2025

Commentary

belief-based care denial

Catholic Church

conscientious objectors

Dr. Eva Barrionuevo

Javier Milei

manual vacuum aspiration

Network of Professionals for the Right to Choose

Australia- Expansion of medical abortion prescribers to be considered by NSW government

By Lani Oataway, ABC Central West
Feb 9, 2025

A New South Wales Health review of abortion legislation has recommended the government consider changing the law to allow endorsed midwives and nurse practitioners to prescribe medicine for early terminations.

It would mean at least 900 more health practitioners across the state could prescribe MS-2 Step — a two-part medication that stops pregnancy up to 63 days after a menstrual period — aside from doctors.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-10/medical-abortion-expansion-recommendation-nurse-practitioners/104909264

Abortion in Europe: a right for some, a fight for millions of others

January 21, 2025
A European Perspective, European Broadcasting Union

Reproductive rights have been at the centre of political debates worldwide in recent months. As US President Donald Trump takes office following a campaign where access to abortion was a central theme, Europe too finds itself at a crossroads between liberal policies and restrictive laws.

As pro-life movements gain traction across the globe, campaigners are seeking an EU-wide guarantee to safe abortion access. From Hungary to Italy, France, Switzerland and beyond, we look at abortion rights from A European Perspective.

Continued: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/abortion-in-europe-a-right-for-some-a-fight-for-millions-of-others/88749102

Australia – NSW health system ‘not capable’ of providing abortions at all public hospitals, advocates say

Reproductive choice charity says even if obligations to provide abortion services were enforced, too many doctors are untrained or unwilling to provide them

Melissa Davey, Medical editor
Fri 20 Dec 2024

Even if the New South Wales government were to order all public hospitals to fulfil their obligation to provide abortion, the state’s public health system would not be capable of doing so as too many doctors are untrained or opposed, a leading reproductive choice charity says.

The managing director of Marie Stopes International (MSI) Australia, Greg Johnson, said some abortion care could be provided by GPs and other health professionals in primary care settings, but a significant proportion was surgical and required day hospital admission.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/21/nsw-health-system-not-capable-of-providing-abortions-at-all-public-hospitals-advocates-say

20.12.2024

News

conscientious objectors

Dr Madeleine Belfrage

‘It’s kind of whispered in corridors’: women being forced into underground abortion networks in rural NSW, study finds

Small but influential number of medical practitioners leave pregnant women unable to access terminations in many parts of the state

Melissa Davey Medical editor
Mon 4 Nov 2024

A small but influential number of medical practitioners who obstruct abortion care or are uninterested in providing it are leaving women unable to access abortion in many parts of rural New South Wales, a study has found.

It has led to informal and often underground networks of health workers providing information and access to abortion care to patients, the study found, with these providers burning out due to high demand and attitudes toward them.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/05/abortion-access-study-rural-new-south-wales-women

Abortion is legal in Australia, but doctors say an ‘unspoken ban’ is robbing women in regional and rural areas of the right to choose

By Lucy Barbour, with illustrations by Emma Machan
Tuesday 29 October

A mother of two is browsing the racks of kids' clothing to pass time before her scheduled surgery, when she receives the call that almost breaks her.

"I'm really sorry, but we can't do the procedure today," an apologetic voice tells her.

Her lips tremble as she puts a hand to her mouth, struggling to take in the information. She hangs up the phone and stops still, frozen in shock.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/abortion-access-regional-australia-denying-women-health-care/104387416

Italy’s abortion divisions sharpen under Meloni’s leadership

By Alvise Armellini, Claudia Cristoferi and Yesim Dikmen
August 6, 2024

ROME/NAPLES (Reuters) - With Giorgia Meloni, Italy has probably the most openly anti-abortion prime minister in western Europe, but terminating pregnancies in the majority-Catholic country that hosts the Vatican has never been easy.

When Linda Feki, a 33-year-old singer and musician from Naples, posted her account of stigma and abuse in undergoing the procedure, she received heartfelt messages of support from many Italian women who identified with her experience.

Continued: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italys-abortion-divisions-sharpen-under-melonis-leadership-2024-08-06/

Anti-abortion activists set to target women at clinics in Italy as new bill approved

Nearly two thirds of gynaecologists in Italy refuse to carry out abortions, according to government statistics

By Joshua Stein
April 27, 2024

Activists opposed to abortion in Italy are expected to ramp up their targeting of clinics after being “emboldened” by an amendment to the law. Pro-abortion activists fear the bill could endanger women across Italy, and lead to harassment as they try to access information and support.

Anti-abortion activists have routinely attended clinics and pressured women to abandon abortions in three separate Italian regions – Piedmont, Veneto and Lombardy – where the local law has already been changed to allow their presence, according to Elena Caruso, an expert in Italian abortion law and fellow at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Now, anti-abortion activists are worried that could spread to other regions.

Continued: https://inews.co.uk/news/world/anti-abortion-activists-target-women-clinics-italy-bill-approved-3027066

Italy passes law allowing pro-life groups access to abortion clinics

Opponents of the amendment question the wisdom of allowing medically unqualified groups access to women considering an abortion but the government counters the move is designed so prospective patients can be better informed.

By Euronews with AP
24/04/2024

Italy’s Senate has passed legislation which allows regions to permit groups “with a qualified experience supporting motherhood” to have access to women considering abortions at public clinics.

For the right-wing government, the amendment fulfils the original intent of the 1978 law legalising abortion, known as Law 194, which includes provisions to prevent the procedure and support motherhood.

Continued: https://www.euronews.com/health/2024/04/24/italy-passes-law-allowing-pro-life-groups-access-to-abortion-clinics

24.04.2024