Andorra: Acquittal of activist who raised concerns about total abortion ban at a UN meeting “an important victory”

Amnesty International
Jan 17, 2024

The acquittal of abortion rights activist, Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, on defamation charges is an important victory but she should never have been charged in the first place, said Amnesty International following a court decision today.

In a joint public statement with the Centre for Reproductive Rights, Women’s Link Worldwide and Front Line Defenders the organisations welcome today’s decision acquitting Vanessa Mendoza Cortés and remind the authorities that she should face no further intimidation or reprisals for carrying out her important and legitimate human rights work.

Continued:https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/andorra-acquittal-of-activist-who-raised-concerns-about-total-abortion-ban-at-a-un-meeting-an-important-victory/

Andorra – This tiny country is home to Europe’s toughest abortion ban

The micronation of Andorra, located in the mountains between Spain and France, takes a hard-line stance against abortion because its head-of-state is a Catholic bishop. But some Andorrans say it’s time for change.

The World
November 6, 2023

The principality of Andorra, located in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France, is one of the smallest, least-populated countries in Europe.

It’s also the only one with a total ban on abortions. Not only are abortions in Andorra illegal, but also a taboo, said Sandra, an Andorran who asked for anonymity due to fear of public exposure.

Continued: https://theworld.org/stories/2023-11-06/tiny-country-home-europe-s-toughest-abortion-ban

Andorran women take to the streets to demand that abortion is no longer a crime

SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER 2023

As part of the International Day for the Right to Abortion [1], a demonstration was held in Andorra on 30 September. Around 150 activists responded to a call from the Stop Violències association, which is fighting for the decriminalization of abortion, which in Andorra is considered a crime, even after rape.

This small state, a "parliamentary theocracy" wedged between France and Spain, is governed by medieval legislation. Two co-princes decide on women’s right to control their own bodies: the Bishop of Urgell, a traditionalist opposed to abortion, and... the President of the French Republic.

SOLIDARITY WITH VANESSA MENDOZA CORTÉS
Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, president of Stop Violències, has been taken to court by the Andorran president, Xavier Espot Zamora, for “defamation”.

Continued: https://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article8269

07.10.2023