MEPs support access to abortion, contraception, and sex education
19:11
MEPs from the European Parliament's Committee on Women and Gender Equality (FEMM) yesterday called on the EU Member States to ensure access to health care and guarantee women's reproductive and sexual rights, including the right to contraception, legal abortion, and sexual education.
FEMM concluded that "free access to health services, especially in the field of reproductive health, and protection of women's reproductive and sexual rights are fundamental rights that must be respected and which they cannot weaken or ignore ”.
According to MEPs, violating these rights is a form of aggression against women and girls, contrary to the idea of gender equality. Therefore, they called on European Union countries to provide access to health services, including perinatal care, prenatal testing, and fertility treatment. They also want to ensure that women's reproductive and sexual rights, including the right to autonomy and decision-making, are respected.
"We want to show that the European Parliament has the power to oppose fundamental human rights violations," Predrag Matic, the report's rapporteur, said.
As RMF FM informs, the report contains many references to the resolutions on Poland adopted by the EP, including this "on the de facto ban on abortion" from November last year or the "criminalization of sex education" from 2019.
“Today's report sends a clear message to the several Member States, including Poland. Women's rights are fundamental human rights, and there is no consent to violate them in Europe, ”Robert Biedroń, MEP, told DW.com.
