Abortion and Abortion and the Women’s Movement the Women’s Movement

W. Europe and Internationally: W. Europe and Internationally: Then and NowThen and Now

Marge BererMarge BererEditor, Reproductive Health MattersEditor, Reproductive Health Matters

Chair, International Consortium for Chair, International Consortium for Medical Abortion Medical Abortion

Chair, Voice for ChoiceChair, Voice for Choice

Soviet UnionSoviet Union

• Communist Russia first to legalise Communist Russia first to legalise abortion in 1920s.abortion in 1920s.

• Alexandra Kollantai convinced Lenin.Alexandra Kollantai convinced Lenin.

• Next 50 years roots of abortion rights Next 50 years roots of abortion rights campaigns, e.g. 1930s in Britain, began.campaigns, e.g. 1930s in Britain, began.

• World War II delayed any activity in World War II delayed any activity in Europe.Europe.

BritainBritain

• Late 1970s, in Britain, the 1967 Abortion Late 1970s, in Britain, the 1967 Abortion Act was under threat from the anti-abortion Act was under threat from the anti-abortion movement that tabled bill after bill.movement that tabled bill after bill.

• Grassroots advocacy for abortion rights Grassroots advocacy for abortion rights for 3 years (voluntary). Worked full time for for 3 years (voluntary). Worked full time for 2 years, National Abortion Campaign. 2 years, National Abortion Campaign.

• Other abortion advocacy groups: ALRA, Other abortion advocacy groups: ALRA, LARC, DWCA, Coord…LARC, DWCA, Coord…

National Abortion Campaign 1980National Abortion Campaign 1980

• Grassroots membership organisation.Grassroots membership organisation.

• 3 low-paid staff / steering committee3 low-paid staff / steering committee

• Local groups all over Britain, main cities Local groups all over Britain, main cities and rural areas. London alone had at and rural areas. London alone had at least 10 groups. least 10 groups.

• Representatives from each group Representatives from each group attended a monthly national planning attended a monthly national planning meeting, each time in a different city. meeting, each time in a different city.

What we didWhat we did• Posters, postcards, scarves, bags, badges Posters, postcards, scarves, bags, badges

with slogans, and sold them for income. with slogans, and sold them for income.

• Wrote pamphlets w/ women’s experiences Wrote pamphlets w/ women’s experiences and why we supported the current law. and why we supported the current law.

• Organised public meetings up and down Organised public meetings up and down the country, with prominent speakers. the country, with prominent speakers.

• Spoke in schools, universities, women’s Spoke in schools, universities, women’s organisations, local and national trade organisations, local and national trade union meetings, community groups and union meetings, community groups and local political party meetings + Parliament. local political party meetings + Parliament.

What we did What we did 22

• Asked groups to pass resolutions Asked groups to pass resolutions supporting the right to abortion, and give supporting the right to abortion, and give us donations. us donations.

• Set up stalls in markets at weekends and Set up stalls in markets at weekends and gave out literature and sold badges. gave out literature and sold badges.

• Talked to the media. Talked to the media.

• Organised demonstrations, including a Organised demonstrations, including a mass demonstration in London in 1980 of mass demonstration in London in 1980 of 500,000 people. 500,000 people.

Western Europe / FranceWestern Europe / France

• Similar large movements for abortion rights Similar large movements for abortion rights grew up in Netherlands, France, Belgium, grew up in Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and later Spain.Germany, Italy and later Spain.

• Netherlands: We Women Demand: Slogan Netherlands: We Women Demand: Slogan Boss of my own belly.Boss of my own belly.

• France, women + doctors alliance all major France, women + doctors alliance all major cities to provide safe abortions. Press cities to provide safe abortions. Press conference: we are breaking the law, conference: we are breaking the law, famous women said they had illegal famous women said they had illegal abortions −> law changed in 1977. abortions −> law changed in 1977.

BelgiumBelgium

• In Belgium, the law changed long after the In Belgium, the law changed long after the practice of abortion stopped being practice of abortion stopped being underground. underground.

• The king, who was against abortion, The king, who was against abortion, abdicated his throne for 24 hours so that abdicated his throne for 24 hours so that the bill could pass into law without his the bill could pass into law without his signature or his opposition.signature or his opposition.

• By early 1980s, the law in most western By early 1980s, the law in most western European countries had changed. European countries had changed.

Jane, Chicago, USAJane, Chicago, USA

• A group of young women formed a A group of young women formed a collective to provide illegal abortions.collective to provide illegal abortions.

• Phone number in shop windows: ask for Phone number in shop windows: ask for Jane.Jane.

• One doctor, then he taught them all to do One doctor, then he taught them all to do abortions.abortions.

• Film made about the group many years Film made about the group many years later: don’t miss it.later: don’t miss it.

Abortion in the USA, 1964Abortion in the USA, 1964

Bilbao, Spain 1981Bilbao, Spain 1981

• Court case: 7 women, TBA, family.Court case: 7 women, TBA, family.

• All 7 abortions were therapeutic.All 7 abortions were therapeutic.

• Feminist movement worked with lawyers.Feminist movement worked with lawyers.

• National and European witnesses at trial.National and European witnesses at trial.

• Thousands of women surrounded Thousands of women surrounded courthouse.courthouse.

• All women acquitted.All women acquitted.

• Law changed within a few years.Law changed within a few years.

Portugal 2006Portugal 2006

• Feminist groups and family planning Feminist groups and family planning association.association.

• Periodic arrests of women + TBAs.Periodic arrests of women + TBAs.

• Referendums.Referendums.

• Bills in Parliament, next to last one lost Bills in Parliament, next to last one lost by only one vote.by only one vote.

• Bill finally passed in 2006, allowing Bill finally passed in 2006, allowing abortion on request but only to 10 weeks, abortion on request but only to 10 weeks, more restrictions after that.more restrictions after that.

IrelandIreland

• Young girl raped, given and then denied Young girl raped, given and then denied permission to go to England for abortion.permission to go to England for abortion.

• Anti-abortion efforts to make it illegal to Anti-abortion efforts to make it illegal to travel for abortion outside Ireland or get travel for abortion outside Ireland or get information where to go: backfired.information where to go: backfired.

• Two European court rulings:Two European court rulings:– Grogan – right to travel to obtain a (medical) service. Grogan – right to travel to obtain a (medical) service.

(Court of Justice, 1989) (Court of Justice, 1989) – Open Door Counselling/Dublin Well Woman – right to Open Door Counselling/Dublin Well Woman – right to

freedom of information. (Human Rights, 1992)freedom of information. (Human Rights, 1992)(Fletcher, RHM 2000)(Fletcher, RHM 2000)

International Campaign for International Campaign for Abortion RightsAbortion Rights

• Formed 1978: major international women’s Formed 1978: major international women’s conference in Paris. conference in Paris.

• Members: activist feminist groups from: Members: activist feminist groups from: Britain, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Belgium, Britain, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, USA, Canada, Peru, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, USA, Canada, Peru, Philippines, Japan, South Africa.Philippines, Japan, South Africa.

• International Days of Action 1979, 1981.International Days of Action 1979, 1981.

• 1984 Women & Health Meeting: Women 1984 Women & Health Meeting: Women decide −> Women’s Global Network for decide −> Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights 1985.Reproductive Rights 1985.

National movements for changeNational movements for change

• Sometimes the law is the last thing that Sometimes the law is the last thing that changes, sometimes it’s the first. changes, sometimes it’s the first.

• A good law is necessary but not A good law is necessary but not sufficient. sufficient.

• A grassroots movement of women A grassroots movement of women activists, and good quality services from activists, and good quality services from an adequate number of trained providers an adequate number of trained providers are also necessary.are also necessary.

• Other key players include:Other key players include:

National movements for change National movements for change 22

• abortion providers and other medical abortion providers and other medical professionals (nurses),professionals (nurses),

• community leaders and groups, NGOscommunity leaders and groups, NGOs

• mainstream women’s organisations, mainstream women’s organisations,

• trade unions and other workers’ trade unions and other workers’ associations,associations,

• supportive lawyers, govt. ministers, supportive lawyers, govt. ministers, parliamentarians, policymakers and parliamentarians, policymakers and political parties, branches and members,political parties, branches and members,

• progressive religious leaders.progressive religious leaders.

Why support safe, legal abortion Why support safe, legal abortion

• Women’s autonomy and right to control Women’s autonomy and right to control what happens in their own bodies.what happens in their own bodies.

• Unsafe abortion is a major public health Unsafe abortion is a major public health problem.problem.

• Public health reasons may be the best Public health reasons may be the best way to win over doctors and politicians, way to win over doctors and politicians, as they are responsible for the public as they are responsible for the public health.health.

Differences today compared to Differences today compared to 202030 years ago30 years ago

• The anti-abortion movement is bigger, more The anti-abortion movement is bigger, more sophisticated in its tactics, has major backing sophisticated in its tactics, has major backing from the US government and the Vatican, and is a from the US government and the Vatican, and is a more formidable opponent. more formidable opponent.

• Abortion methods are much safer than they used Abortion methods are much safer than they used to be even 10-15 years ago, and require fewer to be even 10-15 years ago, and require fewer skills. Early abortions − both surgical and skills. Early abortions − both surgical and medical − can be done by mid-level providers in medical − can be done by mid-level providers in primary health care settings (law must permit it).primary health care settings (law must permit it).

• Or − women can do MVA for others or buy Or − women can do MVA for others or buy medical abortion pills no matter what the law. medical abortion pills no matter what the law.

Clandestine abortion is changingClandestine abortion is changing

• The abortion pill is becoming increasingly The abortion pill is becoming increasingly available, including where abortion remains available, including where abortion remains legally restricted, replacing more dangerous legally restricted, replacing more dangerous methods but leading to more incomplete methods but leading to more incomplete abortionsabortions..

• More providers are trained in MVA, some More providers are trained in MVA, some providers and hospitals are more willing to do providers and hospitals are more willing to do post-abortion MVA, and more women are post-abortion MVA, and more women are seeking treatmentseeking treatment..

• Rate and number of deaths falling, with Rate and number of deaths falling, with exception of second trimester abortions. exception of second trimester abortions.

A long way to go: 2007A long way to go: 2007

• 97% of countries permit abortion to save 97% of countries permit abortion to save the woman’s life.the woman’s life.

• 5 countries do not permit abortion at all.5 countries do not permit abortion at all.

• Abortion is permitted for economic or Abortion is permitted for economic or social reasons in 78% of developed social reasons in 78% of developed countries but only 19% of developing countries but only 19% of developing countries, and on request in 67% of countries, and on request in 67% of developed but only 15% of developing developed but only 15% of developing countries. But on request usually means countries. But on request usually means only first trimester.only first trimester.

Need for a critical mass of supportNeed for a critical mass of support

• Induced abortion must be accepted by Induced abortion must be accepted by society as a legitimate health care service society as a legitimate health care service for women and an accepted choice in the for women and an accepted choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, no event of an unwanted pregnancy, no matter what the woman’s age, marital matter what the woman’s age, marital status or reasons for abortion.status or reasons for abortion.

• Then changes in abortion law and Then changes in abortion law and practice are more likely to succeed.practice are more likely to succeed.

• This is the work of decades and This is the work of decades and generations. Join us!!generations. Join us!!