Poland: Women’s right to self-determination must be respected, say GUE/NGL MEPs

Strasbourg, 5/10/2016

 

MEP Malin Björk, GUE/NGL Coordinator for European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, stated: “History shows that women's right to have control over our bodies can never be taken for granted.”

“There are too many men in the European Parliament who are pushing for restricting women's rights to self-determination, our own sexualities, our own bodies, and to determine whether and when to have children.
“I expect that those who claim to stand up for human rights should now take a stand for women's right to safe and legal abortions as well.

“To my Polish friends, I just want to say that you are not alone. We will not give up. We will fight together with you, for your freedom, but also for the freedom of all of us,” Björk concluded.

Italian MEP, Barbara Spinelli, also expressed her deepest concern on the issue: “The proposal represents a deliberate violation of the EU directive on non-discriminatory access to health.”

“Even if the proposal for a total ban on abortion should eventually be rejected , the current law remains among the most punitive in Europe». 

“This situation is part of a deep regression happening in Poland. Former Prime Minister Kaczyński is promoting a self-styled ‘cultural counter-revolution’ based on the symbiotic relationship between the State and the church.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Spanish MEP, Angela Vallina, also condemned the religious radicalism harming women’s right to self-determination: “In a democratic society, religious beliefs should remain within the personal sphere. A good government must legislate regardless of pressure from any religious institution.”

Both Vallina and Spinelli agreed that this issue should be considered as a matter of EU competence since fundamental human rights are seriously affected by the proposed ban on abortion in a member state. 

 

 

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Nikki Sullings  +33 3881 76723 / +32 483 03 55 75

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

European United Left / Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)

European Parliamentary Group

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