European Parliament demands abortion rights to be enshrined for all Europeans, following Renew Europe initiative

European Parliament demands abortion rights to be enshrined for all Europeans, following Renew Europe initiative

The right to safe and legal abortion must be safeguarded by the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Parliament reaffirms today as it adopts a resolution pushing the Council to launch a Convention to revise the Treaty. Renew Europe initiated this request for amending the Charter already two years ago, in a bid to grant all European women the right to decide over their own bodies no matter where in the Union. In recent years, the right to abortion, still not a right in all EU Member States, has been under attack by far – right and populist conservative politicians, including in Poland, Hungary and the United States.

President of Renew Europe, Valérie Hayer said:

“Women's rights must never fall victim to populism. While Europe's radical right works hard to find new ways to push through their reactionary agenda, we need to remain a frontrunner and be firmer than ever in upholding women’s rights. It is time for the right to abortion to be enshrined in law for all Europeans. Your body, your rights"

The resolution calls on Malta and Poland to repeal their current bans and restrictions to abortion immediately. It also calls on Member States to guarantee access to the full range of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), such as maternal healthcare services, contraception methods and supplies and sexual education without discrimination. Furthermore, it should not be possible for health providers to refuse to provide health services on the basis of the so-called conscience clause.

Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Spain), Renew Europe’s negotiator on the resolution, said:

"The right to legal and safe abortion is a fundamental right. The European Union has the responsibility to protect it for all European women by introducing it in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. We must not forget that our rights are worth what they are worth their guarantees and unfortunately, in recent years this has become evident with the worldwide backsliding on women’s rights and in particular sexual and reproductive health and rights. From Renew Europe, we will continue defending the right to legal and safe abortion for all women"