‘Access to free and legal abortion is key to gender equality’
2016-09-30
To mark World Contraception Day on September 26, the GUE/NGL members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality issued the following statement: “Women’s and girls’ rights must be placed at the centre of public health policies. Women’s free and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and education, including the right to free and legal abortion is a key factor to gender equality and must be guaranteed all over the world!”
According to a press release issued by the Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), the findings of the recent Barometer of Women’s Access to Modern Contraceptive Choice in 16 EU Countries show a stagnation or decline in policies that support women’s right to contraceptive choice across most EU countries during the past three years.
Since 2007, World Contraception Day has aimed to improve awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health. The annual campaign centres on a vision where every pregnancy is wanted.