The backdrop for the Parliament’s move is a decision by the US Supreme Court, which repealed the country’s relatively liberal abortion law in late June. The mostly conservative court allowed stricter abortion laws to the point of banning them. Following the ruling, several US states enacted sweeping bans on abortion – but abortion rights must remain in several states.
“This was not a decision of the majority of American citizens, but the decision of some politicians, mainly men, who intend to determine the bodies of women. This should be a warning sign for us in Europe,” warned SPÖ Representative Evelyn Regner. in a transmission. “Because even though the rejection of abortion bans in Europe is high, there is also strong organized activism here, which is often supported by the US. In addition, there are also legal and real restrictions on abortion almost everywhere in the EU.”
German Green MEP Terry Reintke said: “Ideological trench warfare should no longer be waged on women’s bodies and health.” Many Conservative and Christian Democrat MPs – including EPP parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber (CSU) – voted against the resolution.
Some EU countries have strict abortion laws: in Malta, abortions are prohibited – illegal abortions can result in imprisonment for those affected. Poland reinforced its strict abortion law in autumn 2020. Since then, abortions are only allowed after rape or when the mother’s life or health is in danger. The family of a mother who died earlier this year made serious allegations against treating physicians after the law was changed. So, because of the strict abortion law in Poland, they wouldn’t dare save the woman’s life through an abortion.
In Austria, “abortions are not punishable and therefore not legal for the first three months of pregnancy either,” Regner explained. “So the debate on women’s self-determination in Europe will remain!”
“Without a single possibility in Burgenland to perform abortions on demand, and only one gynecologist each in Vorarlberg and Tyrol, we are still a long way from the low threshold of access to abortions that we Greens advocate in this country in 2022,” he said. criticized Meri Disoski, vice president of the club and spokeswoman for the women of the Greens. “Abortions, on the other hand, are increasingly becoming a social issue as women are faced with high costs and long trips to other federal states.”