Abortion and the Women’s Movement W. Europe and Internationally: Then and Now

1. Abortion and the Women’s Movement W. Europe and Internationally: Then and Now Marge Berer Editor, Reproductive Health Matters Chair, International Consortium for Medical Abortion Chair, Voice for Choice

2. Soviet Union • Communist Russia first to legalise abortion in 1920s. • Alexandra Kollantai convinced Lenin. • Next 50 years roots of abortion rights campaigns, e.g. 1930s in Britain, began. • World War II delayed any activity in Europe.

3. Britain • Late 1970s, in Britain, the 1967 Abortion Act was under threat from the anti-abortion movement that tabled bill after bill. • Grassroots advocacy for abortion rights for 3 years (voluntary). Worked full time for 2 years, National Abortion Campaign. • Other abortion advocacy groups: ALRA, LARC, DWCA, Coord…

4. National Abortion Campaign 1980 • Grassroots membership organisation. • 3 low-paid staff / steering committee • Local groups all over Britain, main cities and rural areas. London alone had at least 10 groups. • Representatives from each group attended a monthly national planning meeting, each time in a different city.

5. What we did • Posters, postcards, scarves, bags, badges with slogans, and sold them for income. • Wrote pamphlets w/ women’s experiences and why we supported the current law. • Organised public meetings up and down the country, with prominent speakers. • Spoke in schools, universities, women’s organisations, local and national trade union meetings, community groups and local political party meetings + Parliament.

6. What we did 2 • Asked groups to pass resolutions supporting the right to abortion, and give us donations. • Set up stalls in markets at weekends and gave out literature and sold badges. • Talked to the media. • Organised demonstrations, including a mass demonstration in London in 1980 of 500,000 people.

7. Western Europe / France • Similar large movements for abortion rights grew up in Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and later Spain. • Netherlands: We Women Demand: Slogan Boss of my own belly. • France, women + doctors alliance all major cities to provide safe abortions. Press conference: we are breaking the law, famous women said they had illegal abortions −> law changed in 1977.

8. Belgium • In Belgium, the law changed long after the practice of abortion stopped being underground. • The king, who was against abortion, abdicated his throne for 24 hours so that the bill could pass into law without his signature or his opposition. • By early 1980s, the law in most western European countries had changed.

9. Jane, Chicago, USA • A group of young women formed a collective to provide illegal abortions. • Phone number in shop windows: ask for Jane. • One doctor, then he taught them all to do abortions. • Film made about the group many years later: don’t miss it.

10. Abortion in the USA, 1964

11. Bilbao, Spain 1981 • Court case: 7 women, TBA, family. • All 7 abortions were therapeutic. • Feminist movement worked with lawyers. • National and European witnesses at trial. • Thousands of women surrounded courthouse. • All women acquitted. • Law changed within a few years.

12. Portugal 2006 • Feminist groups and family planning association. • Periodic arrests of women + TBAs. • Referendums. • Bills in Parliament, next to last one lost by only one vote. • Bill finally passed in 2006, allowing abortion on request but only to 10 weeks, more restrictions after that.

13. Ireland • Young girl raped, given and then denied permission to go to England for abortion. • Anti-abortion efforts to make it illegal to travel for abortion outside Ireland or get information where to go: backfired. • Two European court rulings: • Grogan – right to travel to obtain a (medical) service. (Court of Justice, 1989) • Open Door Counselling/Dublin Well Woman – right to freedom of information. (Human Rights, 1992) (Fletcher, RHM 2000)

14. International Campaign for Abortion Rights • Formed 1978: major international women’s conference in Paris. • Members: activist feminist groups from: Britain, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, USA, Canada, Peru, Philippines, Japan, South Africa. • International Days of Action 1979, 1981. • 1984 Women & Health Meeting: Women decide −> Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights 1985.

15. National movements for change • Sometimes the law is the last thing that changes, sometimes it’s the first. • A good law is necessary but not sufficient. • A grassroots movement of women activists, and good quality services from an adequate number of trained providers are also necessary. • Other key players include:

16. National movements for change 2 • abortion providers and other medical professionals (nurses), • community leaders and groups, NGOs • mainstream women’s organisations, • trade unions and other workers’ associations, • supportive lawyers, govt. ministers, parliamentarians, policymakers and political parties, branches and members, • progressive religious leaders.

17. Why support safe, legal abortion • Women’s autonomy and right to control what happens in their own bodies. • Unsafe abortion is a major public health problem. • Public health reasons may be the best way to win over doctors and politicians, as they are responsible for the public health.

18. Differences today compared to 2030 years ago • The anti-abortion movement is bigger, more sophisticated in its tactics, has major backing from the US government and the Vatican, and is a more formidable opponent. • Abortion methods are much safer than they used to be even 10-15 years ago, and require fewer skills. Early abortions − both surgical and medical − can be done by mid-level providers in primary health care settings (law must permit it). • Or − women can do MVA for others or buy medical abortion pills no matter what the law.

19. Clandestine abortion is changing • The abortion pill is becoming increasingly available, including where abortion remains legally restricted, replacing more dangerous methods but leading to more incomplete abortions. • More providers are trained in MVA, some providers and hospitals are more willing to do post-abortion MVA, and more women are seeking treatment. • Rate and number of deaths falling, with exception of second trimester abortions.

20. A long way to go: 2007 • 97% of countries permit abortion to save the woman’s life. • 5 countries do not permit abortion at all. • Abortion is permitted for economic or social reasons in 78% of developed countries but only 19% of developing countries, and on request in 67% of developed but only 15% of developing countries. But on request usually means only first trimester.

21. Need for a critical mass of support • Induced abortion must be accepted by society as a legitimate health care service for women and an accepted choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, no matter what the woman’s age, marital status or reasons for abortion. • Then changes in abortion law and practice are more likely to succeed. • This is the work of decades and generations. Join us!!