National Women’s Council joins campaign for one million signatures for improved abortion access in EU

The ‘My Voice, My Choice’ campaign is looking for people in Europe to show support for women and pregnant people being denied access to abortion in the EU.

NWC director Orla O’Connor said: “Across Europe, more than 20 million women do not have access to abortion. Here in Ireland, in spite of the success of Repeal, hundreds of women are still forced to travel abroad for care.

"The mandatory three day wait, 12-week limit, and ongoing criminalisation of medics all feed into this situation.

“That’s why we’re joining with sister organisations in Slovenia, France, Spain, Finland, Poland, Austria and Croatia to demand reproductive justice across the continent.”

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The campaign is calling for the European Commission to introduce a mechanism ensuring “every woman in Europe has access to safe, timely and legal abortion care”.

“Where women are denied access to abortion, this not only risks physical health, but also puts them under undue economic and mental stress, especially those on low incomes who cannot afford to travel,” said NWC women’s health coordinator Doireann Crosson.

"As we’ve seen so painfully illustrated in the US, we can never take our reproductive rights for granted.

"This is a vital opportunity for groups and individuals across Europe to join together in solidarity and demand true, equitable access to abortion and autonomy over our reproductive lives.”

The NWC said in a statement limited access to abortion in some EU countries threatens “the lives and livelihoods of women who are forced to travel”.

"We know this threat is not experienced equally, with many women and pregnant people from marginalised groups being most affected. This campaign is a unique opportunity to mobilise support for reproductive rights ahead of the EU elections, and to harmonise abortion access within Europe.”