April 13, 2008.
The European Humanist Federation would like to warmly encourage you honorable members of PACE to support the resolution on access to safe and legal abortion in Europe that will be debated and voted in plenary on April 16th in the morning.
We are supporting the position of the European Women Lobby* and the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network.
We welcomed the great work done by the members of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men to write a balanced report based on a genuine human rights approach to this sensitive topic. We thank PACE for this courageous initiative. Working to eliminate unsafe abortion and removing criminal sanctions for having or seeking an abortion save women’s lives and contribute to the achievement of women’s equality.
The report is based on the conviction that access to safe and legal abortion is crucial for the respect of women's sexual and reproductive rights. Indeed, the full body of international law and the authoritative interpretations of this law indicate that, in order for women and girls to exercise and enjoy their human rights fully, a number of conditions related to reproductive and sexual health policy and law must be present:
- abortion must be decriminalized;
- sex education and full, accurate, scientifically based information on contraception must be readily available;
- contraceptive methods must be affordable and accessible.
We believe the resolution drafted by the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men reaffirms these principles, and therefore urge you to support it without amendments. If you agree with our position, we would like to ask you to consider taking the floor during the debate and bravely show your commitment to women’s rights to life, health and dignity.
Sincerely yours,
(s) David Pollock
president | (s) Dr. Georges Liénard
General secretary |
