No matter where, no matter who, no matter why.
Nationwide day of action in Germany for International Safe Abortion Day, 28.09.2020
Primary care – no matter where
Abortion access must be available nationwide – from cities to rural areas, in private practices and in Catholic hospitals. To ensure this, qualified medical personnel are needed on site in all medical facilities. Abortion is a standard medical procedure and as such, it must be a fundamental part of medical training and research. Furthermore, doctors who provide this service should not be criminalised. We extend our solidarity to those who fight for reproductive rights by taking to the streets, from Bavaria to Warsaw and beyond, to demand that abortion is primary health care.
Primary care – no matter who
Anyone who is in need must have access to the human right to safe abortion. Age, social status, (dis)ability, race, residency/citizenship status, sexuality or gender identity should not play a role in accessing abortion services. Instead of imposing a financial burden on those facing unwanted pregnancy, abortion must therefore be covered by health insurance. The right to physical integrity is a fundamental human right and must therefore apply equally to people who can and cannot become pregnant!
Primary care – no matter why
There are many reasons why someone might want to terminate a pregnancy – those reasons are often private. Legally-mandated counselling, prevailing social stigma, and the criminalisation of abortion continue to place significant pressure on those affected.
We demand that pregnant people, including women, trans and non-binary individuals, should finally be recognised as capable of making self-determined decisions about their bodies. We must put an end to criminalisation and forced counselling, and instead provide:
- Broadly accessible sexual and reproductive health and rights education for all
- Better access to contraceptives, which should also be covered by health insurance
- Publicly-funded provision of voluntary, unbiased and easily accessible pregnancy and abortion counselling.
In the context of the Corona crisis
During the Corona crisis, it became more apparent than ever that women* take on a disproportionate share of systemically relevant work. Whether as workers in the health or aged care industries, in supermarkets or as cleaners, or in the context of unpaid care work at home, women have been instrumental in dealing with this crisis. The fact that this work is underpaid makes it particularly unjust that they do not receive adequate support when facing issues such as unwanted pregnancy. Moreover, the Corona crisis has resulted in additional barriers in access to abortion services. We need crisis-proof, solidarity-based health care for all – including access to abortion!
28 September – International Safe Abortion Day!
The Corona crisis is putting our health system to the test. It’s crucial that we ensure abortion care is adressed in the current debate.
How can you support?
- Organise events and actions around the topic of sexual self-determination: film screenings, panel discussions, readings, flash mobs, rallies, information booths, soli parties, button workshops, concerts, vigils, reading groups, …
- Use the week to start up a pro-choice group in your town or city and organise a kick-off meeting: Counselling centres, doctors, lawyers, parents, medical students, artists, … there can never be enough people who stand up for abortion rights!
- Support public outreach through press releases or a week of action on social media. You can use these to educate your community on issues related to reproductive justice.
- Share this call to action and forward it to anyone who might be interested, via mailing lists and in your networks. Have a look at the organisations which already agreed to support the action. (at the end of the first page)
- Please register your action online. Your action will appear in the nationwide press release and we can promote a wide range of actions in many cities. If you have any questions, contact us at bundesweit@sexuelle-selbstbestimmung.de.
* In this instance, women refers to cis-gender, transgender and non-binary individuals who are read as women and/or are faced with roles and expectations connected to this gender identity.