Mass protest outside European Parliament in Brussels over Spain's abortion reform
Thursday, January 30, 2014 @ 12:40 PM
AT least 2,000 people staged a demonstration outside the European Parliament building in Brussels yesterday (Wednesday) evening in protest over Spain's abortion law reform.
As well as members of the public of all nationalities, organisations including the European Women's Lobby, Abortion Right, the European Humanist Federation, Catholics for Choice and the International Planned Parenthood Federation were joined by MEPs from the socialists, liberalists, the 'greens' and United Left.
Banners read, 'Rights for men, but also for women'; 'Free abortion', and 'All of us are Spanish women' – a message of support meaning restrictions on legal abortion could one day affect any of them.
Socialist MEPs read out a manifesto which declared: “Today, the voice of women is the voice of Europe. The PP wants to create a distinction between those women who have the financial means to travel abroad for an abortion, and those who have no choice but to opt for a back-street abortion and put their lives and health at risk.”
French MEP for the 'green' party, José Bové, said: “What is happening in Spain is an unbelievable regression. It's truly shocking to see how the achievements of women in Europe are being cast aside to placate an intolerable religious minority.”
“I hope Spain's government reconsiders and axes the reform, which makes no sense anyway, because that's the best way to move forward to the future,” said United Left MEP Mikael Gustaffson.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com