(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #236 - Spain: Regression on abortion: the fight is organized (fr, pt)


Since the validation of the bill restricting (if not preventing) the right to abortion in 
the Council of Ministers on December 20, resistance was organized, in Spain and France. 
Nieves, labor activist in Aragon, discusses mobilization in the making. ---- Returning to 
the right of women to abort freely (see AL November 2013 ), the Spanish government, led by 
the Minister of Justice Jos? Ruiz-Gallardon has demonstrated that feminist struggles are 
far from being exceeded. Mobilization did not expect, with demonstrations on December 20 
in Spain, Madrid and Barcelona, who have been subject to severe repression, including 
Barcelona, where several protesters were arrested. The fight is organized in France as 
well, with a first rally on December 27 in Paris, which was attended by about 200 people. 
Since then, other events were held, including Poitiers, Nantes, Marseille and Toulouse, 
mobilizing between 500 and 1,000 activists, the political color was the liberal left 
(Socialist Party) to radical feminists, through the anti-capitalist and libertarian 
political organizations and associations.

Sexist, degrading, unjust, paternalistic

For the reactionary law remains in draft form, the Spanish feminist organizations have 
initiated a national mobilization, supported by all the forces of the left and the 
libertarian movement. Decided not to abandon the Spanish feminists call for a mass 
demonstration at the European level for February 1st. Of "freedom trains" women will route 
to Madrid, France and several events are planned that day in solidarity.

And since December 20, across the political spectrum (except the National Front was quick 
to welcome this backward misogynistic) was discovered and feminist allies to denounce the 
backward Spanish. As usual, the defense of women's rights is exploited by a political 
class that no one cares when it is in its interest. However, when you have to give the 
means to ensure access to abortion for all women, all beautiful feminism can not resist 
(in ten years, more than 130 centers performing abortions closed without any government 
not in ?meuve). Resurrecting the Ministry of Women's Rights is convenient to give the air 
progressive cheap, but still believes in state feminism?

Frogs still active clams

The Spanish news is also an opportunity to recall that the right to abortion is not 
unanimously in Europe: abortion is a crime in Malta, only possible in cases of rape or 
incest Cyprus and Poland (where only malformation of the fetus or danger of death for the 
mother may justify an abortion). It took a woman dying of sepsis after a miscarriage that 
Ireland accepts that women have abortions if their lives are endangered by pregnancy.

In France, the Catholic reactionary activism knows no crisis between pink and blue which 
protesters rally against the "gender theory" and those who recite ave maria before the 
abortion clinics. Last March for Life attracted about 25,000 people on January 19, where 
it was particularly Christine Boutin (former president of the Christian Democratic Party) 
and Bruno Gollnish (FN). There is therefore still a long way to go to make abortion 
accessible to all women without means, without moral boundaries, political and social. 
These are feminist struggles that have made significant social progress for women, so it's 
time to give these struggles all the vigor and fighting spirit and determination that 
characterizes them.

Aur?line (AL Toulouse)