Sexual Rights & Reproduction

SESSION OF TUESDAY | JULY 2, 2002

Health and Rights in Sexual Life and Reproduction

Karamanou (PSE). – Mr. President, I believe that warm congratulations and all praise are due to Mrs. Van Lancker, who took the initiative for this important report, which opened the dialogue and highlighted a problem that touches the very core of the rights and fundamental freedoms of half the population of the world, women. Despite the fact that in recent years improvements have been made in women’s sexual and reproductive health, the indicators still show high rates of abortions, especially among teenagers, low use of contraceptive methods, and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.

The worst of all, however, is the return in many areas of the Union to outdated and obscurantist views regarding sexual rights, contraception, gender equality, and women’s right to self-determination. A very characteristic example of the situation is the mobilization of conservative and religious circles, who have inundated us these days with various pamphlets in an effort to prevent the adoption of this important report.

Under the pretext of supposedly protecting life, they are essentially proposing the criminalization of abortion, the stigmatization of women, and even prosecutions against them based on the Portuguese model. These are the well-known opponents of gender equality and women’s rights, and we also know that when they speak of morality, they usually mean the double standard of different measures and criteria for the two genders.

Certainly, abortion is not proposed by anyone as a means of contraception; however, it often becomes a necessity and generally occurs under the pressure of adverse social, economic, psychological, and cultural conditions. Does anyone deny that many pregnancies are the result of some form of violence against women? But beyond the health and rights of women, should we not ensure that children are born into environments where they are welcome, so as to guarantee their healthy emotional, physical, and intellectual development? It is worth emphasizing that data shows that the number of abortions is very low where high-quality, free reproductive health services and contraception are provided, in countries where material support is given to pregnant women facing difficulties, such as, for example, single mothers, and where liberal abortion laws are combined with serious and effective sexual education and awareness, especially for young people.

In conclusion, I believe that the European Union and the Council, as well as the candidate countries, should intensify their efforts to prioritize and establish a comprehensive European policy for reproductive health, with an emphasis on prevention, contraception, and sexual education and awareness for young people. The principle of subsidiarity can in no way serve as an excuse for the European Parliament not to take a position on such an important issue.