Photo by Letizia Bordoni on Unsplash
The European commission has officially registered the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) titled “My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion.”
This initiative, spearheaded by the “My Voice, My Choice” movement, is said to represent a significant step forward for reproductive rights in Europe.
The ECI is proposed by the “My Voice, My Choice” movement – a coalition of activists, organizations, and citizens across Europe who are dedicated to securing access to reproductive rights.
It calls upon the European Union to take decisive action to aid the 20 million women in the EU who lack access to safe abortion care.
The proposed EU legislation aims to establish a financial mechanism that would assist Member States in providing safe and legal abortion services, thereby addressing the needless suffering and fatalities resulting from inadequate access.
Nika Kovač, Director of the Slovenian Institute 8th of March and coordinator of the My Voice, My Choice campaign, expressed the movement’s vision, stating, “We can see a lot of sadness and despair around the globe.”
“With My Voice, My Choice we decided to bring hope, to create a movement built on cooperation and solidarity, a movement for reproductive rights in Europe. We want to ensure that every woman has a right to free and accessible abortion. We know that a different Europe, Europe that takes care of everybody and leaves nobody behind, is possible and we want to cocreate it.”
French activist Alice Coffin, a key leader of the movement in France, emphasised the urgency of the initiative, stating, “Today’s registration of the My Voice, My Choice ECI is an acknowledgement of the importance and emergency of changing Europe’s landscape on abortion.”
“This is a huge first step, we will not stop until all the others are completed. So many people in France are already ready to lead this fight in solidarity.”
A campaign source said, “The registration of the My Voice, My Choice ECI by the European Commission serves as a poignant reminder that the EU has the capacity to offer substantive support for abortion rights. European institutions must prioritise concrete measures to address the pressing needs of women in Europe who lack access to safe abortion care.”
She added, “Failure to do so undermines the Union’s fundamental values and obligations to safeguard human rights.”
