Inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
TA-9-2024-0286 · P9_TA(2024)0286 · PE760.611
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Parliament's resolution calls for the right to safe and legal abortion to be added to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It urges the European Council to launch a Convention to revise the Treaties and adopt Parliament's proposal to amend the Charter.¶ It condemns backsliding on women's rights and regressive attempts to restrict sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally and in the EU, and calls on the Commission to ensure anti-gender groups do not receive EU funding.¶¶ It urges member states to fully decriminalise abortion in line with 2022 WHO guidelines, and calls on Poland and Malta to repeal their bans and restrictions.¶ It calls on member states to guarantee access to safe, legal and free abortion care, contraception, family planning and sexuality education, and to remove legal, financial and practical barriers.¶¶¶ It condemns denial of abortion by medical practitioners and institutions using the 'conscience' clause, and urges member states to make abortion methods part of medical training.¶¶ It calls for EU support for civil society and SRHR defenders, including through the CERV and EU4Health programmes, and for the EU to advocate for abortion rights internationally and ratify the European Convention on Human Rights.¶¶
Key points
- Recalls that SRHR are fundamental human rights that must be protected and cannot be watered down or withdrawn.¶
- Recalls the EU's commitment to bodily autonomy and free decision-making on sexuality and reproductive rights, free from discrimination, coercion and violence.¶
- Urges the European Council to launch a Convention to revise the Treaties and adopt Parliament's proposal to add sexual and reproductive healthcare and the right to safe and legal abortion to the Charter.¶
- Condemns backsliding on women's rights and regressive attempts to restrict SRHR globally and in the EU, and threats against human rights defenders.¶
- Calls on the Commission to use all tools to ensure organisations working against gender equality and reproductive rights do not receive EU funding.¶
- Urges member states to fully decriminalise abortion in line with 2022 WHO guidelines; calls on Poland and Malta to repeal bans and restrictions.¶
- Urges member state governments to guarantee access to safe, legal and free abortion care, maternal healthcare, family planning, contraception and HIV services without discrimination.¶
- Condemns denial of abortion by medical practitioners and institutions using the 'conscience' clause, especially where delay endangers life or health.¶
- Calls on member states to ensure access to comprehensive sexuality education, free contraception and family planning counselling, with attention to marginalised groups.¶
- Calls on member states and local governments to increase spending and subsidies for healthcare, family planning services and related organisations.¶
- Urges member state governments to make abortion methods and procedures an obligatory part of medical training, especially for gynaecology students.¶
- Calls on all member states to remove legal, financial, social and practical barriers to abortion, including those affecting women in poverty and racialised women.¶
Who is affected
- Member states, which are urged to decriminalise abortion, guarantee access to care and remove barriers.¶¶¶
- Poland and Malta, which are called on to repeal their abortion bans and restrictions.
- Medical practitioners and institutions, which are condemned for denying abortion under the 'conscience' clause.¶
- Civil society organisations and SRHR human rights defenders, which are encouraged to continue their work and receive EU support.¶
- The European Council, which is urged to launch a Convention to revise the Treaties.¶