Abortion is not a right

Protecting the rights of individuals and making gender equality a reality is the intention of the resolution approved February 10 by the European Parliament, gathered in plenary sitting in Strasbourg. In reality, the in-depth document drawn up by Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella and approved with 381 votes in favour, 253 against and 31 absentions, addresses various issues including “the salary gap between men and women”, the need to “ensure assistance to children and senior citizens”, the proposal of “reconsidering the maternity leave” and of “introducing a paternity leave”. The document highlights the need to promote work-family balance, to set female quotas in business management positions and in the political environment, along with a directive for combating violence against women. But the resolution also states, “Women should be granted control over their sexual and reproductive rights, notably by gaining easy access to contraception and abortion”.The right to life. The votes on the document, drawn up in response to a rather neutral report on gender equality presented by the Commission, triggered a hot debate inside and outside the European Parliament. The lengthy resolution, consisting of 41 articles, states that women “ought to enjoy free access to abortion counseling”. The document provides for the support of “all measures and initiatives aimed at improving women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services, with information on their rights and on the available services”. The EP resolution “entails two kinds of problems”, Italian MEP Carlo Casini, President of the Constitutional Affairs Commission, told SIR Europe. “The first is the right to life. The second is related to the subsidiarity principle”. But what is the concrete value of this resolution? “Its juridical value amounts to zero”, Casini pointed out. “In fact, it isn’t a legislative Act, rather, it represents the view of the Assembly on the theme of equal opportunities and on the rights of men and women”. “However – the MEP remarked – it carries a worrying message from the cultural perspective, also since in our capacities as MEPs we represent European populations”. Carlo Casini points out: “I voted against, even though I agree with most of its content, since it is not possible to call for the equality of a specific categories of individuals and at the same time deny it to another category of human beings”, with “the pretence of ensuring a woman’s rights by providing her with easy access to abortion”. The principle of subsidiarity. Anna Zaborska, representative of Slovakia, underlines: ” We are facing a difficult passage, that is indicative also of the future”. In which way? “It violates the principle of subsidiarity – the MEP told SIR Europe – whilst paving the way to abortion in Europe. This we cannot accept”. “The protection of human life is marked by negative signals, overriding the province of the EU, threatening State sovereignty on issues pertaining to life or to the family”. The Slovakian MEP reiterates “the need to be committed on the cultural and educational plane, in order to avoid this political outcome”. Italian MEP Patrizia Toia continues: “The resolution wishes to underline the current state of affairs, that is still far from the establishment of true equal opportunities and responsibilities between man and woman in contemporary Europe”. In her view – which is also the view of almost all political groups – “significant points” are made in the document. For example, “it calls for stepping up public services for children and for senior citizens, to develop women-tailored educational tools and employment and meeting the objective of work and family-life balance”. “It also underlines the urgency of combating violence against women”.A cultural action. “If it is just to ask that women, like all other people, ought to be granted the full exercise of their human rights, including the freedom of responsibly opting for maternity and for the development of one’s affective life – said Patrizia Toia – it must also be said that this matter cannot be settled with an easy access to abortion services”. Toia points out: “Along with personal rights, it is our duty to always protect life”. Maltese representative Simon Busuttil extends his reflection from the political and institutional realm to the social and cultural one. “Politicians are the representatives of civil society. And for this reason my concern is even greater. Everyone talks about values, but when it comes to defend them…”. “Even though it has no juridical value the approved resolution violates the principle of subsidiarity and where it speaks of abortion it is threatening the right to life of the newborn. We have a cultural battle that must be fought, along with the battle we are called to undertake in the institutions”.