Decriminalise abortion in the states where it has not happened yet; "ensuring the actual assertion of women’s right to abort"; "respecting women’s free choice"; "overcoming actual or legal restrictions to have access to risk-free abortion": these are some of the key points of the resolution passed by the majority of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. During today’s session in Strasbourg, the PACE engaged in a broad debate on the subject, then moved on to vote on the amendments and the document drawn up by the Socialist MP Gisela Wurm (Austria). In addition, the document invites the 49 member states of the CoE to adopt "appropriate strategies" concerning sexual and reproductive health, to provide contraception at "affordable prices", to have sex education taught in schools as a compulsory subject, and lastly to promote an approach that is "more favourable to the family through appropriate information campaigns". During the debate, many speakers pointed out "limits" and "contradictions" contained in the resolution and mostly challenged the existence of a "right to abortion". (continued)
