Articles about Belgium

Sensoa, La Fédération Laïque des Centres de Planning Familial, Le Planning Familial, and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) call on the Belgian government to continue negotiations to save the remaining contraceptive supplies in Geel. These organizations are also asking that there be no (further) cuts to international cooperation and support for sexual and reproductive health and rights. The latter demand is also directed at European policymakers. 20 shipments of contraceptives lost The damage caused by Trump's war on women appears to be greater than expected: in addition to the already known stock of contraceptives, stored correctly in a warehouse in Geel (4 truckloads worth $9.7 million), it is now confirmed there are another 20 truckloads at an unknown location in Kallo. The conditions of the medical products in the trucks are not controlled, and most of it has already likely become unusable. This is evident from the response of Flemish Minister of the Environment Jo Brouns to a parliamentary question from Mieke Schauvliege, Flemish member of parliament for Groen. As a reminder, since President Trump dismantled USAID, the US Agency for International Development, he has wanted to burn a stockpile of contraceptives stored in Belgium. These supplies were intended for women in 13 countries in total: destination countries include DR Congo, Tanzania, Haiti, Mali & Kenya among other places, many of which are already facing severe humanitarian crises. The Belgian government has since been in negotiations with the US government to save this stockpile. The human cost of the lost stockpile is great and will impact the lives of thousands of women.   President Trump will have millions of deaths on his conscience Not only is Trump's policy deliberately cruel and morally reprehensible, it is also a waste of useful (contraceptive) resources and therefore millions of dollars. This is the result of politicians deciding to abruptly cut back on international cooperation, which rolls back the progress made over de past years. The discontinuation of USAID will cause 14 million deaths worldwide by 2030, including 4.5 million children under the age of five.   European governments must not cut back on international solidarity  It is clear that budget cuts have a major impact on women’s health. Voices are now growing louder at the European level to also cut back on international cooperation, including SRHR. So instead of trying to fill the gap the US is leaving, European governments are making it even bigger. The Belgian government has plans to cut back on international solidarity by 25%. Belgian press is reporting that these cuts could be increased even further. This would further widen the gap already created by Trump. SRHR organisations does not want any further cuts to international solidarity funding. "Since the discontinuation of USAID support, it has become much more difficult to continue our services. Our contraceptive supplies are exhausted and new deliveries are sporadic. Previously, anyone who wanted to avoid pregnancy could come to us and choose the contraceptive that suited them. Now women have to switch to whatever is available, or we cannot help them."  Dr. Bakari Omary of UMATI, Project Coordinator at Umati, IPPF's Member Association in Tanzania   Practical information & contact information of spokespersons: More background on the USAID supplies: read our previous statement here, here and here. IPPF EN Media, [email protected] Sara Salarkiya, International Policy  Advisor at Sensoa [email protected] Boris Cruyssaert, Communications, Sensoa [email protected] Sarah Durocher, President, Le Planning familial [email protected]   Photo banner: IPPF/Xaume Olleros/Mali

The Trump Administration took a cruel and ideologically driven decision to destroy $10 million worth of life-saving contraceptives - resources that were procured by U.S. taxpayer funds to support critical health needs in partner countries across the Global South, including those of 218 million women facing an unmet need for contraceptive care. This is an intentional act of reproductive coercion. Pallets of contraceptives sit unused in warehouse in Geel, Belgium—awaiting destruction.  Together with IPPF Member Associations in Belgium, Sensoa and FLCPF, we organised a protest action against the planned destruction of contraceptives stored in Geel and the refusal to sell them to Belgium or to anyone else. IPPF offered to take the stocks for redistribution at no cost to the US taxpayer, but this offer was declined.  Read below the speech made by Micah Grzywnowicz, Regional Director, IPPF European Network. "We are here today because we believe in a world where every woman and every girl has the right to decide about her own body, her own health, and her own future. We are here today because we want to see a world where sexual and reproductive health and rights for all are the norm, and not an exception that needs to be negotiated over and over again. We are here today because we want to live in a world where care, dignity, and freedom are the foundation of our shared humanity. But today, that world is under direct attack. The Trump Administration plans to burn millions of euros worth of essential contraceptives — supplies meant for women and girls who need them most, including in countries already facing humanitarian crises. 77% of these life-saving products were destined for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Mali. In Tanzania alone, they account for one third of the country’s total annual need of the health system. Translating it into people – this destruction would deny almost 1.5 million women and girls across affected countries access to care that could save their lives. Make no mistake: this is not an accident; this is not a bureaucratic oversight. This action is deliberate and it is a part of a long-term game of dismantling global public health efforts. It is about control – control of our bodies, our health, and our choices and decisions about our lives. Delaying essential care, blocking supplies, and sowing confusion is intentional and the final decision to destroy these live-saving contraceptives by the Trump Administration is an ideological attack, executed in the name of ultra-conservative politics. IPPF offered to take the stocks for redistribution at no cost to the US taxpayer, but this offer was declined.  It is a blunt disregard for the rights and well-being of women and girls. We call on the U.S. Administration to immediately stop this senseless destruction. We call on the European Union and European countries to stand firm and act to stop this reckless, harmful, and cruel action. We call on the European Union to stand up for its values and commitments to women’s freedom everywhere. This is the moment for the European Commission to show leadership: rally Member States, mediate with the U.S., and explore all legal and diplomatic avenues to stop essential supplies from being wasted. Because our collective response must be stronger than their vicious attack. We know what is at stake: lives, futures, dignity. We also know our power. Our movement is global, connected, and unbreakable. We have fought before — for reproductive freedom, for justice, for care. Now, we will stand together, we will fight, and we will win. Because this is the right thing to do. Because this is the smart thing to do. Because everyone deserves the right to choose whether and when to have children, to live freely, to love openly, be who they are, and to raise children in a world that teaches safe, healthy, and happy relationships. We are not going anywhere and I hope you will join us!"

In a matter of hours, the Trump Administration will be enacting a cruel and ideologically driven decision to destroy $10 million worth of life-saving contraceptives - resources that were procured by U.S. taxpayer funds to support critical health needs in partner countries across the Global South, including those of 218 million women facing an unmet need for contraceptive care. This is an intentional act of reproductive coercion. Despite multiple offers from international humanitarian organizations, governments and global health actors to purchase or redistribute these supplies, the U.S. government has refused all alternatives. Instead, they are choosing waste and extremist ideology over care, human rights, safety and health. Reports indicate that the cost of destroying these supplies may reach $167.000 paid by American citizens. This decision is not about money: IPPF has offered to collect the products in Brussels, to transport and repack the products in its warehouse in The Netherlands and to distribute the products onwards to women in need across the globe. All at no cost to the US government. This decision is about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world that denies women the choice of when and how many children to have, and denies people the opportunity to protect themselves against HIV and other STIs.  “It’s the height of hypocrisy for a government to preach efficiency and cutting waste, only to turn around and recklessly destroy life-saving supplies when the need has never been greater. This isn’t just inefficient — it’s unconscionable.” said Micah Grzywnowicz, Regional Director of IPPF European Network. “This action seriously undermines global public health efforts and limits access to essential care, particularly for communities already facing significant barriers. It reflects a troubling disregard for the rights and well-being of those most in need, as well as complete lack of basic empathy.” The Trump Administration has been relentless in its obsession with controlling women’s bodies - not only in the United States, but globally. This is the latest attack in a long-term campaign to dismantle access to sexual and reproductive health care around the world. According to a survey run by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), these attacks could result in 8.5 million people worldwide being denied lifesaving SRH care.   Now, pallets of contraceptives sit unused in warehouses—including one in Geel, Belgium—awaiting destruction. These are allegedly already scheduled for incineration in France in the coming days. Nico Bogaerts, Director of Sensoa, the Flemish expertise centre on sexual health: "Destroying the USAID supplies stocked in Geel, Belgium is incredibly wasteful. That the US government would prefer to pay to destroy supplies they have already paid for, instead of releasing them to other organizations is cruel. These supplies could save people's lives. We strongly encourage the Belgian and French governments to find a way to save them from incineration and to ensure that they reach people who need them." Sarah Durocher, President of Le Planning familial, IPPF French Member Association: “France has the moral responsibility to act. A government that proudly enshrines abortion rights in its Constitution must also work to protect contraception and the rights of young girls beyond its borders. With its voice respected on the international stage, the French government cannot stay silent while contraceptive supplies are being destroyed and thousands of people are put in danger.” We call on the French company that would be responsible for destroying these contraceptives to reconsider its role. They have an immense moral and societal responsibility. The company has the power to reject this agreement. Sexual and reproductive rights are not a commodity like any other to be discarded. At the same time, we urge the U.S. Administration to immediately halt this senseless destruction. These cruel actions will have far-reaching consequences — and they will cost lives. This moment demands leadership rooted in dignity and humanity. It is only right that everyone can choose whether and when to have children, to be who we are and love who we love, and for our children to be taught about having safe, healthy, and happy relationships. We have the collective moral obligation to work with people around the world to build communities in which everyone can flourish and thrive.    Signatories: Fédération Laïque de Centres de Planning Familial (FLCPF), Belgium International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Le Planning familial, France Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) Sensoa, Belgium Countdown 2030 Europe MSI Reproductive Choices   Media contacts: IPPF Media, [email protected]  Heleen Heysse, International Policy Officer, Sensoa Tel: [email protected]   Boris Cruyssaert, Communications, Sensoa  [email protected]    Sarah Durocher, President, Le Planning familial Tel: [email protected]     

IPPF European Network warmly welcomes the coming into force on 1 December of a new law that introduces legal protections and labour rights for sex workers in Belgium. This is a major step forward in Belgian sex workers’ long-running campaign for greater safety and freedom, following their victory in securing decriminalisation of sex work in 2022. It is also the first case in Europe of a country introducing a legal framework aimed at safeguarding sex working people and guaranteeing their employment rights. “Decriminalization of all aspects of sex work, together with social policies that address structural inequalities, is the only way that countries can protect the health, safety and lives of sex workers. With this new law, Belgium continues to lead the way,” said Micah Grzywnowicz, Regional Director of IPPF EN. The new law, adopted by the Belgian Parliament in May 2024, applies to people who carry out sex work as employees. It aims to reduce discrimination by ensuring that - like those who work in any other sector - sex workers have access to social security, including health insurance, annual leave, sick and maternity leave, unemployment benefits and pension rights. It also enshrines freedoms and protections that safeguard sex workers’ health and safety. These include people’s right to refuse a client, to refuse a sexual act, to set the conditions of a sexual act and to end a sexual act at any moment, safe from fear of being fired. The law mandates criminal record checks for employers and obliges them to put in place safety measures for the people they employ. “We congratulate the Belgian government for the steps it has taken together with sex worker organisations, in a process that has been guided by our expertise,” said Sabrina Sanchez, Coordinator of ESWA, the European Sex Workers‘ Rights Alliance . “Decriminalisation is not perfect and this law is just the beginning of broader labour rights for sex workers in Belgium; it may need to be strengthened in future. We will continue to share our knowledge and experience to ensure that we have a good model in Belgium that can also be an example to other countries on how to progress towards the decriminalisation of sex work and the achievement of labour rights for sex workers,” added Sanchez. “IPPF EN applauds sex workers in Belgium for their leadership in the fight for social justice, first through decriminalisation in 2022, and now with the introduction of the specific legal framework needed to begin delivering concrete change in people’s lives,” said Micah Grzywnowicz. *** More information on the new law here via UTSOPI, the Belgian Union of Sex Workers *** IPPF EN is a proud supporter of ESWA. We are opposed to any measures in EU policy or legislative instruments that would criminalise any aspect of sex work, including clients and third parties, in line with IPPF’s global policy position and allyship with sex worker communities.  

This year, Belgium marks the 25th anniversary of its legalisation of abortion. At a conference on abortion stigma on 3 April, IPPF EN’s Regional Director, a Belgian and former activist for that legal breakthrough, reflected on the historical journey towards abortion rights in Belgium, and the current state of play more broadly. Photo credit: Fonds La Cité collection Carhop By Vicky Claeys I really believe that Belgians can be proud of their ethical achievements. Our country has strong Catholic origins, but we have taken big legislative steps forward because society has been ready for change. At the moment we are one of the leading countries on same-sex marriage and euthanasia, and we have a workable abortion law which ensures – crucially for women - that abortions are fully reimbursed by the social security system. Along with the Netherlands, Belgium is one of the countries in the world with the lowest abortion rates AND with one of the lowest rates of teenage pregnancies. I don’t think it’s because sexuality education here is perfect, but we do we have a high level of modern contraceptive use, and of course we have a good functioning system on abortion. The story of how Belgium built the momentum needed for abortion to be legalised illustrates that illegal abortion does not always need to mean unsafe (although in most parts of the world it is!). On the other hand, we also know that legal does not always mean safe, for example in Russia where abortion is legal but women are still dying from unsafe practices. IPPF truly believes that safe and legal abortion, comprehensive sexuality education and access to modern contraceptives are the ingredients for healthy nations where women are able to finish education, have a healthy family, work and contribute to the economy, to be active citizens. Belgium’s long road to an abortion law Astonishingly, abortion is still mentioned in the Belgian Penal Code. This hangover from Napoleonic times, when it was totally illegal, is confusing in today’s context, and contributes to ongoing abortion stigma because it means it is still considered as crime rather than a health issue. There was a first attempt to change the law in 1971, and a medical doctor – Dr Willy Peers - was jailed for the first time for performing an abortion in 1973. Peers’ patient was a 16 year old girl with learning disabilities who had been raped by her father. This very sad case resulted in a big public reaction, a lot of debate and protests. It was not enough to force a change in the abortion legislation, but formed the basis for a trade-off to make contraception legal. It’s amazing to think that this was only 42 years ago, even if it was “in the past century,” as journalists tend to say these days! In 1975 the first of many high quality – but completely illegal - abortion centres was established. Belgium’s Ministry of Justice took no action in the hope that Parliament would update the legislation to bring it in line with the reality of life in the country.  But this did not happen quickly enough and from 1981 we saw a wave of prosecutions as judges decided to apply the law again in the hope that this would create a sense of urgency with the legislators. For medical professionals and the women they were there to help, this meant the start of 9 years of stress and despair channelled through fury and protests. In 1985, when the practice was still illegal, as head of the network of family planning clinics in Flanders (Federation CGSO), I started overseeing coordination between the Flemish abortion centres as they  worked together to ensure high quality standards throughout the system. The centres’ approach was always to place the women seeking an abortion at the centre of their work. This resulted in a “human rights-based approach” before the term was invented! Then in 1986, two MPs took a new initiative which led, after 4 long years of negotiations and compromise-seeking between the Catholics and Humanists, to a proposal for an abortion law. I’ll always remember how in March 1990 we thought we had finally got the change we had been fighting for, and then… the King famously refused to sign the Parliamentary agreement because of his conscientious objection. This caused a mini constitutional crisis to which then Prime Minister Wilfried Martens (a Christian Democrat!) had to find a solution. In the end, the King was asked to step down for the day to allow the Minister to sign. A couple of years later I was invited to speak to women’s rights activists in Ireland, and it was only then that I realised how exceptional it was to have had for so many years people who had put their careers on the line and risked prosecution because they believed that what they were doing was right. There are many of them, and all Belgian women, in particular the younger ones, should be aware of this history and know that the options they have today are the result of a long and relentless battle. This shows the importance of civil movements, building up pressure from within society to make politicians move in the right direction and bring legislation in line with new realities. Many battles still to be fought around the world Still today, no issue is as politicized and polarised as abortion, sexuality education, contraception, gender equality and women’s rights in general. We have a constant fight in countries like Spain and also at the EU level, at the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Good abortion legislation can easily be turned back as we are seeing in the US and in Eastern Europe, and with the ongoing threats in Spain. The anti-choice movement is becoming increasingly virulent and well organised, which is a big change from the past. According to the World Health Organisation, every year in the world there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 abortions per day. 47,000 women die each year of unsafe abortion. We know and everybody knows perfectly well how to reduce the burden of abortion and especially the related morbidity and mortality: sexuality education, modern contraceptives and in general a positive attitude towards sexuality and a respect for human rights. The solutions are there but the political will is lacking in too many places, in particular where governments are implementing pro-natalist policies and/or where churches have a strong influence. So, let’s be clear about some facts. Abortion is a family planning method, although not the most desirable one. Improving sexuality education and increasing the use of modern contraceptives are necessary measures that will help reduce but will not erase abortion. Abortion is a fact of life and will always be there, recognizing this will reduce stigma. Also, while keeping track of abortion rates is important to monitor what is happening in society and, for instance, to increase prevention/information for certain groups of the population, these figures should not be the sole basis for discussions on how well a country is doing in responding to women’s need when she has an unwanted pregnancy. The question on how to reduce the stigma still attached to abortion as well for women and practitioners is important at this 25th anniversary of Belgium’s abortion law. There are a couple of changes that would certainly help in reducing stigma. Getting abortion out of the Penal Code would be a major one, as still today there are too many people who think abortion is illegal in Belgium. Extending the timeframe for abortion on demand would be very helpful as it would reduce the burden on the roughly 500 women who have to travel to the UK or The Netherlands every year because they are beyond the legal time frame of 12 weeks in Belgium. This is just exporting a problem to neighbouring countries. Belgium is on the right track, but having a government that would embrace this fact of life openly and a parliament that would introduce the necessary changes would definitely reduce stigma. I hope that official recognition of the ground-breaking work done by pioneers “last century”, as well as the broad media coverage this anniversary is getting, are paving the way for adjustments to make the law even better for women who need an abortion.