The European Union (EU) is facing many obstacles in upholding its core values. Challenges such as the COVID pandemic, the Russian war against Ukraine, and the climate crisis have created unprece­dented uncertainty around our common future, and have increased existing inequalities, particularly for women and girls in all their diversity. The rise of autho­ritarian regimes and populist movements has led to growing opposition against EU values such as: the rule of law, democracy, human rights, and equality, inclu­ding a backlash against gender equality and women’s rights. Ahead of the pivotal moment that are the European elections, political parties must take a bold stand in the defence of EU values. The EU should actively tackle intersecting systems of oppression such as patriarchy, racism, neo-colonialism, and neo-liberalism. It should strive towards a world where everyone can enjoy the same rights, and lead free and safe private and family lives, free from sexism, coercion, and violence. We call on European political parties to put inclusive feminism at the heart of their electoral programmes, and to commit to further advancing gender equality and women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in the EU and beyond. Read below our recommendations on how we can create together an inclusive feminist Europe that promotes gender equality, women’s human rights and SRHR in all fields; that puts an end to sexual and gender-based violence; and that counters the threats against its values.

Today, the District Court in Warsaw found Justyna Wydrzyńska guilty for helping a woman in an abusive relationship to access abortion pills. She was sentenced to eight months of community service for 30 hours/month and will now have a criminal record. "We are deeply saddened by the decision and outraged by the entire process. Condemning a person for an act of empathy and compassion towards another human being is unconceivable. We are in awe of Justyna’s bravery in the face of 18 months of judicial persecution by an apparatus targeting anyone who dares challenge the state’s immoral attacks on healthcare and human rights", said Irene Donadio of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, European Network (IPPF EN).

IPPF recently adopted a global policy position on sex work that focuses on the measures we need to protect people who do sex work from harm. The position strongly supports decriminalisation of all aspects of sex work, together with social policies that address structural inequalities. In 84 countries around the world, our Federation provides sexual and reproductive healthcare to sex workers, mostly women, and in many of these contexts, an IPPF clinic might be one of the few places where people feel safe to come. It is this concrete experience and these relationships that guided us.  Arriving at our position started out as a complex process. Conversations about upholding people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are always complicated because they touch upon deeply held values. They touch upon beliefs and emotions that can be very hard to let go of, even when the facts, and the women and men, and all people, we wish to protect, tell us we need to think again. This was a journey of listening and learning, of looking at research and evidence, and of taking the time to let human concerns and fears come to the surface and then talking them through. But in the end, it became simple, because we had the privilege of being able to hear directly from the people at the heart of these discussions about the realities of their lives. So our conversations were fully inclusive of the people who actually do sex work and know their situation best. They guided our efforts to stand in solidarity with them, and not decide anything on their behalf. In many countries, from Ireland, France and North Macedonia, to Thailand, Mexico and Kenya, we heard the same thing: criminalisation of clients and third parties causes harm. Though it may be intended to protect, it stigmatises sex workers and impedes their access to healthcare. By forcing them to work underground, it isolates them and leaves them far more vulnerable to violence and oppression, whether perpetrated by government and state institutions, especially law enforcement, or by criminal networks or clients. It also prevents them from exercising their rights, including to self-organisation and collective action, which is key to preventing violence and seeking redress. Decriminalisation is the only way to protect the health, safety and lives of those who do sex work. We also heard loud and clear that sex work should not be conflated with intolerable rights violations such as human trafficking, exploitation and forced labour – such conflation is untrue and is harmful to sex workers. Full decriminalisation – an inclusive feminist position IPPF is an inclusive feminist organization, and supporting decriminalisation as the only way to protect and stand with sex workers is an entirely feminist position, in line with our core values. We became a Federation in 1952, when contraception was illegal in most countries. Many of our members were founded by doctors who saw what happened to women when they were unable to control their own bodies. They listened to women and provided what they wanted. The reproductive justice movement has taught us that abortion goes beyond a simply binary ‘choice’, and so it is with sex work. Many factors come into play. People make the decisions that are best for them according to the conditions they face, and we must respect individuals’ autonomy always. At the same time, we must assume our shared responsibility to ensure that our laws promote social justice by reducing systemic inequalities that affect people’s options and choices in all areas of their lives, as well as providing protection from harm. The way to protect people is always to enable them to exercise their rights. If people work in a context of criminalisation, we deny them these rights. Sex workers have been telling the world this over and over. Every day that sex work is criminalised is a day of violence, danger and fear for those who may already be facing the greatest hardships. It is essential that we keep listening to sex workers and working together, not only to improve the conditions that they face, but to contribute to the wider social change we all want to see. *** IPPF EN is a proud supporter of the European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance and a signatory of ESWA's feminist manifesto. In line with IPPF’s global policy position, IPPF EN is opposed to any measures in EU policy or legislative instruments that would criminalise any aspect of sex work, including clients and third parties. *** Image credit: Marek Tartal 

Woman human rights defender, Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, from Andorra could soon face trial for speaking out on women’s rights and the right to abortion before the United Nations (UN). If Vanessa is convicted, she faces a big fine of 30.000 Euros and could have a criminal record.  Vanessa Mendoza Cortés is a psychologist and the president of the women’s rights organization, Stop Violence, (Associació Stop Violències, in Catalan), which focuses on gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive rights, and advocates for safe and legal abortion in Andorra. Vanessa has been targeted by her government for the past four years, simply for exercising her right to freedom of expression and criticising the full ban on abortion care in the country. Vanessa spoke in front of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2019, as part of the regular and critical exchange of information conducted between this UN body and human rights defenders around the world.  Following a complaint from the Andorran government, the public prosecutor brought charges against her. While previous charges of defamation, which carried prison sentences, were dropped in 2021, thanks to international pressure, Vanessa continues to be harassed by the prosecution, who is accusing her of crime ‘against the prestige of the institutions’.  

Spain has introduced new legislation allowing gender self-determination, banning conversion therapy, introducing menstrual leave and easing abortion limits. Here’s what you need to know: Anyone aged 16+ can change their gender on official documents without medical supervision Conversion therapy, in any form, intended to change a person's sexual orientation or identity or gender expression is banned New abortion legislation makes it easier for women to access medical or surgical abortions in public hospitals and clinics  Arbitrary and medically unnecessary three-day waiting period before accessing abortion care is suppressed  Denial of abortion care based on personal beliefs will now become more transparent due to a new registry that takes stock of medical professionals in the public health system who refuse to perform abortions The previous requirement for women aged 16 and 17 to obtain parental consent for abortions is scrapped, along with the 3-day period of reflection and the obligation to provide information on maternity benefits for those seeking abortion care Up to 5 days of menstrual leave for people with painful periods - thus Spain becomes the first country in Europe to introduce menstrual leave Provision of free sanitary products in schools, prisons and women’s centers and free hormonal contraceptives and the morning after pill at state-run health centers Paid leave before childbirth additional to the maternity leave, from the 39th week until the moment of birth Compulsory comprehensive sexual education at all stages of education, reinforcing previous regulations. The bill on sexual and reproductive health and abortion care recognizes rights that were already in the 2010 Spanish law and had subsequently been restricted, and includes new measures that entail the normalization of important aspects of sexual and reproductive health.

‘They want to leave women alone with their ‘problem,’ says Polish women’s rights defender, Justyna of the ruling ultra-conservative party in Poland.  Justyna, a mother of three, works in an increasingly hostile environment, one in which women’s sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) are being completely dismantled. Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, only permitting abortion when the life or health of the pregnant woman is endangered or in the case of rape or incest. On 22 October 2020, the Polish Court went further and ruled that abortions could no longer happen in cases of foetal illness or abnormality. The only way for women who need a safe abortion is to rely on NGOs and women’s rights defenders, like Justyna, who enable self-administrated abortions; a safe and easy way avoid being forced through a pregnancy.