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THE FATE OF THE RIGHT TO ABORTION IN EUROPE WILL BE DECIDED BY THE NEWLY ELECTED MEPS

"The next European elections are about our future. We are choosing between living in a Europe of hope, community and peace and a Europe of war, inequality and fear. And in the next European elections, we can also defend the right to abortion. Our vote can make a difference.

- Nika Kovač, the director of the Institute 8th of March and the coordinator of the My Voice, My Choice movement



European elections are coming: 'The new European Parliament and Commission will decide the fate of the citizens' initiative My Voice, my Choice!'


Candidates for the June European elections will soon have to make clear their support or opposition to safe and accessible abortion. This is what the European initiative 'My Voice, My Choice', led by the 8 March Institute, is asking them to do.


It will be the new European Parliament and Commission that will decide what happens to the citizens' initiative for safe and accessible abortion once 1 million signatures have been collected. My Voice, My Choice will therefore call on people across Europe (France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Poland, Finland, Slovenia, Greece, Austria) to vote in the European elections and to vote for candidates who support our efforts for reproductive rights.


"For us, it is above all important that candidates make it clear what they stand for before the elections. In the European elections, we will vote for those who commit to support the Citizens' Initiative to ensure safe and accessible abortion for everyone in the EU if elected", said Nika Kovač, Director of the 8 March Institute.



My Voice, My Choice campaign turns into a pan-European movement 


The My Voice, My Choice campaign is currently running in every country in Europe. The idea is clear: to show that the majority of people want an open and tolerant Europe that respects our rights. "Far-right parties are also leading the opinion polls for the EU elections in Austria. And in Austria we are well aware of what happens when far-right parties come to power. Women's rights are immediately attacked, as are other human rights. But we will fight against this. Because elections are not only our right, they are our superpower" - said Philine Dressler, Aufstehen (Austria). Dominika Lasota, Wschod (Poland) added: "We want to believe that a better Europe is possible. A right-wing, corrupt, toxic European Parliament is not the only option. We will take to the streets again, we will mobilise people again, our friends, strangers, we will talk to people again, we will persuade them again... all to bring hope to Europe"


One of the greatest hopes of the campaign is the development of the My Voice, My Choice movement in Croatia. The movement has brought together a number of NGOs and groups to stand up strongly against the violent encroachment on our rights. "I am pleased to present the results of our My Voice, My Choice campaign in Croatia. On the day when the far right in Croatia organised the largest gathering of neoconservatives, we decided to counter them with a huge online campaign for the right to choose freely how to have children and show that we are more. Our goal was to collect 10,000 signatures. We collected once more. Influential public figures and celebrities have joined our fight." said Nataša Vajagić from the Croatian initiative of the My Voice, My Choice movement.



Demands for candidates to take a stand on abortion rights in the European elections and the "My vote, my choice" initiative reverberate across Europe


"The support we have received in Finland from both women and men for this campaign has been wonderful. This fight for reproductive rights is also a fight against the far right, against extreme violence against women. And we will continue this fight in the run-up to the European elections." Fatim Diarra, Chair of Naisasialiitto Unioni, said. Representatives of all the countries participating in the press conference stressed that they will demand clear answers from the candidates in the European elections on the proposal for safe and accessible abortion in Europe. 



More about My Voice, My Choice: https://www.myvoice-mychoice.org/


Sign the European Citizens’ Initiative here: 


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