European Union countries should ensure that women are offered “high quality, comprehensive and accessible sexual and reproductive health and rights” – including access to safe abortion care and modern contraception – says a "historic" new report adopted by the European Parliament on 24 June.
“Historic day!” Croatian MEP Predrag Fred Matić, who proposed the report, told openDemocracy after the result: 378 votes in favour of adopting the report, 255 against (42 MEPs abstained). “I am proud that in the 21st century we must no longer treat women as second-class citizens,” Matić added.
The report states that sexual and reproductive health is a “fundamental pillar” of women’s rights and gender equality that cannot “be watered down or withdrawn”. Instead, states must “remove all barriers impeding them from using these services”.
