Join us in support of Spanish women

Demonstration in Brussels Wednesday 29 January at 17:00 in front of the Spanish Embassy

On Wednesday, 29th January at 17:00, Brussels –based NGOs gather to support Spanish women and their mobilization of 1st February “El Tren de la Libertad” in Madrid. The demonstration is part of a wider mobilization in Europe as similar events are planned in several European cities on the same week. The demonstration begins at the Spanish Embassy at Rue de la Science 19, 1000 Brussels at 17:00 from where we walk to the European Parliament. See more information at http://on.fb.me/1cYjJDi

Spain’s conservative Popular Party, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, is pushing a bill that would severely restrict sexual and reproductive health and rights and women's access to safe and legal abortion. The bill allows abortion only in the case of reported rape or grave danger to the health of the mother, depending on the opinion of two independent medical professionals. Minors who seek abortions would need parental approval, and fatal malformations of the fetus would no longer qualify as a reason to terminate a pregnancy. If the bill is passed, Spain will become one of the most restrictive countries in the European Union when it comes to abortion rights.

This initiative is based on no public health justification, since the number of abortions performed in Spain in 2012 was actually lower than in 2010 and 2011. There is no demand from the Spanish society to change the law - according to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, 80% of voters do not agree with the proposed bill.

Action in Brussels initiated by: European Humanist Federation (EHF), Abortionright.eu, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPFEN).