Italian women fear for their right to abortion

“We are not afraid of objectors”, cry in chorus of women gathered in Rome to defend the right to abortion. HASfter Giorgia Meloni’s victory in the legislative elections on September 26, many have taken to the streets this week. The boss of the post-fascist party Fratelli d’Italia could lead the next government and does not hide her opposition to the freedom to abort. The fear that voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion), legalized for 40 years in Italy but difficult to access, is called into question, affecting many Italian women.

“Today, we fear even more that the obstacles are institutionalized. That’s for sure! Even the morning after pill, I’ve already been refused at the pharmacy. The rights will reinforce this problem”, says a student in Rome. In Italy, nearly 7 out of 10 doctors refuse to perform abortions. With her triptych motto “God, fatherland, family”, the very conservative Giorgia Meloni, wants to promote the right “not to have an abortion”. But it will do so insidiously, warns Fabiola, a 52-year-old teacher.

“She will not abolish the law, that would be too big. But she will empty it even more of its meaning, as is already the case with family planning which does not guarantee abortion and with conscientious objection. Meloni is all the more dangerous for being sneaky.”

Fabiola, teacher

at franceinfo

These Italian women are calling to redouble their efforts to defend free, safe and free access to abortion in a very Catholic Italy, which is turning today all right. A country pinned twice by European courts for the obstacles, still too numerous, to abortion.