Abortion Rights

Fighting back against the right wing and the constitutional amendment in the 26 counties and against the emergence of such forces as Life and SPUC in the North has opened many eyes. It has highlighted the international links in the anti-abortion lobby. Not only that, it has now become clear that the right is conducting a common political offensive to obstruct the rights of women. In particular they The anti-missiles and anti-nuclear weapons moveSince the mid-60s some advance has been made for women in almost every European country. Even where the laws have not been changed, the campaign of women have provoked a discussion on this previously taboo subject. Quite often in practice, laws have been less strictly enforced.

But today, even where the laws are liberalised, women found themselves increasingly on the defensive. In a period of economic austerity right wing and pro-capitalist elements aim at denying women a role bringing the issues into the unions and mobilising workers in defence of womens rights.

In Western Europe and North America there is a growing polarisation in society on this issue and a sharp political fight which has effected all political parties.

In Britain a major attempt by Tory MP Corry to limit 1 the 67 Act was successfully routed by a mass campaign involving the TUC. However, “back-door attacks continue; increasing bureaucratic procedures which delay decisions and terminations, hysterical propaganda about aborted foetuses and of course cuts in health provisions for abortions.

Socialist Party Government in the spanish state has ate on the abortion issue. The limited abortion laws in France (without state funding) are to be strengthened with the 70% reimbursement of abortion costs.

But the right is burrowing away at these gains. For example, in Catholic Italy laws permitting abortion have difficulty in functioning. The clauses allowing ‘conscientious objectors’ in several countries’ laws have permitted .reactionareis to undermine abortior rights. This kind of legal loophole (which is not matched by provisions for medical s has aided anti-abortionists in France where a battle over use of medical facilities for abortion at a major regional hospital is now raging within the medical profession.

So it is clear besides undermining existing facilities heartening news with 2 recent defeats for the right in the United States.

Firstly, the Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional for individual states to set local limits on abortion tights. When the anti-abortion lobby responded with an amendment to the constitution, the US Senate decisively rejected this by 17 votes. But the right has not given up entirely and a republican senator is preparing another bill.

The scope of these attacks on women is forcing feminists to see them as part of a right wing political offensive against the working class. The question of how women can fight back is an urgent one to answer. Defending and fight for the right to choose is now rightly seen as a political issue and not just’a social issue for women. ‘Fhe womens moveponded by org As thousands of women, meet at Greenham es the impact of womens Common in July to form actions on the nuclear an international women’s debate. ICASC, International Campaign for Contraception -Sterilisation and Abortion Rights was launched by feminists a few years back to link and build the struggles of women.

Women of the [Vth International have been very involved in many different countries, Holland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and in Ireland during the peireeey 2: battle, fighters for the Right to Choose in Ireland should link up with their sisters and comrades in ICACS. chain, Sue Esterson assess-