Date: 11 February 2010
Source: ASTRA Network press release
The European Parliament's yearly "Report on Equality between men and women in the European Union" includes a new Article 38 calling for women's control over their sexual and reproductive rights. The vote in the European Parliament successfully concludes years of the ASTRA network and other women's groups campaigning for such legislation. The full text of Article 38 emphasises that women must have control over their sexual and reproductive rights, notably through easy access to contraception and abortion; emphasises that women must have access free of charge to consultation on abortion; supports measures and actions to improve women's access to sexual and reproductive health services and to raise their awareness of their rights and of available services; invites Member States and the Commission to implement measures and actions to make men more aware of their responsibilities in relation to sexual and reproductive matters. ASTRA Network expresses great satisfaction that sexual and reproductive rights are now included within equality policies and hopes that these changes will be reflected at national level, particularly in Central and Eastern European countries.
