BRUSSELS - MEPsforSRR co-chairs MEP Petra de Sutter and MEP Sophie in 't Veld released a statement asking the EU to stand united for the rights of women and girls. The statement, sent to Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, was a response to reports that the US administration sent a letter to other governments asking them to join a "growing coalition" of countries that advocate against the right to a safe and legal abortion.
In the letter signed by the secretary of state Mike Pompeo and health and human services secretary Alex Azar, governments are encouraged to sign a joint statement opposing “harmful” UN policies that promote sexual and reproductive health and rights. The statement will be presented to a high-level meeting on universal health coverage at the UN general assembly on Monday, says the letter, which suggests multilateral agreements have been misinterpreted to promote pro-choice policies.
The signatories of the letter include EU Member States such as Hungary and Poland.
In the MEPsforSRR statement, the co-chairs wrote:
"This is a clear attempt by the US to undermine the international cooperation on SRHR and this attempt should be clearly rebuked by the EU and its Member States. The EU should stand shoulder to shoulder with women and girls all around the globe, and defend their rights, rather than undermine them."