BELGIUM – Polish Member of the European Parliament Hon. Sylwia Spurek, MEP, wrote an op-ed in the Parliament Magazine to mark WorldContraception Day 2020.
The visual report ranking 46 European countries according to their access to contraceptives as well as associated online resources, education and counselling is launching its fourth edition in 2020. The Atlas has repeatedly shown an uneven picture in access across Europe, with Poland ranking bottom in 2019 and necessitating a new colour category to represent its low score.
In the article, Hon. Spurek recalls the European Parliament resolutions of 16 January 2019 which states that when governments fail in their duty to uphold sexual and reproductive rights, the resulting abuse (forced pregnancy, gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare) constitute a form of violence, often disproportionately affecting women and girls. She also commends some European governments on their efforts to uphold SRHR for all throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When governments listen to women, solutions to their needs are within reach, even in such trying times as we are currently experiencing”