EPF participated in the "Conference on access to sexual and reproductive health and rights" that took place at the French Institute of Bulgaria in Sofia (Bulgaria) on Wednesday 28th of September.
Remi Bak, EPF Programme Coordinator for Europe, gave a presentation within the session on access to voluntary termination of pregnancy. More specifically, Mr Bak focused on a comparative analysis of policies across Europe and provided relevant information about the current role of anti-gender actors aiming to reverse progress on sexual and reproductive rights, the human rights of sexual minorities and even gender equality.
"Understanding that our long held human rights are in danger is a first step. Understanding of who is challenging our human rights as well as how they are organised, financed and allied with forces which aim to undermine liberal democracy and at times are even geo-political rivals to the European project is crucial in developing counter-strategies", he said. EPF Programme Coordinator for Europe argued that there is a need to "understand how abortion, and related human rights in sexual and reproduction, are being deliberately instrumentalised by political actors aiming to unstitch liberal democracy and the rule of law".
