In France, it has been authorized since January 17, 1975 via the Simone Veil law and its legal duration was this Wednesday extended from 12 to 14 weeks, after a final vote by the National Assembly. In Poland, it has been virtually banned for a year. And in Colombia, it is now authorized until the sixth month of gestation. The voluntary interruption of pregnancy (IVG) is definitely not housed in the same boat around the world and is still debated. To see more clearly, 20 minutes asked three questions about abortion to Jacqueline Heinein, emeritus professor of sociology (University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines) and Lisa Carayon, lecturer specializing in health rights (Sorbonne Paris Nord University).
Where are the rights in favor of abortion in the world?
“If we want to be optimistic, we can say that it is progressing, ironically Lisa Carayon. Or rather, we note that even in countries where the law in favor of abortion is declining, opposition movements are increasingly present. In recent years, we have in fact seen that legislation has become more flexible in many countries such as Benin, Argentina and even more recently Colombia, which on Monday decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
But according to Jacqueline Heinein, a sociologist specializing in the question of women’s rights for several decades, we are still far from the mark. “What strikes me are all these countries regressing,” she explains. “China, for example, which, for demographic reasons, prevents women from having abortions. Or even Russia, where many doctors discourage women from having abortions, ”says the sociologist. For Jacqueline Heinein, there is no need to cross the globe to find countries that are stagnating in terms of the right to abortion: “In Italy, while the law has not changed for years, nearly 70% of gynecologists are objectors to the practice. »
Why is abortion still such a sensitive subject?
“In my opinion, it’s epidermal for three reasons, explains Lisa Carayon. That is, the question relating to life, which affects us in essence. In other words, when do we protect this life? A subject which often takes on a religious connotation and which explains why in the most pious countries the rights to abortion are the weakest. “Then, the question of reproduction and the strength of this reproductive work,” adds the specialist. We touch here rather on a demographic and therefore political aspect. “And then obviously, the question of control of the body of women and women in general”, concludes Lisa Carayon.
According to Jacqueline Heinein, it remains important to temper the notion of social refusal of abortion. “From a societal point of view, I don’t think it’s such a tricky subject as that,” explains the sociologist. Take the case of the United States. A large part of the population there is in favor of abortion, yet half of the states have already backtracked. According to the expert interviewed by 20 Minutesthe difficulties encountered by the rights to abortion do not come frankly from the people but rather from religious currents and, ultimatelypublic authorities.
In France, what is the place of abortion rights in politics?
“In France, the subject is no longer really politicized. Moreover, no candidate makes it a central point of his campaign”, nuance Lisa Carayon. More than the voluntary termination of pregnancy, in recent years, it is rather medically assisted procreation (PMA) that has taken up space in the political debate. But then why is the question of abortion not more prominent in the programs of French candidates? “I think it comes from the fact that we consider that it is a long acquired right in our country, explains Lisa Carayon. However, we note the difficulty with which we try to pass the legal deadline for abortion from 12 to 14 weeks. Our politicians are not so comfortable on the subject. »
Lisa Carayon also affirms that France has regressed in terms of abortion with the bioethics law of August 2, 2021. “Article L. 2213-1 of this law regulates the technique known as “embryonic reduction” or “termination of pregnancy partial” “. In other words, since August 2, in the event of a multiple pregnancy, it will no longer be possible, even before the legal 12 weeks, to abort one of the fetuses.
“Without anyone being concerned about it, French law has thus experienced its first textual decline in the right to abortion”, warns the specialist in health rights.