On January 15, the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation was invited to attend an evening organized by Planning Familial in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the Veil Law. This tribute event was an opportunity to reflect on a historic struggle led by multiple generations of activists to safeguard women's reproductive rights.
Planning Familial played a crucial role in the process of decriminalizing abortion in France, particularly through its advocacy for the 1975 Veil Law. As early as the 1960s, awareness campaigns were conducted to alert public opinion to the dangers of clandestine abortions. Support for the Manifesto of the 343 in 1971 and assistance for women forced to travel abroad to terminate their pregnancies also helped shape the debate.
Fifty years after the law’s adoption, significant progress has been made thanks to the efforts of numerous actors such as Planning Familial, the Women’s Liberation Movement (MLF), and the Movement for the Freedom of Abortion and Contraception (MLAC).
A historic struggle in France
Throughout the evening, moving testimonies from activists recounted key moments in the evolution of women’s reproductive rights in France, including that of Josy, a militant who joined the MLF and MLAC in the Île-de-France region in the 1970s.
“[During street protests,] the joy of coming together turned these difficult moments into a collective force.” – Josy
The Movement for the Freedom of Abortion and Contraception (MLAC) was a militant organization created in 1973, bringing together doctors, feminists, and engaged citizens to defend women’s right to control their own bodies. With 350 committees across the country, MLAC activists took the initiative ahead of government decisions by organizing consultations for women seeking abortions.
Josy spoke with deep emotion about the weekly journeys organized by MLAC to the Netherlands and Belgium, where abortion was legal, allowing activists to support women in their decision-making process.
“The magical moment when I could tell a woman, ‘Rest assured, you will be able to have an abortion,’ is engraved in my heart.” – Josy
Josy holding the microphone alongside her colleague, a member of the MLAC.
Another speaker, an activist from MLAC in Valenciennes, described the relentless efforts made to open abortion centers in France. In the 1970s, MLAC trained activists to perform abortions, often without any prior medical training, in a context where institutional support was nonexistent.
“We spent a lot of time with women, listening to and supporting them because this fight was as human as it was political.” – MLAC Activist
Josy and the MLAC activist emphasized the importance of the Karman method [1] a safe and accessible technique for performing abortions. They expressed their hope that this method would be reclaimed to “give women back control over their destinies.”
Fighting for women’s reproductive rights often comes at a high cost. Both MLAC activists revealed they had suffered numerous attacks, including vandalized homes, threats, and constant pressure. Nevertheless, they persevered, even staging sit-ins in hospitals across France to demand the establishment of abortion centers.
A look at Italy
Giorgia Alazraki, an Italian activist and vice-president of the LAIGA association, provided a revealing insight into the current situation in Italy, where access to abortion remains a challenge.
LAIGA is an organization that connects gynecologists and offers a helpline to guide women toward appropriate solutions, sometimes outside the country, in places like France or Belgium.
In Italy, the Maternity Protection Law theoretically guarantees the right to abortion, but in practice, many barriers persist. On average, 60% of healthcare professionals invoke the conscience clause (which, in principle, should apply only to doctors) to refuse to perform abortions. In some Italian islands, this percentage rises to 90%, making access to abortion nearly impossible for local women.
Waiting times are also particularly long, ranging from three to four weeks, often causing women to exceed the legal timeframe for a medical abortion. As a result, only 3% of abortions in Italy are carried out through medical means, with most procedures relying on surgical curettage.
Giorgia also highlighted the disparities between different Italian regions, where the implementation of national law varies significantly. However, she noted some recent progress, such as in two regions where medical abortion is now autonomously accessible via the abortion pill (Lazio and Emilia-Romagna).
Despite these challenges, Giorgia Alazraki expressed admiration for the French model of Planning Familial, which she sees as an inspiration in the fight for reproductive rights.
“In Italy, sexual and reproductive rights remain subordinate to cultural and institutional constraints. It is essential to continue fighting so that women can truly choose their own destinies.” – Giorgia Alazraki
A symbolic ceremony
Sarah Durocher, President of Planning Familial, emphasized in her speech the importance of remaining vigilant against ongoing threats to women’s reproductive rights.
“Abortion is, above all, a great freedom. Let’s stop seeing it as a tragedy.” – Sarah Durocher
By participating in this event, the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and the defense of sexual and reproductive rights. More than ever, it is crucial to support organizations like Planning Familial, which continue the fight initiated by pioneers such as Simone Veil.
Together, let us continue to amplify women’s voices and safeguard their rights.
[1] The “Karman abortion method” refers to a type of surgical abortion procedure, also known as “manual vacuum aspiration” (MVA). It was developed by Dr. Hakim Karman, an Iranian physician, in the 1960s. This method involves using a syringe or manual pump to create a vacuum in a cannula (a thin tube), which is then inserted into the uterus to suction out the contents.