France
Perhaps the most well-known catalyst in France’s decriminalisation of abortion was what is commonly known as the ‘Manifesto of the 343 Bitches / Sluts’. The 1971 document was signed by 343 women who had had an abortion - by declaring themselves to have done so, they risked criminal prosecution. Well-known signatories included actress Catherine Deneuve, film director Agnès Varda and writer Simone de Beauvoir. Two years later, 331 doctors signed another manifesto declaring their support for abortion.
These and other campaigns led to the adoption of new legislation in 1975, led by Health Minister Simone Veil, that decriminalised abortion in the country (once the procedure was carried out within ten weeks of pregnancy).
Today, terminations are available on demand up until twelve weeks after conception. At later stages of pregnancy a serious risk to the health of mother or child must be identified by two doctors before a procedure is carried out, similar to the proposed Irish law.
However, there remains a strong right-wing movement in France, as illustrated by the 340,000 plus people who took part in a Paris protest against the proposed (now enacted) same-sex marriage legislation in January this year.
In terms of anti-abortion movements, some of the larger pro-life groups include Let Them Live - SOS Future Mothers (Laissez-les-vivre-SOS futures mères) and Choose Life (Choisir la Vie). While many such groups declare themselves independent of religious or political groups, there are also religiously-orientated organisations such as the National Confederation of Catholic Family Associations (Confédération nationale des associations familiales catholiques) and The Truce of God (La Trêve de Dieu).
A number of anti-abortion groups are involved in an annual ‘March for Life’ through Paris, with wildly varying estimates ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 marchers in recent years.
Canada
Pro-life groups sprung up in the aftermath of a 1969 bill easing the legal restrictions on abortions. Both the pro-life and pro-choice movements gained traction in the late 1980s, culminating in Bill C-43 that aimed to criminalise abortion except for in specific circumstances. Despite passing the House of Commons, the Bill was rejected by the Senate in 1991 as a result of a tie-break vote (counted as a defeat by Canadian rules).
Dr. Henry Morgentaler, who died in May of this year, was one of the highest-profile pro-choice advocates in the country, having successfully challenged the constitutional restrictions to a woman’s right to an abortion.
Abortion is now available on request in the country, although state funding for abortion clinics differs from province to province (regions such as Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have limited or no abortion facilities, often requiring women to travel to other parts of the country for procedures). Numerous polls have suggested more than 50% of Canadians declare themselves pro-choice or in favour of current abortion legislation, compared to around 25-30% as pro-life. There were over 64,000 reported abortions in 2011.
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The anti-abortion movement has remained active in the country. Particularly visible pro-life groups include Alliance for Life and REAL Women of Canada, while the local Catholic Church has remained vocally opposed to abortion in the country.
Some pro-life groups have set up ‘crisis pregnancy centres’ to present pregnant women with alternatives to abortion. Although they cannot legally advised against abortion, some of these centres have been accused of deceiving women with falsified information on the danger of abortion procedures.
Campaign Life Coalition was founded in 1978 as a more right-wing Christian strand of the movement. It remains one of the most prominent Canadian pro-life groups today. They started LifeSiteNews, which has grown into a major international pro-life publication, largely as a result of increased US involvement. The website has been covering the Irish situation from an explicitly anti-abortion perspective.
Italy
(Image: Mirari Erdoiza)
Italian authorities made abortion legal in 1978. There were attempts by Catholic groups to overturn the legislation in 1981, but the movement was defeated by over 67% of Italians in a referendum.
Despite the country remaining a predominantly Catholic nation, termination services are now widely available, with approximately 110-120,000 reported terminations a year (the number has steadily decreased since initial legislation).
The Italian National Health Service carry out in-depth ‘surveillance’ and analysis of all legal induced abortions carried out in the country, leading to a particularly scrupulous and open system.
However, a conscientious objection clause has led to many Italian medical professionals refusing to carry out terminations. Reports suggest up to 70% of gynecologists conscientiously object, leading to many clinics refusing to carry out abortions, particularly in Southern regions such as Sicily. This has also led to claims that it is more difficult for women in specific areas of country to undergo a termination procedure.
