US abortion law in danger, can that also happen in the Netherlands?
In the US, the right to abortion is now regulated nationally, but that may change. If it expires, it will be up to the states themselves to decide how they want to regulate abortion. In the left-wing, Democratic states, not much will change, but in more than twenty states led by Republicans, it has. Laws are already in place.
To the anger of thousands of Americans who took to the streets to protest.
‘Abortion is a human right’
But not only in America the consequences come to enormous costs. This is also the case in the Netherlands. “It is a proposal that the right to abortion, which has been fought so hard for, is now at stake again,” says Annemieke van Straalen. She is one of the organizers of the solidarity demonstration ‘#BaasInEigenBuik for abortion law which starts at 1 p.m. on Dam Square in Amsterdam.
Several dozen protesters are expected. “Abortion right is a right, but it is absolutely not self-evident.”
The demonstrations are not only taking to the streets to show solidarity with American women, they are also concerned about abortion law in the Netherlands. “The anti-abortion lobby is also large in the Netherlands, it is many times bigger than you think,” says Van Straalen. An example of an organization that plays a major role in this lobby is called Stichting Schreeuw om Leven.
Among other things, this ensures that anti-abortion protesters harass women who go to an abortion clinic, as can be seen in this episode of the BNNVARA program BOOS.
‘stay vigilant’
The previous Dolle Mina’s, a feminist activist group from the 1970s that fought for self-decision about abortion (‘Baas in Eigen Buik’), also took their banners from the attic to participate in the demonstration. One of them is Ida van Zijl. “We shouldn’t fall asleep,” she says.
“There is always a risk that the rights will be taken away from us.” Van Zijl believes that abortion law is currently reasonably regulated in the Netherlands, in contrast to other countries in Europe. “But we also see that the opposition is becoming fiercer and better organized, so we have to remain vigilant.”
Abortion law in the Netherlands
An abortion is allowed up to the 24th week of pregnancy. In practice, doctors assume 22 weeks, because they can determine the duration of the pregnancy up to two weeks. Later an abortion is possible for very serious medical reasons.
At the moment there is still a planned reflection period, but there is a very good chance that this will be abolished in advance. A majority in the House of Representatives supported the principle that this reflection period should be discarded.
Pregnancy can be terminated with the abortion pill or with surgery. At the moment, only abortion clinics are allowed to give an abortion pill, but stomachs are allowed to do so themselves. If it is up to the House of Representatives, that will also happen in the future. A majority recently supported one that allows this. It is the second change in abortion rules in a short time.
Role of political climate
Ineke van der Vlugt also believes that we should remain alert and vigilant. She is an expert on abortion and contraception at Rutgers Sexuality Knowledge Center. “We currently have very liberal legislation in the Netherlands when it comes to abortion,” she says. “And we have long thought that the right to abortion is fine, but that is not the case.”
According to Van der Vlugt, the core of the problem lies in the fact that abortion is dependent on the political climate. “You never know what the future will bring.”
Closer than you think
“There is only one madman to come to power and the right can be taken away from you,” says organizer Van Straalen. They Poland as an example. Since a new abortion law was passed last year, there will almost never be an abortion again, even if a fetus has incurable. “So it’s closer than you think.”
Finally, Van der Vlugt: “It is good that women are drawing attention to abortion law today, that we are joining forces. It is a right for which we must continue to fight.”