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France

Articles by France

france
28 February 2024

France takes major step towards constitutional protection of abortion rights

The International Planned Parenthood Federation congratulates France on its historic vote to enshrine the right to abortion in the Constitution. We are especially proud of the tremendous work and leadership of our French Member Association, Le Planning Familial.  We are now awaiting the final adoption of this constitutional reform by the French Congress, a step that must formally be instigated by French President Emmanuel Macron. 

Red umbrella - sex workers' rights
01 March 2024

Being an ally for sex workers' rights in France

We can only achieve equal societies and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all if we ensure that sex workers are included. This has been the stance since 2012 of IPPF's French member, Le Planning Familial. Since then, the organisation has been defending sex workers’ rights and access to health, including the right to autonomy and bodily integrity and the right to work and live free from violence and discrimination. It describes itself as an ally, listening to and supporting sex worker organisations and adding its voice to calls for decriminalisation as the only way to respect human rights. Since the introduction of the Nordic Model in France in 2016, which criminalised the purchase of sex, reports of violence against sex workers have almost doubled. Criminalisation of clients has had a detrimental impact on the lives and safety of people who do sex work. Mel Noat from Le Planning Familial acknowledged that even now there is confusion about the law: “It is not illegal to be a sex worker but because clients have been criminalised, sex workers can’t work. Police often fine sex workers despite it being legal.” Because of criminalisation, clients want to avoid being fined, which in turn pushes sex workers underground into dangerous situations. With the current legal framework, they are more exposed to violent exploitation, precarious working conditions and are involved in high-risk behaviour just to earn basic wages. Mel said: “People work in dark places, without anyone around to witness violence from clients like stealing money, physical and sexual abuse, sometimes even murder. Sex workers have no choice over their customers, no choice of working hours, and no customer screening.” He added that sex workers face negotiating difficulties due to dwindling clientele. This, she argues, makes it harder to enforce the basics of sexual risk reduction like condom use. Whether it comes to access to healthcare, exposure to violence, discrimination and stigma, or financial insecurity, the harms of the 2016 law have been far greater for groups experiencing intersecting forms of exclusion, such as migrant and trans sex workers.   How the current law creates obstacles to protecting sex workers’ health and rights As a result of the 2016 law, sex workers are moving away from the traditional spaces where they would find and meet clients. Sometimes they have to venture to hidden places, such as apartments, which jeopardises their safety, as they are more isolated if subjected to violence or if a client refuses to pay. Many turn to intermediaries (pimps or sex websites) and end up paying back part of their income, which makes their situation even more precarious and reduces their autonomy over their work. Sex workers are often pushed into homelessness as they are forced to travel to different cities every few weeks to look for clients, now that these are more difficult to find. This affects their health and welfare as, for example, they don’t know where the closest hospital is, or where they can find condoms or information centres. People are also working more online, due to both the law change and the subsequent COVID-19 crisis. This reduces contacts with the community associations supporting sex workers’ rights, making it more difficult to provide information about healthcare and support. Sex workers are highly stigmatised and often face discrimination by medical staff. They find it difficult to talk about the reality of their work for fear of being judged, or for those who are undocumented, being reported to the authorities. However, there are spaces where sex workers can access healthcare. Some branches of Le Planning Familial are supporting people engaged in sex work through outreach and service delivery. In one region they undertake night patrols, offer condoms and rapid diagnostic tests and provide education on sexual and reproductive health. Elsewhere, the organisation collaborates with STRASS, the sex workers’ union, which provides peer-to-peer services in some of Le Planning’s clinics, as community-led services are proven to be one of the most effective way to deliver care to a key population group like sex workers.   The ‘exit programme’ is limiting and tokenistic The French government wrongly conflates sex work with human trafficking and has done little to review the impact that the legislation has had on sex workers. On the contrary, they are planning to implement a national strategy against human trafficking, which wrongly includes sex work. Measures in the 2016 law that are intended to provide a ‘pathway out of prostitution’ are not adapted to the realities and needs of sex workers. The allowance provided as part of this pathway is a measly €343 a month (three times lower than the French poverty line, which is €1,102). People can be granted a provisional residence permit, but only for six months, which makes it difficult for them to access accommodation, particularly social housing, as landlords often require longer residence permits. On top of this, professional opportunities are severely limited and tend to be in precarious sectors such as in cleaning or the hotel trade. The committee that is supposed to monitor the implementation of the law has only met twice in seven years and only those associations promoting the 2016 law were invited to the table, while sex worker-led community associations were excluded from the process. It is shocking that the government has refused to listen to the voices of the people concerned by the legislation, and to organisations that denounce its negative effects.   Partnerships for sex workers’ SRHR in the face of backlash The data is unambiguous: where sex work is criminalised, sex workers are at a much higher risk of violence. Yet, many pro-decriminalisation organisations face intense backlash, not only from conservative, anti-rights groups but also from well-intentioned organisations that claim to want to protect sex workers. This hostility can pose a challenge to advocacy efforts. To help overcome this challenge and speak with one common, stronger voice, Le Planning Familial has formed alliances with like-minded organisations. In conjunction with Médecins du Monde, Act Up-Paris and AIDES, it co-signed an alternative report in the context of the review of France’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This explained that the 2016 French law criminalising clients negatively impacts sex workers and is counterproductive. The organisation also widely shared and supported a European Court of Human Rights preliminary decision in August 2023, which recognised the admissibility of complaints by sex workers, confirming that the mere existence of the French law has harmful consequences for them.   Mel said: “We do not support the criminalisation or regulation of any aspect of sex work. Le Planning Familial acts and fights to help build an egalitarian society, free from commodification and violence. We are firmly opposed to human trafficking, violence, rape, pimping and slavery. We believe everyone has the right to autonomy and bodily integrity, the right to work and to live free from violence and discrimination. We support everyone's right to make their own choices through informed consent.” *** Mel Noat is the focal point for issues relating to sex work in the Board of Le Planning Familial. Read more about IPPF’s global policy position on sex work, which strongly supports decriminalisation of all aspects of sex work, together with social policies that address structural inequalities, as the only way to protect the health, safety and lives of those who do sex work. Photo by Loïc Fürhoff on Unsplash    

Photo Margaux PF France 2.png
16 November 2020

With and for young people: how to amplify youth voices - part 1

IPPF European Network has developed a youth-centred approach (YCA) toolkit with the aim of improving the confidence and capacity of young people and adults to implement, upgrade and expand youth participation in our members.  Here is what Margaux, youth officer for the ‘Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial’ (MFPF), had to say about how the youth-centred approach changed how young people are included in her organisation. Learning throughout life is important For me personally, the toolkit and the coaching workshop with member associations made a big difference. I felt stimulated and it helped me structure my work. To implement a youth focused approach it is important to make space for young people and to trust them. It can take a long time, but it is worth it. I liked the fact that the toolkit promotes intergenerational relationships and exchanges, that it addresses power dynamics, how to work together. Although some parts may seem obvious, they are still important to be reminded of. For example, the importance of giving feedback and how to give a good feedback. Youth in decision-making spaces The structure of the MFPF comes with its own set of challenges. The youth group is set up at the national level so it can take some time to see results at the local level, where we have more than 70 associations. It takes a lot of effort to ensure we all know what each of us is doing so we don’t loose track of great initiatives. Our biggest accomplishment was also our biggest challenge: to give the youth group voting rights in governance bodies. It took a lot of advocacy and time to grant the youth group this voice and to include it in the legal status. Each local association has a vote, and each member of the youth group is part of a different local association. It was hard to legitimate their representation, in terms of equity - the young activists were already represented through their local association’s mandate, but we wanted to go further for them to have a specific recognition to make their voice as young people more visible. And we did it! We were also able to create an action plan and implement it. We’re very proud of that, and we are very hopeful when it comes to youth representation at all levels. Now, the youth group is more structured and more visible, a while back people didn’t even know the youth group existed. We’re in a position to debunk prejudice against young people, and what they want. Visibility is essential. The next ideal step for us would be to create youth groups at the local level. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 it was harder to find a good work dynamic. Usually, 25-30 people get involved in our youth activities, but this year, we didn’t have a rise in number of people interested in the youth group. But despite these new constraints, the action plan gave us better tools for communication, and made it much easier! There are no small accomplishments: a 'step-by-step' approach is essential What I would recommend to other organisations that wish to put young people at the centre of their work, is to look at things in perspective, to take the time to analyse. There are no small accomplishments: a 'step-by-step' approach is essential. You can start slow, with a newsletter, for instance, to shed light on the youth group’s activities. In our case, it allows us to see how much progress we do and it increases the visibility of our work. It’s also crucial to look for allies and people who want to work with young people. In order to get around the fear of change, we need to identify the key people who can help us move forward and support our activities. Sometimes the idea that young people are unable to commit causes fear. But in reality, voluntary commitment isn’t always easy especially for young people, who are students, who may be in a precarious situation. From an age group to another, the realities are very different, but it doesn’t mean that the youth doesn’t want to get involved: sometimes, they cannot afford to. That’s actually a sign that we need to think about other means of engagement.   Interview conducted by Manon Kayser, IPPF EN

Woman looks out of window
12 October 2020

Italy, France and Spain – positive steps on access to contraceptive and abortion care

IPPF EN is very encouraged by a series of positive developments in recent days which show European decision-makers and public bodies supporting the reproductive freedom and safety of women and girls, and rejecting harmful obstacles to care. At a time when other countries in Europe are pursuing retrogressive political agendas, we are heartened by these examples of progressive values shaping the legal frameworks which determine how women and girls access and experience care. Emergency contraception: Italy removes prescription hurdle for minors needing contraceptive care On 8 October, Italy’s national Medicines Agency (Aifa) announced new rules for under-18s needing to access emergency contraception. Adolescent girls will now be able to access this essential care over-the-counter in pharmacies without being required to have a prescription. The Aifa described this step forward as a “turning point for teenagers’ physical and mental health”, and “an ethical measure which will help avoid difficult situations in which girls usually bear the burden by themselves.” The organisation also announced the creation of a much-needed new website to provide information about contraception. (article in La Repubblica here) French Parliament paves the way for boosting women’s access to abortion care Also on 8 October, France’s National Assembly discussed a bill to strengthen the right to abortion. New measures approved in this first reading would include the extension of the legal deadline for access to abortion from 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy, the possibility for midwives to carry out surgical abortions up to the 10th week, and the removal of the clause that enables care providers to deny women care based on their own personal beliefs. Our French member Le Planning Familial, which has regularly denounced the difficulties that women face in accessing abortion care, strongly supports these proposed new measures. LPF described them as a first step towards aligning with the European countries that have the most women-centred abortion legislation, and doing away with unnecessary hurdles to care: “This first reading of the law is a real step forward for women’s right to control their bodies. Thousands of French women go abroad to have abortions every year. This decision to extend the time limits makes it possible to fight against social inequalities, since not all women can access care abroad, and against territorial inequalities, because all women in Europe should have the same right to safety and reproductive freedom.” (Full statement in French from Le Planning Familial here) The next step will be a vote on the reform in the French Senate. Abortion care: Spain plans to remove 2015 parental consent obstacle for 16 and 17-year-olds Spain’s government has announced its intention to reform the current abortion law to remove a hurdle introduced in 2015 by the ruling Conservative government requiring 16 and 17-year olds to seek parental consent before being able to access abortion care. Equality Minister Irene Montero also announced plans to promote relationships and sexuality education, given its role in protecting young people against the risk of gender-based violence, and to boost contraceptive access and choice. In a statement, our Spanish member the FPFE welcomed the government’s announcement, and hoped that it would be swiftly followed up with action to turn the commitments into reality, reiterating that the current parental consent requirement is a threat to young women's health, safety and autonomy.    On contraceptive care, they noted that the proposal to guarantee “the best possible access to contraception with its “most innovative and effective” forms… would bring the Spanish state closer to the level of access… in other European countries.” The FPFE also called for the announcement to “be accompanied by measures that guarantee public funding of all contraceptive methods…, to end the inequalities between autonomous communities, and of measures that also entail access for all women… regardless of their administrative situation.” (Full FPFE statement here; BBC article here)

Le Planning Familial
21 October 2019

"So I thought – this is the key to end all the issues that women and girls face"

Mathilde (25) and Amélie (27) are volunteers for Ton Plan à Toi, an initiative for relationship and sexuality education launched by IPPF's French Member Association, Mouvement Francais Pour Le Planning Familial. Ton Plan à Toi was set up in February 2018 to provide people living in the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (6 million of them!) with skills and information that would enable them to have happy and healthy relationships and lives. To do this, volunteers at Ton Plan à Toi conduct workshops in schools, hold trainings with professionals, and answer young people’s questions on relationships and sexuality using the chat function of the Ton Plan à Toi website. Mathilde focuses on delivering workshops in schools while Amélie spends her time answering young people’s questions online. See what they had to say about their experiences below. Could you tell me a bit about why relationship and sexuality education is important for you? M: For me, education is the key to everything. When I started volunteering at Le Planning Familial I realised if I had this information in my youth, my life would have been completely different. But I didn't have information – about STIs, contraception or just consent and everything relating, like sexuality. So I thought: this is the key to end all the issues that women and girls face. A:  The goal of education for me is to establish equality between people coming from different origins, and sexuality education does this because there are environments where people don’t talk about it at all and others where they are more open –  sexuality education provides a basis to everyone. When you were growing up did you have relationship and sexuality education?  M: With the sexuality education I had access to there was a kind of hierarchy. We were all sitting while the teacher was standing in front of us and just sharing information – we didn't use our critical thinking or had our beliefs or misconceptions challenged. So that's what we're trying to do now, to challenge young people’s beliefs and stereotypes. And when they respond, we don't say 'no that's wrong' we say 'okay, why do you think that?' A: No, in my family we talked about it pretty openly, but in school it wasn’t the case. I learned about the reproductive system, but that’s not sexuality education.  Can you tell me a bit about how you got involved in Le Planning? What was your motivation?  M: When I was living in Ireland, I got involved in the Repeal the 8th campaign and discovered I was an activist for reproductive rights. Then when I came back to my hometown I realised I should get involved in something supporting feminism – it was a few months after the #MeToo movement and I thought what I saw there was amazing, but nobody was listening to us, nothing really happened. So I thought: yes, let's volunteer at Le Planning. A: I had an abortion when I was younger and it was difficult because – well, everything went well, and I was very well looked after, but I didn’t feel good about my decision. And then after doing some reading on it, I noticed that it’s society which has created this image of abortion, and that my choice was okay. So I started with having an abortion, then I became a feminist, and once you become a feminist a lot of things follow from that. Amélie, what would you say are the most commonly asked questions on the Ton Plan à Toi website chat? A: Questions about ‘the first time,’ there are a lot of them. About the fear of the first time. Young people are scared because there are a lot of expectations, a lot of anxieties – but it’s not as hard as they fear. So it’s about de-dramatising what it will be like and emphasizing the importance of consent. Mathilde, when you hold workshops at school, are there subjects that you find more difficult to address than others?  M: I think it really depends on the subject, but things about the body are common – body hair, periods, that's difficult. Also porn comes up a lot. Like, ‘is it normal to say that, is it normal to do that?’ They are really worried.  Since you started volunteering at Ton Plan à Toi, has there been any particular moment when you had the sense that you were doing something important? M: We had a young person who was saying homophobic things during our session so we used our techniques to not say 'no, this is so wrong ' but 'why do you think that?' At the end of the session we asked them how they felt. And he said 'I'm so lost, I don't know what to think anymore.' I felt that this was the purpose of relationship and sexuality education. We don't want them to go out thinking 'I’m totally different,’ but to challenge themselves and question their beliefs that are rooted in harmful stereotypes. A: On the chat, we have conversations about violence – the chat allows people to speak to someone, people who otherwise wouldn't have this possibility. These are difficult situations, but I’m happy that the chat allows these people to at least find somebody who they can speak with.   Interview conducted by Eimear Sparks, IPPF EN

Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial

The Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial (MFPF) is a feminist confederacy of over 70 member associations covering most of the French territory.

They provide comprehensive sexuality education, counseling and information on contraception, abortion, HIV/STI and sexual and affective issues. Furthermore, they listen to, help and work with survivors of gender-based violence. Half of their beneficiaries are under the age of 20.

MFPF and its members also run training courses and produce material for medical and educational communities covering a whole range of SRHR issues. A large number of member associations run health clinics where contraception and abortion services are delivered.

MFPF advocates for longer delays and improved access to abortion, and it has been highly active in challenging opposition to fertility regulation. At the European and international scales, the organisation invests in three main activities. First, MFPF advocates for SRHR, women's rights and LGBTQI+ rights. Then, it conducts solidarity campaigns with immigrant women, and with sexual and reproductive health organizations in other European countries (such as Poland) where women's sexual and reproductive rights are violated.

Finally, the French organization takes part in international programmes in solidarity with organizations in Africa in order to learn from one another, to share practices and to develop a common political agenda to improve access to SRHR.

Contact: Instagram, Facebook

 

france
28 February 2024

France takes major step towards constitutional protection of abortion rights

The International Planned Parenthood Federation congratulates France on its historic vote to enshrine the right to abortion in the Constitution. We are especially proud of the tremendous work and leadership of our French Member Association, Le Planning Familial.  We are now awaiting the final adoption of this constitutional reform by the French Congress, a step that must formally be instigated by French President Emmanuel Macron. 

Red umbrella - sex workers' rights
01 March 2024

Being an ally for sex workers' rights in France

We can only achieve equal societies and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all if we ensure that sex workers are included. This has been the stance since 2012 of IPPF's French member, Le Planning Familial. Since then, the organisation has been defending sex workers’ rights and access to health, including the right to autonomy and bodily integrity and the right to work and live free from violence and discrimination. It describes itself as an ally, listening to and supporting sex worker organisations and adding its voice to calls for decriminalisation as the only way to respect human rights. Since the introduction of the Nordic Model in France in 2016, which criminalised the purchase of sex, reports of violence against sex workers have almost doubled. Criminalisation of clients has had a detrimental impact on the lives and safety of people who do sex work. Mel Noat from Le Planning Familial acknowledged that even now there is confusion about the law: “It is not illegal to be a sex worker but because clients have been criminalised, sex workers can’t work. Police often fine sex workers despite it being legal.” Because of criminalisation, clients want to avoid being fined, which in turn pushes sex workers underground into dangerous situations. With the current legal framework, they are more exposed to violent exploitation, precarious working conditions and are involved in high-risk behaviour just to earn basic wages. Mel said: “People work in dark places, without anyone around to witness violence from clients like stealing money, physical and sexual abuse, sometimes even murder. Sex workers have no choice over their customers, no choice of working hours, and no customer screening.” He added that sex workers face negotiating difficulties due to dwindling clientele. This, she argues, makes it harder to enforce the basics of sexual risk reduction like condom use. Whether it comes to access to healthcare, exposure to violence, discrimination and stigma, or financial insecurity, the harms of the 2016 law have been far greater for groups experiencing intersecting forms of exclusion, such as migrant and trans sex workers.   How the current law creates obstacles to protecting sex workers’ health and rights As a result of the 2016 law, sex workers are moving away from the traditional spaces where they would find and meet clients. Sometimes they have to venture to hidden places, such as apartments, which jeopardises their safety, as they are more isolated if subjected to violence or if a client refuses to pay. Many turn to intermediaries (pimps or sex websites) and end up paying back part of their income, which makes their situation even more precarious and reduces their autonomy over their work. Sex workers are often pushed into homelessness as they are forced to travel to different cities every few weeks to look for clients, now that these are more difficult to find. This affects their health and welfare as, for example, they don’t know where the closest hospital is, or where they can find condoms or information centres. People are also working more online, due to both the law change and the subsequent COVID-19 crisis. This reduces contacts with the community associations supporting sex workers’ rights, making it more difficult to provide information about healthcare and support. Sex workers are highly stigmatised and often face discrimination by medical staff. They find it difficult to talk about the reality of their work for fear of being judged, or for those who are undocumented, being reported to the authorities. However, there are spaces where sex workers can access healthcare. Some branches of Le Planning Familial are supporting people engaged in sex work through outreach and service delivery. In one region they undertake night patrols, offer condoms and rapid diagnostic tests and provide education on sexual and reproductive health. Elsewhere, the organisation collaborates with STRASS, the sex workers’ union, which provides peer-to-peer services in some of Le Planning’s clinics, as community-led services are proven to be one of the most effective way to deliver care to a key population group like sex workers.   The ‘exit programme’ is limiting and tokenistic The French government wrongly conflates sex work with human trafficking and has done little to review the impact that the legislation has had on sex workers. On the contrary, they are planning to implement a national strategy against human trafficking, which wrongly includes sex work. Measures in the 2016 law that are intended to provide a ‘pathway out of prostitution’ are not adapted to the realities and needs of sex workers. The allowance provided as part of this pathway is a measly €343 a month (three times lower than the French poverty line, which is €1,102). People can be granted a provisional residence permit, but only for six months, which makes it difficult for them to access accommodation, particularly social housing, as landlords often require longer residence permits. On top of this, professional opportunities are severely limited and tend to be in precarious sectors such as in cleaning or the hotel trade. The committee that is supposed to monitor the implementation of the law has only met twice in seven years and only those associations promoting the 2016 law were invited to the table, while sex worker-led community associations were excluded from the process. It is shocking that the government has refused to listen to the voices of the people concerned by the legislation, and to organisations that denounce its negative effects.   Partnerships for sex workers’ SRHR in the face of backlash The data is unambiguous: where sex work is criminalised, sex workers are at a much higher risk of violence. Yet, many pro-decriminalisation organisations face intense backlash, not only from conservative, anti-rights groups but also from well-intentioned organisations that claim to want to protect sex workers. This hostility can pose a challenge to advocacy efforts. To help overcome this challenge and speak with one common, stronger voice, Le Planning Familial has formed alliances with like-minded organisations. In conjunction with Médecins du Monde, Act Up-Paris and AIDES, it co-signed an alternative report in the context of the review of France’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This explained that the 2016 French law criminalising clients negatively impacts sex workers and is counterproductive. The organisation also widely shared and supported a European Court of Human Rights preliminary decision in August 2023, which recognised the admissibility of complaints by sex workers, confirming that the mere existence of the French law has harmful consequences for them.   Mel said: “We do not support the criminalisation or regulation of any aspect of sex work. Le Planning Familial acts and fights to help build an egalitarian society, free from commodification and violence. We are firmly opposed to human trafficking, violence, rape, pimping and slavery. We believe everyone has the right to autonomy and bodily integrity, the right to work and to live free from violence and discrimination. We support everyone's right to make their own choices through informed consent.” *** Mel Noat is the focal point for issues relating to sex work in the Board of Le Planning Familial. Read more about IPPF’s global policy position on sex work, which strongly supports decriminalisation of all aspects of sex work, together with social policies that address structural inequalities, as the only way to protect the health, safety and lives of those who do sex work. Photo by Loïc Fürhoff on Unsplash    

Photo Margaux PF France 2.png
16 November 2020

With and for young people: how to amplify youth voices - part 1

IPPF European Network has developed a youth-centred approach (YCA) toolkit with the aim of improving the confidence and capacity of young people and adults to implement, upgrade and expand youth participation in our members.  Here is what Margaux, youth officer for the ‘Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial’ (MFPF), had to say about how the youth-centred approach changed how young people are included in her organisation. Learning throughout life is important For me personally, the toolkit and the coaching workshop with member associations made a big difference. I felt stimulated and it helped me structure my work. To implement a youth focused approach it is important to make space for young people and to trust them. It can take a long time, but it is worth it. I liked the fact that the toolkit promotes intergenerational relationships and exchanges, that it addresses power dynamics, how to work together. Although some parts may seem obvious, they are still important to be reminded of. For example, the importance of giving feedback and how to give a good feedback. Youth in decision-making spaces The structure of the MFPF comes with its own set of challenges. The youth group is set up at the national level so it can take some time to see results at the local level, where we have more than 70 associations. It takes a lot of effort to ensure we all know what each of us is doing so we don’t loose track of great initiatives. Our biggest accomplishment was also our biggest challenge: to give the youth group voting rights in governance bodies. It took a lot of advocacy and time to grant the youth group this voice and to include it in the legal status. Each local association has a vote, and each member of the youth group is part of a different local association. It was hard to legitimate their representation, in terms of equity - the young activists were already represented through their local association’s mandate, but we wanted to go further for them to have a specific recognition to make their voice as young people more visible. And we did it! We were also able to create an action plan and implement it. We’re very proud of that, and we are very hopeful when it comes to youth representation at all levels. Now, the youth group is more structured and more visible, a while back people didn’t even know the youth group existed. We’re in a position to debunk prejudice against young people, and what they want. Visibility is essential. The next ideal step for us would be to create youth groups at the local level. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 it was harder to find a good work dynamic. Usually, 25-30 people get involved in our youth activities, but this year, we didn’t have a rise in number of people interested in the youth group. But despite these new constraints, the action plan gave us better tools for communication, and made it much easier! There are no small accomplishments: a 'step-by-step' approach is essential What I would recommend to other organisations that wish to put young people at the centre of their work, is to look at things in perspective, to take the time to analyse. There are no small accomplishments: a 'step-by-step' approach is essential. You can start slow, with a newsletter, for instance, to shed light on the youth group’s activities. In our case, it allows us to see how much progress we do and it increases the visibility of our work. It’s also crucial to look for allies and people who want to work with young people. In order to get around the fear of change, we need to identify the key people who can help us move forward and support our activities. Sometimes the idea that young people are unable to commit causes fear. But in reality, voluntary commitment isn’t always easy especially for young people, who are students, who may be in a precarious situation. From an age group to another, the realities are very different, but it doesn’t mean that the youth doesn’t want to get involved: sometimes, they cannot afford to. That’s actually a sign that we need to think about other means of engagement.   Interview conducted by Manon Kayser, IPPF EN

Woman looks out of window
12 October 2020

Italy, France and Spain – positive steps on access to contraceptive and abortion care

IPPF EN is very encouraged by a series of positive developments in recent days which show European decision-makers and public bodies supporting the reproductive freedom and safety of women and girls, and rejecting harmful obstacles to care. At a time when other countries in Europe are pursuing retrogressive political agendas, we are heartened by these examples of progressive values shaping the legal frameworks which determine how women and girls access and experience care. Emergency contraception: Italy removes prescription hurdle for minors needing contraceptive care On 8 October, Italy’s national Medicines Agency (Aifa) announced new rules for under-18s needing to access emergency contraception. Adolescent girls will now be able to access this essential care over-the-counter in pharmacies without being required to have a prescription. The Aifa described this step forward as a “turning point for teenagers’ physical and mental health”, and “an ethical measure which will help avoid difficult situations in which girls usually bear the burden by themselves.” The organisation also announced the creation of a much-needed new website to provide information about contraception. (article in La Repubblica here) French Parliament paves the way for boosting women’s access to abortion care Also on 8 October, France’s National Assembly discussed a bill to strengthen the right to abortion. New measures approved in this first reading would include the extension of the legal deadline for access to abortion from 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy, the possibility for midwives to carry out surgical abortions up to the 10th week, and the removal of the clause that enables care providers to deny women care based on their own personal beliefs. Our French member Le Planning Familial, which has regularly denounced the difficulties that women face in accessing abortion care, strongly supports these proposed new measures. LPF described them as a first step towards aligning with the European countries that have the most women-centred abortion legislation, and doing away with unnecessary hurdles to care: “This first reading of the law is a real step forward for women’s right to control their bodies. Thousands of French women go abroad to have abortions every year. This decision to extend the time limits makes it possible to fight against social inequalities, since not all women can access care abroad, and against territorial inequalities, because all women in Europe should have the same right to safety and reproductive freedom.” (Full statement in French from Le Planning Familial here) The next step will be a vote on the reform in the French Senate. Abortion care: Spain plans to remove 2015 parental consent obstacle for 16 and 17-year-olds Spain’s government has announced its intention to reform the current abortion law to remove a hurdle introduced in 2015 by the ruling Conservative government requiring 16 and 17-year olds to seek parental consent before being able to access abortion care. Equality Minister Irene Montero also announced plans to promote relationships and sexuality education, given its role in protecting young people against the risk of gender-based violence, and to boost contraceptive access and choice. In a statement, our Spanish member the FPFE welcomed the government’s announcement, and hoped that it would be swiftly followed up with action to turn the commitments into reality, reiterating that the current parental consent requirement is a threat to young women's health, safety and autonomy.    On contraceptive care, they noted that the proposal to guarantee “the best possible access to contraception with its “most innovative and effective” forms… would bring the Spanish state closer to the level of access… in other European countries.” The FPFE also called for the announcement to “be accompanied by measures that guarantee public funding of all contraceptive methods…, to end the inequalities between autonomous communities, and of measures that also entail access for all women… regardless of their administrative situation.” (Full FPFE statement here; BBC article here)

Le Planning Familial
21 October 2019

"So I thought – this is the key to end all the issues that women and girls face"

Mathilde (25) and Amélie (27) are volunteers for Ton Plan à Toi, an initiative for relationship and sexuality education launched by IPPF's French Member Association, Mouvement Francais Pour Le Planning Familial. Ton Plan à Toi was set up in February 2018 to provide people living in the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (6 million of them!) with skills and information that would enable them to have happy and healthy relationships and lives. To do this, volunteers at Ton Plan à Toi conduct workshops in schools, hold trainings with professionals, and answer young people’s questions on relationships and sexuality using the chat function of the Ton Plan à Toi website. Mathilde focuses on delivering workshops in schools while Amélie spends her time answering young people’s questions online. See what they had to say about their experiences below. Could you tell me a bit about why relationship and sexuality education is important for you? M: For me, education is the key to everything. When I started volunteering at Le Planning Familial I realised if I had this information in my youth, my life would have been completely different. But I didn't have information – about STIs, contraception or just consent and everything relating, like sexuality. So I thought: this is the key to end all the issues that women and girls face. A:  The goal of education for me is to establish equality between people coming from different origins, and sexuality education does this because there are environments where people don’t talk about it at all and others where they are more open –  sexuality education provides a basis to everyone. When you were growing up did you have relationship and sexuality education?  M: With the sexuality education I had access to there was a kind of hierarchy. We were all sitting while the teacher was standing in front of us and just sharing information – we didn't use our critical thinking or had our beliefs or misconceptions challenged. So that's what we're trying to do now, to challenge young people’s beliefs and stereotypes. And when they respond, we don't say 'no that's wrong' we say 'okay, why do you think that?' A: No, in my family we talked about it pretty openly, but in school it wasn’t the case. I learned about the reproductive system, but that’s not sexuality education.  Can you tell me a bit about how you got involved in Le Planning? What was your motivation?  M: When I was living in Ireland, I got involved in the Repeal the 8th campaign and discovered I was an activist for reproductive rights. Then when I came back to my hometown I realised I should get involved in something supporting feminism – it was a few months after the #MeToo movement and I thought what I saw there was amazing, but nobody was listening to us, nothing really happened. So I thought: yes, let's volunteer at Le Planning. A: I had an abortion when I was younger and it was difficult because – well, everything went well, and I was very well looked after, but I didn’t feel good about my decision. And then after doing some reading on it, I noticed that it’s society which has created this image of abortion, and that my choice was okay. So I started with having an abortion, then I became a feminist, and once you become a feminist a lot of things follow from that. Amélie, what would you say are the most commonly asked questions on the Ton Plan à Toi website chat? A: Questions about ‘the first time,’ there are a lot of them. About the fear of the first time. Young people are scared because there are a lot of expectations, a lot of anxieties – but it’s not as hard as they fear. So it’s about de-dramatising what it will be like and emphasizing the importance of consent. Mathilde, when you hold workshops at school, are there subjects that you find more difficult to address than others?  M: I think it really depends on the subject, but things about the body are common – body hair, periods, that's difficult. Also porn comes up a lot. Like, ‘is it normal to say that, is it normal to do that?’ They are really worried.  Since you started volunteering at Ton Plan à Toi, has there been any particular moment when you had the sense that you were doing something important? M: We had a young person who was saying homophobic things during our session so we used our techniques to not say 'no, this is so wrong ' but 'why do you think that?' At the end of the session we asked them how they felt. And he said 'I'm so lost, I don't know what to think anymore.' I felt that this was the purpose of relationship and sexuality education. We don't want them to go out thinking 'I’m totally different,’ but to challenge themselves and question their beliefs that are rooted in harmful stereotypes. A: On the chat, we have conversations about violence – the chat allows people to speak to someone, people who otherwise wouldn't have this possibility. These are difficult situations, but I’m happy that the chat allows these people to at least find somebody who they can speak with.   Interview conducted by Eimear Sparks, IPPF EN

Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial

The Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial (MFPF) is a feminist confederacy of over 70 member associations covering most of the French territory.

They provide comprehensive sexuality education, counseling and information on contraception, abortion, HIV/STI and sexual and affective issues. Furthermore, they listen to, help and work with survivors of gender-based violence. Half of their beneficiaries are under the age of 20.

MFPF and its members also run training courses and produce material for medical and educational communities covering a whole range of SRHR issues. A large number of member associations run health clinics where contraception and abortion services are delivered.

MFPF advocates for longer delays and improved access to abortion, and it has been highly active in challenging opposition to fertility regulation. At the European and international scales, the organisation invests in three main activities. First, MFPF advocates for SRHR, women's rights and LGBTQI+ rights. Then, it conducts solidarity campaigns with immigrant women, and with sexual and reproductive health organizations in other European countries (such as Poland) where women's sexual and reproductive rights are violated.

Finally, the French organization takes part in international programmes in solidarity with organizations in Africa in order to learn from one another, to share practices and to develop a common political agenda to improve access to SRHR.

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