I got this e-mail just 2 days ago - very relevant
Holby, are you as enraged as I am that the US Supreme Court has overturned American abortion rights? If you care about abortion access, I’m writing to remind you that we’ve got our own battle for safe abortion on this side of the Atlantic – and it’s time to get involved.
Every year, thousands of people travel to England from Ireland and Northern Ireland to access an abortion. And even in England, abortion is still a crime without the consent of two doctors – a 24 year old woman will stand trial next year for ordering abortion pills online.
But don’t despair. Regardless of whether abortion is legal or illegal, feminists have always found a way to support each other’s access to abortion. Right now, there are plenty of ways we can channel our collective rage into support and solidarity.
I am writing this to share a message with you from Mara from Abortion Support Network in the UK:
“People who want to support reproductive justice may want to look at supporting local abortion funds and independent clinics. In the US, these can be found through the National Network of Abortion Funds and Abortion Care Network. If you’re based in Europe, there are urgent needs on this side of the Atlantic too.
There is still no provision of abortion in Northern Ireland, despite decriminalisation in 2019. Malta has a total ban on abortion. And Poland has enacted a near-total ban which has lead to the deaths of two women from preventable causes. Even in Ireland, which repealed the 8th in 2018, hundreds of women are still forced to travel to England each year due to limited provision.
The UK charity Abortion Support Network (ASN) helps people from Poland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta and elsewhere in Europe who need to access an abortion by providing information and funding for abortion and travel costs. They do this work because they believe “I can’t afford an abortion should never be the only reason someone continues a pregnancy. They do this work to level the playing field.
ASN is also a member of Abortion Without Borders (AWB), which has helped 32,000 Polish people access an abortion in the last year. Recently both AWB and ASN have started hearing from people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Most are fleeing from Ukraine and Russia, where abortion is legal, into countries where abortion is banned or severely restricted. ASN and AWB are here to help them, too. Both organisations are funded almost entirely by individuals giving what they can, creating a massive solidarity network of people helping other people pay for abortions. You can support them here”
When it comes to abortion, we must fight for justice and access, not just rights. Reproductive justice is a framework developed by Black women in the US, and practised by women of colour across the world – and it recognises that rights alone don’t guarantee access. Even when abortion is legal, many women of colour can’t afford it – or can’t travel hundreds of miles to a clinic.
So that’s why, if you want to make an immediate, tangible impact to make sure people who need abortions can access them, support Abortion Support Network.
In love and solidarity,
Janey, Seyi, Ikamara, Ruvimbo, Jade, Catalina and the Level Up team
The Level Up team
Resources:
[1] Sistersong - reproductive justice
[2] Abortion is a Crime in the UK (Novara Media)
[3] Abortion rights in Europe vary widely – and are getting squeezed