THE SPECTRUM
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
Freedom in Europe: Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health rights
Natalia Vasnier, Noe Amelynck, Léo Sgambato, Catherine Burke, Jonas Decker and Mirjam Seiler by
The recent events in Poland surrounding the enforcement of a near total abortion ban have put the issue of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) back on the agenda.1 This issue is not limited to Poland and unfortunately the lack of SRHR is present in several other EU Member States prompting discussions about how SRHR can be respected and ensured across the Union. However, there are several challenges to assuring SRHR, which will be discussed in this policy paper, along with several proposed solutions. Firstly, there is a lack of information and awareness of SRHR-related needs and issues, and there exist cultural and religious barriers which stigmatize the issue. To combat these problems, we recommend that the EU engage in public health campaigns and partner with organizations which advocate for reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare. There is also an apparent discrepancy between Member States when it comes to access and financial support for sexual health services, specifically access to abortion services, which constitutes a larger problem of gender inequality and a deficit in guaranteeing sexual and reproductive healthcare. Therefore, we also propose financial support by the EU for patients engaging in cross-border travel to receive these services. The adoption of these proposed
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solutions would act as a step forward in ensuring sexual and reproductive health rights for everyone in Europe. CURRENT CHALLENGES A significant challenge is the lack of information and awareness surrounding SRHR issues. Even though the EU advises Member States to provide adequate sexuality education in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of 2010, there is no comprehensive framework that effectively guides "content, delivery mode and stated purpose of the sexuality education".2 The most recent issue on sexuality education across the European Union by the European Commission, for example, notes that only ten European states cover gender roles or mutual consent in their sexuality education. Furthermore, in some Member States sexuality education is still optional in schools.3 Age and delivery mode of information on SRHR topics also differ among Member States. While in some countries, especially the Nordic states, sexuality education begins at an early age and enables awareness and understanding surrounding sexuality, gender and LGBTI issues, in most countries content of sexuality education is of national concern and appropriate information is severely limited. Lack of information on sexual and reproductive health and rights
