Whereas recent years have involved new backlashes for abortion right, its defence remain low in diplomacies priorities. It should become a « purple line » of any feminist diplomacy!

Recent years have unfortunately involved new backlashes for abortion right and reproductive health services in some regions, making feminist foreign policy more important than ever. In the United States, the conservative Trump administration is becoming the champion of abortion opponents. As the first President to attend anti-abortion rally, he also banned federal money supporting international groups which perform or provide information on abortions. Within the European union, whereas abortion is not (yet?) a minimum required standard (very restrictive conditions in Germany to total prohibition in Malta), this right is under attack from growing far-right groups, nationalism and populism (Poland, Croatia, etc.).

Whereas access to safe abortion has been established as a human right by numerous international frameworks and is fundamental for women to be free to choose and have control over their lives, the defence of abortion right remain low in European national and regional diplomacies priorities.

*THE DEFENCE OF ABORTION RIGHT SHOULD BECOME A « PURPLE LINE » OF ANY FEMINIST DIPLOMACY.*

Why purple? Purple is the colour of feminism. Firstly used by British women suffragists in the early 20th century, combined with white and green, purple is now the world-widely recognised colour of feminism as a social movement defending women’s rights.

What should purple lines designate?

Abortion as a LINE OF ATTACK, i.e. that feminist diplomacies should use the maximum of existing frameworks, roles and tools to promote the full enjoyment of abortion right for all women:
- Within international multilateral organisations, through discourses (resolutions, annual speeches from head of States at the UN General Assembly for instance or in high-level conferences) and through investments in funds and programmes (like UNFPA or other related initiatives).
- Within regional multilateral organisations, specifically for EU member states, in pushing for abortion to become a minimum required standard to belong to the community and in pressuring European institutions to be in stronger support of abortion right, including in the EU Action Plan on gender equality and in EU external relations.
- Within national diplomacy through embassies towards foreign governments and legal institutions and through the appointment of a dedicated “Ambassador for feminism”.
- Within bilateral development cooperation in allocating a significant share of official development assistance towards abortion support and in advocating it to other national, regional or international development agencies (including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank).
- In supporting abortion rights defenders through financial support and advocacy for their freedom of expression and opinion.

Abortion as a DEFENSIVE LINE, i.e. attacking abortion right should be considered as unacceptable and as a line not to be crossed. Feminist diplomacies should advocate towards the UN Security Council to systematically incorporate attack on abortion right, and sexual violence more generally, as a criterion when adopting a new sanctions regime and to consider access to abortion rights and services in international responses to migration and humanitarian emergencies.

Finally, abortion should also become a RALLYING LINE for feminist diplomacies, to build strategic alliances. Stronger together to advocate for the pill that saves women lives!