Campaigns

Aborto legal, seguro y gratuito en Argentina!

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Desde la Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas celebramos el nuevo tratamiento en el Congreso de Argentina, del proyecto de ley de Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo y llamamos a votar a favor.

Desde IUSY buscamos la igualdad, defendemos los derechos humanos y luchamos por empoderar a las mujeres en todos los aspectos que atraviesan su vida. Creemos que es imprescindible se reconozca a las mujeres como sujetos de derechos, como ciudadanas y agentes morales capaces de decidir si desean o no ser madres, garantizándoles desde el Estado, su derecho a la salud en forma integral. Asegurar que sean sujetos capaces de ejercer sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos, donde el Estado provea acceso a la educación sexual integral y a servicios de salud reproductiva, incluido el aborto.

Desde hace más de 15 años la Campaña de Educación Sexual para decidir, Anticonceptivos para no abortar, y Aborto Legal Seguro y Gratuito para no morir, impulsa este debate y lucha por los derechos reproductivos y la libertar de los cuerpos gestantes.

En Argentina se practican aproximadamente 450 mil abortos por año, y la tasa de muertas por abortos clandestinos asciende a 43 (representando el 17,3% del total de muertes maternas). Realizarse un aborto cuesta a partir de $15000, y las pastillas de misoprostol tienen un precio por encima de $5200. Las que más sufren la ilegalidad son las mujeres pobres, quienes mueren por no poder afrontar los costos de acceder a formas de aborto seguras. Otra barrera importante, es conforme nos alejamos de las grandes urbes. 

En los países donde se ha despenalizado el aborto, las muertes maternas por abortos ya no existen y la cantidad de abortos realizados se redujeron. Incluso durante los gobiernos progresistas en la ciudad de Rosario, Argentina, se ha reducido a cero la mortalidad por abortos y, en igual sentido, dichos gobiernos impulsaron en la Provincia de Santa Fe, la produccciónMisoprostol en laboratorios públicos. Entender el aborto como política de salud pública se hace ineludible ante estas cifras y evidencias.

La despenalización del aborto es una deuda de la democracia y su legalización es necesaria en términos de justicia social, de igualdad, de la salud de las mujeres y de los derechos humanos. 

Es urgente  #QueSeaLey!

Legal, safe and free abortion in Argentina!

From the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) we welcome the new treatment in the Congress of Argentina, the bill of Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy and we call for a vote in favor.

We seek and defend equality, human rights and fight to empower women in all aspects of their lives. We believe that it is essential to recognize women as subjects of rights, as citizens and moral agents capable of deciding whether or not they want to be mothers guaranteeing their right to health and safety by the state. Women are subjects capable of exercising their sexual and reproductive rights, where the State ensures to provide access to comprehensive sexual education and reproductive health services, including abortion.

For more than 15 years, the Campaign for Sexual Education to decide, Contraceptives not to abort, and Safe and Free Legal Abortion not to die, has promoted this debate and continued fighting for reproductive rights and freedom of pregnant bodies.

In Argentina, approximately 450,000 abortions are performed per year, and the death rate from clandestine abortions is 43 (representing 17.3% of all maternal deaths). Getting an abortion starts from $15,000. Misoprostol pills cost above $5,200. Women who suffer the most from illegality are the poor. They die because they cannot afford the costs of accessing safe forms of abortion. Another major obstacle is when we move away from big cities. 

In countries where abortion has been decriminalized, maternal deaths from abortions no longer exist and the number of abortions performed has dropped. During the progressive governments in the city of Rosario, Argentina, mortality from abortions has been reduced to zero and the production of Misoprostol in public laboratories have been promoted in the Province of Santa Fe.  Understanding abortion as a public health policy is unavoidable given these figures and evidences. 

The decriminalization of abortion is a debt of democracy and its legalization is necessary in terms of social justice, equality, women’s health and human rights. 

It is urgent #QueSeaLey!

Hacemos un llamado al gobierno de Guatemala a escuchar las exigencias del pueblo y garantizar los Derechos Humanos

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Desde la Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas (IUSY por sus siglas en inglés) vemos con gran preocupación los últimos acontecimientos en Guatemala, donde la aprobación de un presupuesto por parte del congreso, el cual beneficia descomunalmente a un sector empresarial y no al pueblo ha provocado un gran descontento y de protestas en el país. 

La pobreza y los altos índices de desigualdad  social son temas de urgencia que deben ser atendidos por las autoridades en Guatemala. También, exhortamos al respeto de los derechos fundamentales de los manifestantes y asimismo, impulsar reformas a favor de la población y con mayor transparencia. 

En IUSY seguimos atentos a la situación y nos solidarizamos con las exigencias del pueblo de Guatemala.

[English]

IUSY calls the government of Guatemala to listen to the demands of the people and guarantee Human Rights.

IUSY follows the latest events in Guatemala with great concern. The Congress has approved the budget which benefits enormously a business sector and not the people of Guatemala. This has caused a great discontent and protests in the country.

Poverty and high rates of social inequality are urgent issues that must be addressed by the authorities in Guatemala. We also urge respect for the fundamental rights of protesters and promote reforms in favor of the population with greater transparency.    

IUSY remain attentive to the situation and we stand in solidarity with the demands of the Guatemalan people.

IUSY Statement on the Occasion of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

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      On 2 December 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted an annual observance that 29 November is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. The international community recognized that the historical injustice inflicted on our people by the resolution on the partition of Palestine 181 (II), 30 years ago, must be ended, and the Palestinian people must be able to achieve their independence. Today, the political, legal, and moral basis for adopting the international day of solidarity persists. This is an additional incentive for the international system to exercise and assume its role and commitment to enable our people to live freely and exercise their sovereignty in their own State. The  Palestinian people continue in their struggle to uphold their commitment to their land and inalienable rights through international legitimacy and its relevant resolutions, which recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, welcomed the Declaration of Independence by the Palestine National Council, and recognized the occupied State of Palestine and granted it the status of non-member observer State in the UN General Assembly. In this context, IUSY continues its  relentless pursuit to achieve  the Palestinian national unity and hold elections, We will continue to address the international community to contribute to halting of Palestine and pressuring Israel, the occupying power, to comply with principles of international law and resolutions in this regard. We also affirm our full support to a serious political process through an international conference based on international legitimacy as it was addressed by President Abbas to the SC of the UN and resolutions to end the Israeli occupation of the occupied State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” We call on the European Union countries and the international community, with their longstanding support for a just peace in middle east, to recognize the State of Palestine to save the political process and the two-state solution. The right wing Israeli government is racing against time to impose ‘a status quo’ on the ground to prevent the achievement of the independence of the State of Palestine. Hence, those who support the two-state solution must respond by creating a political reality that consolidates this solution through recognition of Palestine. IUSY also call on the newly elected U.S. administration to take the necessary measures to halt the catastrophic repercussions of the decisions and actions of Trump’s administration against Palestinian people, their land, and their rights. 

      With all its organs and specialized agencies, we call on the United Nations to reaffirm the Palestinian people’s commitment to its Charter and resolutions. The victory of the international community to the Palestinian just cause, the national right to self-determination and the Palestinian right to independence on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, is a victory to the principles and values of the United Nations and the will of the free people of the world who want peace and justice to prevail. 

As we go marching marching…

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110 years ago we started to celebrate the International Women*’s day.

The idea of an international women*’s day was born on 28th of February 1909 based on the initiative of the American Socialist Party.

One year later, in Copenhagen, the Socialist International held a meeting that adopted an International Women’s Day, although no fixed date was set.  As a result of the Copenhagen initiative an annual celebration with marches for women’s rights have been held. International Women’s day has been celebrated on 8th of March since 1975.

Since 1910, women* have held demonstrations to promote equal rights, including suffrage for women*. They protested in order to obtain the right to vote and to hold public office. They also protested against gender discrimination in employment.

March 8 became a symbol for the global resistance of women* struggling for their human rights, equality, recognition and respect.

Still, 110 years later, the struggle for gender equality is just as needed.

What are we fighting for today?

Today, we are still suffering from the persisting inequalities between men and women*, due to social, economic and cultural reasons, represent one of the most pervasive forms of oppression in human history.

Gender specific education, gender stereotypes, and labour market division still produce patriarchal structures at all levels of society.

More than two thirds of all people suffering from poverty are women*. They have low and inadequate access to health systems and education. Their income is lower, their working hours are longer, their access to the working market is limited and the social security systems often ignore their needs.  Further, women* are not represented in public life when you look at it according to their numbers among the population, only one out of eight parliamentarians all over the world is female*.

Women* are too facing sexual harassment, rape, and violence.

We all need to support women*s struggle for equal rights and opportunities as well as self-determination all around the world.

Legislation and positive action programmes should guarantee full equality between men* and women*. This means equal access to education, equal access to all jobs and equal pay for work of equal value.

We need to enforce the right to a self-determined sexuality, receive information and practical assistance in using and getting contraceptives. This right should be guaranteed to all women*.

Every woman* should be able to make decisions when it comes to her own body.  The reproductive rights of women*, including the right to have an abortion, the right to planned parenthood and the right to contraception must be respected and implemented all over the world.

We need an improvement of the child care system and a reduction of working hours in order to ensure equal opportunities and to reach a better work-life balance for both women* and men*.

We need to ensure women*’s equal participation in social and political activities in every country.  It is crucial to have a guaranteed right to equal representation of women* at all levels of decision making.

The above statements are some of the reasons why we fight and continue to fight every day to build a global feminist consciousness with the aim to make gender equality a reality everywhere in the world.

It is one of the fundamental aims of IUSY to work together, women* and men from all corners of the world, from the South hemisphere to the North. We will continue to work diligently to achieve self-determination, economic independence, new gender roles and non-violent relations.

Equality and justice for women* are a crucial element of a fair and peaceful world.

Day 17: Stories of Women*: Women’s Rights Are Still Under Attack – We need to continue to mobilise

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This year is the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women has existed for 39 years and been ratified for 37 years. For 70 years human rights have been a protected concept and for 37 years the promotion of gender equality has been a corner stone of international law. Amnesty International labeled 2018 as a year of female resistance, we have seen women* raising their voices and kicking ass. We have seen successes like repeal the 8th, the Ni una Menos campaign in Latin America, the protests of endemic violence in South Africa and India, the brave women* in Saudi Arabia and Iran who has faced imprisonment for protesting the right to drive and the forced wearing of the hijab respectively and the thousands of people across the globe who have continued the #MeToo movement are among the highlights. [1] Although 2018 has been a year full of women*’s rights heroes there has been a reason for it. We continue to see countless violations of human rights and attacks on women* across the globe. Women* remain a marginalised group and continue to suffer discrimination and violations.

During the International Day for Women* Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), UN experts highlighted that it is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous for women* human rights defenders to do their job. This because in addition to facing the standard risks, threats and intimidation that somehow comes along with defending our fundamental rights, women* face more multifaceted attacks based purely on their gender. Carrying out the work itself often challenges social constructs of family and gender roles which can cause hostility from the general population and authorities which lead to stigmatisation, ostracism by various groups including community leaders, faith-based groups, families and communities who consider them to be threatening religion, honour or culture through their work. Often the real threat to women* human rights defenders is the work itself, taking steps to advancing women’s rights makes them targets of attacks. Women*’s rights defenders are at a higher risk of “being subjected to different forms of violence, prejudice, exclusion and repudiation than their male counterparts” [2] according to UN experts.We need to continue to demand justice to women*’s rights defenders like Marielle Franco who was murdered for promoting the rights of black women*, LGBTI and young people. We need to continue to speak up for women’ human rights defenders, we need to continue to celebrate their bravery and we need to come together to stop attacks against them.

The wave of nationalism and populism brings with it attacks on women*. Nationalistic and populist regimes will always have negative consequences for women*. We have attacks on women* ranging from wanting to put us back in the kitchen and to birth more babies (despite the fact that our earth is overpopulated) to continued victim blaming. Women* are not and should never be reduced to being incubators without rights of their own. Women* will reproduce when they choose to, but it is not their whole identity or purpose to do so. The attacks on women*’s right to control their own bodies are one of the fundamental reasons why we are not yet equal to men. Until we can control our own bodies both legally and socially we will not be equal to men. For example El Salvadors total ban on abortion can be seen more as a war on women*. The country has yet another poster child for the trauma, abuse and punishment this type of ignorance and violation causes. The recent poster child is a 19-year-old rape victim who gave birth to a stillborn in a latrine who has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder. Countless women* have been imprisoned in the country for having miscarriages, as a result of that abortion is banned in all circumstances. The ban punishes mostly poor young women* with obstetric complications. [3] The problem becomes that for women who cannot access safe, legal and free abortions and in the case of women* in El Salvador, once she becomes pregnant, she loses all her rights because the fetus has more rights than she does. We have to continue to demand free, safe and legal abortions for all women*. You do not have to be pro-abortion, but you have to be pro choice. What you cannot do is restrict another woman*’s right to choose; her body, her life, her choice.

2018 is ending and our legal systems are still full of prejudice and victim blaming. Women* are not believed. 2018 has seen countless of rape cases where the rapist has been acquitted and the victim has 1) not been believed 2) blamed for what happened. One of the most famous and outrageous cases was that of the 17 year old girl in Ireland who was raped by a 27 year old man. The 27 year old in this case gets acquitted because the defense lawyer uses the victim’s underwear, a thong with lace, to say that she consented.[4] Never in my life has my underwear said if I wanted to have sex or not. So if she were wearing boy-shorts or “granny” panties her refusal would be different? Victim blaming has to stop. We cannot accept the continuance of this awful patriarchal system to continue. We need to continue to raise our voices and speak out against victim blaming.

NewsMavens (an ace European news outlet solely consisting of female journalists and of women* picking the news) released a report on Obstetric violence, a report revealing the prevalence of gynecologists’ gas lighting women*. What struck me the hardest was not the countless descriptions of harm caused to women (although it did make me want to puke and hit a wall simultaneously) it was this quote: “many gynecological procedures are done without pain relief or the anesthetic is not working properly and women are not believed when they complain. Other times, as in childbirth, pain relief is forced on women. Women’s point of views [are] not taken into account when it comes to their experiences and to the care they need or want in maternity and childbirth. They are infantilized and made to feel inferior, which puts their life and the life of their babies at risk.” [5] Further, it was that we are not discussing our reproductive health and rights, as it is seen as something intimate. But most of all the painful fact is the culture of “this is just how it is done”. Traumatic births, violence from our health care providers and procedures without anesthetics is not something women should have to endure going into 2019. We need to continue to create forums for women’s voices and stories to be heard. We need to create better care policies and continue the fight for women to be believed.

These are just a few examples of how women*’s rights are restricted across the globe and of systemic issues that we need to continue to fight to change. So in 2019, join me and let’s mobilise to defend women*’s rights defenders, strengthen our sexual health and reproductive rights, end victim blaming and strengthen women*’s position in society so that our voices are not only hard but believed. Sign petitions, join movements, speak out in person and online. No one can do everything, but we all can do something.

Amanda Lilliefeldt
IUSY Project Manager, Feminist and Human Rights Activist

[1] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/12/oppressive-sexist-policies-galvanize-bold-fight-for-womens-rights/

[2] https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/women/wrgs/pages/hrdefenders.aspx

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jul/06/el-salvador-teen-rape-victim-sentenced-30-years-prison-stillbirth

[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/world/europe/ireland-underwear-rape-case-protest.html

[5] https://newsmavens.com/special-review/914/when-gynecologists-gaslight-women

Day 16. Stories of Women*: Untitled

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Decido contar mi historia, porque abrí los ojos a tiempo… y si no hubiera sido así ni si quiera hoy estaría aquí.  

Todo empezó cuando conocí a un hombre (15 años mayor que yo) en mis pensamientos la idea no es un parámetro. Pero quiero aclararlo igual. Empecé una relación con esa persona que venía de un segundo divorcio y con una hija en camino. Lo acepté con sus cosas y su pasado. Al principio era el más bueno y romántico, todo fue cambiando cuando me pedía que no me pinte los labios como una “ puta” ni use escote ni nada corto abajo de mi cintura… esas veces las deje pasar, después todo fue empeorando cuando me hacía volver temprano del boliche y le preguntaba al remisero de la dirección que me traía ( para verificar si venía o no del boliche) y antes de entrar a su casa me olía el cuerpo y la ropa para ver si tenía perfume de otro hombre… la dejé pasar reiteradas veces. Hasta que ya empezó a romper mi ropa interior cada vez que teníamos un encuentro, solo para que “ no me vaya con otro hombre”…. todos los meses me compraba ropa interior porque él me la rompía. 

Siguieron pasando los meses, y un día descubrí que tenía un flujo oloroso y me picaba en mis zonas. Consulte con la ginecóloga y fue consecuencia de no usar preservativo y de que él me acabara adentro. Si, me obligaba a tener relaciones y me acaba adentro porque quería tener un hijo conmigo a lo cual yo tomaba pastillas anticonceptivas a escondidas porque yo no deseaba ser madre.  

Siguieron pasando los meses hasta que decidí cortar esta relación enfermiza y tóxica. A tal punto que el no pudo aceptar y me seguía y sabía todo de mi, mis horarios, con quien estaba y donde y demás.  

Un 20 de septiembre del 2017 me escribe un msj diciéndome que estaba afuera, yo nunca le había avisado donde estába… no nos hablábamos ya. Salí y él estaba ahí, pensé que sería el último día de mi vida… me sentí en peligro y amenazada por la persona que yo amaba. Salí, nos vimos y me obligó a ir a un motel. Tuvimos relaciones, contra mi voluntad y me resistí tanto que empecé a sangrar por la vagina y él gritaba diciéndome te rompí… sos mía. Mi mujer… y yo lloraba , me quería bañar e irme lejos. Antes de irnos del motel me amenazo de que deje de frecuentar con un chico con el que me estaba conociendo sino él actuaría al respecto. Deje de un lado a esa otra persona e ignoraba a todo hombre que se me acerque. Hasta que un día dije basta, no doy más !!! Mi vida vale, soy una mujer fuerte saldré de esto… lo saque de mi vida y lo amenace con denunciarlo ya que si lo hacía era en vano porque su padre es un funcionario político de una ciudad de mi provincia. Lo bloquie en todas las redes, empecé mi tratamiento psiquiátrico y aquí estoy empoderandome y amándome todos los días y agradeciendo de estar con vida para contarlo. 

Day 15. Stories of Women*: Untitled

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Hoy 21 de nov hace exactamente un año y un mes desde ese terrible momento que me tocó vivir, la persona que más quería, una persona intachable y a quien consideraba un segundo padre, si así es, un segundo padre. 21 de octubre día de la madre, toda la familia reunida en mi casa, días previos mi tío materno quedaba a dormir en mi casa, siempre vivió así un tiempo acá, otro en casa de mi abuela y así, es una persona adicta al alcohol, hago esta aclaración que de mucho no vale, supongo.. Esos días lo veía bastante raro más allá de su abstinencia tenía actitudes un tanto raras para conmigo pero no les di bolilla. Terminaba el día de la madre, mis viejos se fueron de casa a dejar a unos familiares en su casa cuando cansada me recuesto en la pieza de mi hermana y mi hermano en la suya. Este tipo (tío) se despierta de su larga siesta cálculo que habrá sido tipo 20hs, se me acerca y se sienta en la punta de la cama a darme charla y me dice je se quedará ahí por que esta aburrido, yo seguía jugando con mi celular hasta que llegó un momento en que empezó a tocarme las piernas y a subir su mano y con esas palabras que jamás voy a olvidar “no le cuentes nada a la mami”. Reacciono de inmediato a gritar a mi hermano a lo que el no me daba bolilla y le grité, me está tocando!!! 

De inmediato viene mi salvador, quién lo corrió y amenazó con llamar a la policía. Obvio, se fue pero negandolo todo. Entre lágrimas yo no podía hacer nada, más que avisar a mi familia creyendo que me creerían, hasta el dia de hoy sigo dudando que me hayan creído. Actuaron de lo más normal, no quisieron que lo haga público para cuidar la salud de mi abuela, ni tampoco hacer la denuncia. Actualmente mi vieja sigue teniendo contacto con este tipo y lo sigue ayudando, también lo hace mi hermana que nada le importó. Pero en este año y un mes, solo vino a molestar en casa una vez, el panico, el llanto fue imparable. Todo este tiempo he tenido pesadillas, muchas veces me despierto con el mismo miedo de volver a encontrarlo y saber que puede hacerme algo, el pánico siempre está.. Recuerdo latente que a los días, mi hermano mayor me dijo “bueno,  mira como te vistes, no esperes tanto respeto” 

Hoy gracias al apoyo de muchxs compañerxs logré empoderarme como mujer y aprender que solo yo soy dueña de mi cuerpo, que los demás deben respetarme.  

 

Day 14. Stories of Women*: A story about abortion from the Faroe Islands 

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I still remember the feeling that went through my body, when the pregnancy test turned positive. It was a combination of fright and anxiety, which went through every single bone and limb. 

I was 19, confused and uncertain what my future would bring – and this did not exactly make it easier. I had no job and lived at home with my parents. How could I even raise a child – a real, living, breathing individual – under these circumstances? I was careful when it came to my contraceptives, for exactly this reason so I would not even have to make this decision. 

The personal conditions weren’t ideal either. For years I had been struggling with anxiety, but through the last months I could finally tell myself, and mean it, that I was in a good mental state. I was finally starting to socialise again, exploring my limits and slowly moving towards something, that felt good and free. When I started to think about the situation I was in, I immediately felt that these could not be the right circumstances to welcome a child into this world. 

 I also thought about him. He was such a charming, kind guy, when I first met him – and I fell in love right away. Everything escalated so quickly, and it was almost as if we didn’t notice it. Within a few weeks, we met each others families and our friends became more than familiar to each other. 

Just as everything seemed a bit too good to be true, everything turned around and the tingly feelings of joy soon turned to an overwhelming heartache. After a few months, I found out that he had been cheating on me – with one of my best friends. I could feel how my self-confidence started to fade away. Signs of my anxiety started to show. Everything happened so fast. And now I was sitting here. On the bathroom floor at my parents’ house – with a positive pregnancy test. 

He didn’t handle it well. He told me to convince my doctor I was mentally ill, so I could get an abortion. I have to admit that the idea had occurred to me before and was playing like a loop in my head. Days went by, and I decided to tell my family and closest friends. I remember how they without success tried to comfort me and tell me that everything would be fine. One of my friends asked me to join her on a night out, so I could take my mind off things.  

I honestly thought this was a great idea, but the night ended like a nightmare. I met him. He was drunk and said that he wanted to talk. I hesitated for a minute, but then convinced myself that is was only fair to let him speak his mind. We went to a more private place. He told me how unhappy he was about this unexpected pregnancy. I agreed with a small nod. He was not ready to become a father. I wasn’t ready to become a mother either, I replied. He apologised for his actions – for being so unfair to me. Then he asked me if I would try to get an abortion – and for the first time I was sure what I had to do. ‘Yes’, I replied. My gut was telling me that this was the right decision.  

The story could have ended here, but it didn’t. I want to tell the whole story so hopefully someone – and especially those who hold the power – will finally understand that abortion is never simple, and that there is something terribly wrong in our society’s perception of ‘respect’.  

He started to kiss me. Not a bone in me wanted to kiss him – but he didn’t care. He forced himself upon me. I said no – but once again he didn’t care. I have lost count of how often I’ve blamed myself for being raped that night. I could have screamed. Or I could have bit him. But instead I cried and waited until it was over – till he finished. 

I went to the doctor a few days later. I told her that I was pregnant, but that I wanted this to be over as soon as possible. She supported my decision instantly and sent me to the gynecological department at the hospital. Even though my real reason behind wanting the abortion was simply  not wanting to become a parent. My medical records says it is because I was suffering from serious mental illness and was a danger to myself. It wasn’t true but I went along with it anyway. Those are the conditions you have to accept and if you are desperate enough, you would do anything it takes.  

This was my decision and I had thought this through. I wasn’t ready to become a mother. Where would I live? How would I provide everything that you need when having a child? Now I  was also fully certain, that if I would have a child now, I would have been alone in it, I would have been a  single parent. 

I could never see myself give 100% of me for a child at the time, let alone provide the love and care that a child needs. I also wanted him out of my life. I believe that fathers do have rights to their children, but the thought about him – a rapist – as the father of my child still gives me the creeps. I know I could never accept it. Not for my potential children nor myself. 

In the Faroe Islands abortion is only permitted if: 

  1. The maternal life is endangered 
  2. Severe fetal defects 
  3. Pregnancy is resulted from rape or incest
  4. The woman due to serious physical or mental illness is estimated unsuitable to take care of her child

This story was originally published as a part of a campaign by Social Democratic Youth of the Faroe Islands (Sosialistisk Ung) that sought to achieve free abortion on the Faroe Islands in 2017. The woman in the story wishes to remain anonymous, but Sosialistisk Ung knows her real identity. 

The story has been revised in order to make it understandable in an international context with consent of the woman.