FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 How to change restrictive laws Different strategies to legalize abortion: The Swiss Example Anne-Marie Rey, ex-president of Swiss Union for Decriminalizing Abortion / USPDA (organization dissolved in 2003) Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Outline Situation at start of campaign 30 years of campaigning Achievements Successful strategies used Other reasons for our success Conclusion Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Situation at start of campaign 1942 Swiss penal code takes effect abortion allowed for health reasons only 2 doctors decide 1970 unbearable situation regional disparities in application of the law Æ abortion tourism from restrictive to liberal parts of the country and abroad 20’000 clandestine abortions estimated 100 women condemned annually 1971 start of pro choice campaign initiative for decriminalization of abortion Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 30 years of campaigning 1971: initiative for constitutional amendment (tantamount to abortion law repeal) Æ brakes taboo, raises public debate 1975: „reasonable“ initiative (abortion on request in first 12 weeks of pregnancy) Æ narrowly rejected in referendum in 1977 1978: unsatisfactory compromise law (social reasons, 2 doctors decide + social report) Æ massively rejected in referendum 1985: anti-initiative „right to life“ (from conception) Æ massively rejected in referendum 1/2 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 30 years of campaigning (continued) 1993: amendment to penal code proposed in Parliament (abortion on request in the early months of pregnancy) March 2001: Parliament approves amendment (abortion on request in the first 12 weeks) June 2002: amendment adopted in referendum by a majority of 72% On the same ballot, an anti-initiative for a total abortion ban is rejected by 82% 2/2 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Achievements gradual liberalization of the practice of abortion over a period of 30 years (1971-2000 = BEFORE new legislation !) abortion paid by health insurance (1981) cantons have to create family planning centers (1981) sex education introduced in schools acess to abortion pill (Mifepristone) in 1999 (after another struggle for 10 years) 1/6 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Achievements (continued) Gradual liberalization 1971-2000 2/6 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Achievements (continued) Abortion tourism has massively declined 3/6 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Achievements (continued) Illegal abortions disappeared Contraceptive pill available First abortion referendum Abortion on request 4/6 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Achievements (continued) 2002 : Abortion on request in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, medical indication thereafter • no compulsory counselling, only information by the doctor • no „cooling off period“, • no parental consent necessary • no time limit and no second opinion necessary for abortions for medical reasons (including severe mental distress) • cantons have to designate clinics and doctors authorized to perform abortions 5/6 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Achievements (continued) Weaknesses of the new legislation • abortion remains regulated in the penal code • rather short time limit • the woman has to sign that she is in a state of distress • the doctor has to hand her out a leaflet informing about counselling centers, possibilities of financial and moral support and adoption BUT : Æ autonomous decision by the woman concerned 6/6 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Successful strategies used regular and factual information to the media • personal contacts • supplying the media with adequate pictures networking, building alliances • women’s, youth, professional organizations, political parties • mobilizing and briefing them lobbying of parliamentarians • personal contacts, letters, information, hearings • intense collaboration with some of them 1/2 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Successful strategies used (continued) recognize beforehand what the „enemy“ might do formulate legislative texts for parliamentary committees pragmatism • readiness to compromise • moderate language • adapt our arguments to changing situation 2/2 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 A responsible decision: Yes to abortion request Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Other reasons for our success Decreasing influence of religion Changing role of women in society Growing open-mindedness in matters concerning individual lifestyles and sexuality Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Conclusion strategies must adapt to • actual situation • political and religious forces present • strength of pro choice mobilisation our experience : • the battle for women’s right to decide whether and when to become a mother is hard and long • it needs dedication and perseverance • every time a broad public debate arose, progress resulted in the end, I think, we have the better arguments Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 The denial of free choice is a violation of article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Contraception and abortion Tasso di aborti per 1000 donne di 15-44 Percentuale delle donne di 15-44 anni che anni usano la pillola, la spirale o la sterilizzazione Effective 120 70 contraception reduces the 60 100 abortion rate 50 80 40 60 30 40 20 20 10 0 0 USSR JAP CSFR USA UK CAN NL Tasso d’aborti Contraccezione efficace Secondo Ketting / Fonti: Henshaw 1990; UNFPA 1987; Ramanick 1991; Uzal et al 1992 Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Number of legal abortions in Switzerland 1970-2007 Abortion on request in 2002 Later figures not entirely comparable, but declining trend continues Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Switzerland has one of the lowest abortion rates in the world Taux d'interruptions légales de grossesse 45 40 35 30 25 20 1000 femmes entre 15 et 44 ans 44 ans 15 et entre 1000 femmes 15 10 (2005/2007, Féd.Russie 2003) Féd.Russie (2005/2007, 5 0 Interruptions pour I R H S F N F E L B D RF UK DK S N CH USA Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Switzerland has one of the lowest teenage abortion rates Schwangerschaftsabbrüche/1000 15-19 Jährige internationaler Vergleich (2004/2007) 25 20 15 10 Abortrate/1000 5 0 CH D B I NL E Can. F DK N USA S UK Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey FIAPAC Congress – Berlin – 24/25-10-2008 Abortion rate is highest in urban regions with a high proportion of migrants The abortion rates are Abortion rate and proportion of migrants in the female population highest in cantons with high in Swiss cantons, 2007 proportions of migrant 35 35 population. In addition, 30 30 Geneva, Vaud, Basel-Stadt and Zürich are very urban 25 25 societies, also showing 20 20 higher rates. 15 15 Zug in spite of a high proportion of migrants has a 10 10 rather low abortion rate. This 5 5 might be explained by the migrants in this rich canton 0 0 generally being of higher Uri Zug Jura Bern social class and the canton Zürich Glarus Tessin Luzern Aargau I.Rh. Geneva A.Rh. Schwyz Thurgau Freiburg being rather rural. Vaud VD Vaud St.Gallen Solothurn Appenzell Obwalden Appenzell Wallis VS Nidwalden Neuenburg Basel-Land Switzerland Basel-Stadt Graubünden Schaffhausen No obvious explanation can be found for the rather low Abortion rate per 1000 women (15-44 years) living in the canton abortion rates in VS, Proportion of migrants (%) in the female population of the canton Schwyz, Aargau, Thurgau, Proportion of migrants, Swiss average Glarus Schaffhausen and St. Abortion rate, Swiss average Gallen. Strategies to legalize abortion – The Swiss example / Anne-Marie Rey in Switzerland1946-2005 Women condemned forillegalabortion 100 200 300 400 500 0 1946 1948 1950 1952 Strategies to legalize abortion Strategies 1954 1956 Women condemned forillegal abortioninSwitzerland A bortion pill on 1958 market the 1960 FIAPAC Congress– Berlin– 24/25-10-2008 1962 1964 1966 abortion law repeal law abortion 1968 Initiative for – The Swiss example / 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 Anne-Marie Rey Anne-Marie 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004.