Safe Abortion Day: Nationwide protests for safe abortions

Under the motto “For safe abortions – RIGHT NOW!” The Alliance for Sexual Self-Determination has once again called for action on Safe Abortion Day this year. In this context, September 28th was accompanied by various combative and educational actions.

The focus was on the fight for women's self-determination and the right to legal and safe abortion. People across the country took to the streets on Monday to fight for the abolition of Sections 218 and 219 of the Criminal Code, the expansion of medical care and the final stigmatization of abortion. The German Joint Association and Ver.di had also called for action.

Abortions are still legally criminalized in Germany. Women who want to have an abortion are confronted with legal requirements and the risk of prosecution for doctors is high if the requirements of Sections 218 and 219 of the Criminal Code are not met. For this reason, and also because the offer in hospitals is not compulsory, many people decide against carrying out abortions. As a result, medical care is inadequate in many places.

Protest against the “March for Life” in Berlin and Cologne

In many cities, women and trans people in particular have held rallies and demonstrations. In addition to the fight for the right to safe abortions, bridges were also built to other problems that particularly affect women. It was always about international women's solidarity, militarization and social cuts.

In Hamburg, the Safe Abortion Day alliance called for a demonstration in which over 100 people took part. Among others, organizations such as Zora, Medical Students for Choice, Pia Pro Familia, the Federation of Class Struggle Organizations (FKO) and the LAG Feminism of the Die Linke party appeared. Overall, the demonstration demonstrated a combative perspective in the fight for safe abortions.

Through banners with slogans like "Freedom for the imprisoned women in Turkey. Women fight internationally. Victory of the women's revolution in Rojava!" attention was also drawn to the international achievements of fighting women and solidarity was shown with them.

In Leipzig, too, around 100 people - mostly women - marched through the streets to fight for their self-determination. During the course of the demonstration there were repeated speeches in which, among other things, other forms of state violence against women were addressed. For example, in a speech, the Communist Women drew attention to Paula Maier, who was raped by an official while in detention in Turkey.

Paula Maier in an interview: “Sexualized violence aims to humiliate us women and silence us”

There was also a speech that reported on personal experiences with an abortion. The speaker said that the state had repeatedly put obstacles in her way and that it was her environment that gave her support and strength. After the speech, the demonstrators collectively shouted the slogan "This state does not protect me. My sisters protect me!"

The demonstration was also repeatedly well received by passers-by and residents. The consistently combative mood reached a climax when a banner reading “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Women, Life, Freedom) was lowered from a building.

The young women's organization Zora held a rally in Berlin in front of the town hall in Neukölln, in which around 100 people also took part. The FKO also took part in the rally.

In a speech, a spokeswoman for the FKO drew attention to the connection between social cuts and abortions: "As a result of the Merz government's cuts in health and social services, the hurdles for people who have become pregnant unintentionally are increasing even further. [...] What makes me particularly angry is that society, which requires you to have children you don't want, doesn't even provide support afterwards. On the contrary: the government is cutting parental, housing and citizen's benefits."

Through slogans like “My Body, My Choice – raise your voice” or “Women who fight are women who live. Let’s unhinge the system.” Attention was repeatedly drawn to women's self-determination.

Women fight for the right to physical self-determination

In addition to numerous other demonstrations and rallies, information and educational events also took place nationwide. The aim was to educate people about abortion, reduce prejudices and impart knowledge about reproductive health and self-determination.

Pro Familia in Bavaria has decided to upload informative posts to its social media channels over several days and to hold question-and-answer campaigns to raise awareness about the topic of abortion.

In Giessen there was an information stand organized by Pro Familia, Doctors for Choice and the Office for Women and Equality. In addition, purple balloons were hung around the city to draw attention to the day of action. In Saarbrücken there was also an information table in the city center to exchange ideas with passers-by and clarify prejudices.

Various forms of action were also used to provide information about abortions and the situation of women. In Münster, for example, the Alliance for Sexual Self-Determination organized a pub quiz on abortions. Meanwhile, there was a reading followed by a panel discussion on reproductive rights and self-determination in Munich.