Not free to choose

"Abortion is not a right; it is unjust even in cases of rape." Well, this is not a statement from the 1950s but from 2024, at a conference organized at the Italian Parliament by Simone Belli, a deputy from the League.

Abortion in Italy

But let's start from the beginning: the right to abortion has once again become the focus of social and cultural debate in recent years for several reasons. Firstly, the new generations became aware that what was provided by law 194 was not enough to ensure a safe abortion for all individuals. Secondly, in many regions and situations, abortion is not guaranteed at all.

The issue of conscientious objectors among doctors

In Italy, 80% of the medical personnel dealing with reproductive health are conscientious objectors. Does the case that occurred in December 2021, where the only non-objecting doctor in the Molise region was retiring, ring a bell? Think about the lack of protection for individuals identifying as women in that region. Dr. Michele Mariano, the last gynecologist nearing retirement at the time, said, "Those who perform abortions do not advance in their careers. In Italy, there is the Church, and as long as the Vatican dictates the law, this problem will persist."

Pro-life groups in Italy

Now, let's address another issue: pro-life groups. It often happens that support staff for abortion-related surgical procedures become perpetrators of physical and psychological violence against those unfortunate enough to be in their care. In public hospitals, "listening rooms" are often subsidized, where anti-choice groups and associations try to persuade patients not to have an abortion.

Abortion is a right

And now we come to another point: abortion is a right, or at least it should be. To say otherwise means violating the physical and personal freedom of an individual and inducing reproductive coercion, a genuine form of gender-based violence that international organizations like the WHO have always emphasized. To help individuals feel more secure in this journey, various support associations have emerged over the years with the goal of ensuring free access to abortion for everyone.

One example is the association "Libera di abortire", born out of the "Fetus Cemetery" scandal. It involved a woman who, after having an abortion at the San Camillo hospital in Rome, accidentally found a grave with her name and the date of the procedure at the Flaminio cemetery. This led to the need to create a safety network for anyone wanting to feel secure in their choice.

Democracy involves the existence of a plurality of opinions and ideals, but what happens when those ideas affect the lives of other individuals? The democracy we desire is based on the freedom to decide about one's own body, regardless of any opposing opinion. Freedom that each of us deserves and must demand.