Every year, tens of thousands of people across Europe are forced to cross borders, borrow money, or risk unsafe methods just to end a pregnancy. On 28 September 2025, International Safe Abortion Day serves as a stark reminder that Europe is far from a haven for safe and equal abortion access — and that urgent action is needed to counter the rise of right-wing extremism.

While abortion is legal in many European countries, in practice access remains limited or nearly impossible. In Italy, 72% of doctors refuse to perform abortions, while in Romania more than 80% of public healthcare institutions deny abortion services. Many women must travel long distances, face stigma, lack of information, or institutional barriers to receive the care they need.

Volunteer-led abortion funds have become a lifeline. These grassroots networks raise money, help with travel and translation, and provide abortion pills across borders. Yet, they operate on minimal budgets and often at the edge of legality, while anti-gender movements grow increasingly powerful and well-funded.

Between 2009 and 2018, funding for anti-rights movements in Europe grew by 300%, surpassing $1.8 billion — some of it originating within the European Union itself. Meanwhile, funding for women’s rights organizations has been drastically reduced, creating a profound imbalance.

As activist Mara Clarke, founder of Europe’s first abortion fund network, warns:

“Abortion is not a side issue. It is the frontline of the struggle against authoritarianism, misogyny, and the rise of the right. If we want to defend bodily autonomy, we must fund the resistance directly.”

International Safe Abortion Day is not just a commemoration — it is a call to solidarity and action. Safe, legal, and accessible abortion remains a fundamental condition for women’s rights, public health, and democracy.

👉 Read the full article here: The myth of European abortion access: why funders must take action this International Safe Abortion Day