Italians Concerned About Church Interference in State Matters

On Saturday 14 January a huge rally took place in Milan. Activists and supporters mobilized by International Planned Parenthood Federations European Network (IPPFEN) marched for womens freedom, protesting against the stigmatisation and intimidation of women, and, in particular, defending Italys law 194 on abortion.

Italy legalised abortion in 1978. Italys law 194 has been a major achievement in protecting millions of women from the health consequences of unsafe, illegal abortion. It was a milestone for womens rights and gender equality. Since 1978, women in Italy can choose freely when, how and how often they want to have children. However, all of this is being undermined by the intransigent Vatican stance on abortion and Silvio Berlusconi's government, which is currently considering a proposal by the Health Minister to put pro-life activists into state-funded abortion advice centres to discourage women from terminating their pregnancies.

The rally, the first of its kind in nearly 30 years was attended by women of every age, woman and girls with friends, neighbours, schoolgirls, partners, children and babies. At least a third of the protesters were male, indicating that the protection of women rights has become a value deemed important by all sectors of society.

IPPFEN is extremely concerned about the recent attempts to undermine the abortion legislation in Italy and to criminalise the work of the consultori- the state run advice centres that provide abortion services.

IPPFEN Regional Director, Vicky Claeys said:

"The intransigent position promoted by Pope Benedict XVI on abortion has propelled women to make this stance: women from all over Italy getting together after decades of inactivity to fight for womens rights. The attitude of the new Pope is provoking a wide reaction in progressive circles of Italian society; people are worried about the constant interference of the Vatican into State matters."

At the same time in Rome, activists for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (LGBT) participated in a parallel rally to support the legal recognition of same sex relationships.