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In 1975, under the pressure of mass mobilisations, and thanks to the votes of the Socialist Party and Communist Party, the Veil law was passed by the French parliament. This law allows abortion under certain conditions in the first ten weeks of pregnancy.
However, this law refused to consider this as a medical operation to be reimbursed by the social security funds. Thus, one of the major obstacles to the liberalisation of abortion remained the financial question. The cost of abortions performed legally in hospitals or clinics is variable and depends on the good or bad will of the hospital service concerned. Today it can be as much as 800 to 1,000 French francs, £70 to £80. More and more women are resorting to abortions abroad or illegally, very often in very bad conditions of hygiene.
The Socialist Party has declared itself in favour of the reimbursement of abortions, and Francois Mitterrand announced on International Womens Day, March 8, 1982, that it would soon be reimbursed by Social Security - on September 1, according to some government spokespersons. However, an announcement of legislation to this effect was only made on October 20, under the pressure of the mobilisation for October 23.
This was not by chance. On August 2 the Minister for Women's Rights, announced the government's decision to 14
International, the Partido Obrero Revoput back the date for reimbursement of abortion for an indefinite period.
The many reasons given were contradictory and unacceptable to women. reasons, the deficit of the social security funds. Pierre Beregovoy, the minister in charge of Social Security explained that for him "it is necessary to take account religious-minded families" most reactionary currents of the French bourgeoisie and petit-bourgeoisie!
But the thousands of women who have fought during the last years for their rights, and in particular for free abortion on demand, refuse to carry the cost of the new austerity and the concessions the government is making to the right.
The decision to postpone the reimbursement of abortion came, what is more, at a time when the decline in abortion services in hospitals is becoming worse and "Today it is quite simply the gains of the struggle for the right to abortion which are being put into
While the reimbursement of abortion is only one stage in the real recognition of the right of women to control their own bodies, it is a decisive step and an elementary measure of social justice which must be put into operation feminist forces and the workers movement must work together and mobilise to demand that the government keeps its opened.
weekly of the Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire (LCR), French section of the Fourth International, on September
On October 20 the government announced that legislation would presented to Parliament before the end of the session to give reimbursement of 70 per cent of the cost for abortions. This would be paid for by a special fund that the state would grant to the Social Security funds.
Several thousand women and men attended the demonstration called for Oc tober 23 by the organisations which campaign for womens rights: the Family Planning organisation, the Co-ordination of Womens Groups, the association "To Choose', the Movement for the Freedom of Abortion and contraception (MLAC), the National Association of Centres for Abortion and Contraception (ANCIC), women from the Socialist Party organised in MIFAS, etc.
The mobilisation however is not over It is still necessary to ensure that the law is voted through the parliament, that it is put into effect, and to fight for its extension to minors and immigrants, and for 100 per cent reimbursement.