"Abortion as a right and without coercion"
Panel discussion at the adult education centre to mark the International Day against Violence against Women
On Wednesday, 25 November 2015 at 7 pm, Ines Scheibe, psychologist and member of the working group for sexual self-determination of the Women's Health Working Group; Prof. Alexander Lohner, theologian at the Institute for Catholic Theology at the University of Kassel and Jessica Freyer from Amnesty International will be discussing the topic of abortion at the adult education centre in the event hall of the TIETZ, Moritzstraße 20. Admission is free.
Amnesty International sees the compulsory counselling and the "reflection period" for women with unwanted pregnancies as paternalism, which is otherwise unusual in medicine. In the discussion with the panellists, the human rights organisation argued that women and men must receive support in exercising their rights, regardless of their origin or their social, economic and health situation. What is needed is comprehensive and easily accessible information, improved education about sexuality and contraception and free access to contraceptives, including the morning-after pill without a prescription. There is also a need for qualified, voluntary pregnancy counselling and - in the event of an unwanted pregnancy - the possibility of a safe abortion.
Since 1 January 2010, women who wish to have a medical indication after the 12th week of pregnancy are obliged to seek counselling. If the doctor making the diagnosis fails to provide counselling, he or she can face a fine of up to 5,000 euros. There is also a mandatory three-day reflection period between the counselling and the procedure.
The panel discussion is a co-operation between the Chemnitz Amnesty International Group and the Chemnitz Adult Education Centre. Amnesty International campaigns for sexual self-determination in family planning.
For further information please contact:
Gerd Kurbjuhn
Chemnitz Adult Education Centre, Head of the Society Department
Telephone: 0371 488-4321
E-mail:
www.vhs-chemnitz.de