Feminist diplomacy – Global health – International Safe Abortion Day (September 28)

Today, International Safe Abortion Day, France strongly reaffirms its unwavering commitment to this inalienable right, which is essential for women’s health, lives and freedom, as well as for the full realization of gender equality. The right to abortion must be respected under all circumstances, including in crisis and conflict situations, and the procedure must take place under satisfactory conditions with regard to safety, respect, and dignity. Every year, the failure to respect this right leads to thousands of deaths and extremely serious health complications for women.

On March 8, 2023, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna launched France’s second International Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (2023 – 2027). This strategy prioritizes access to safe abortions and the promotion of the necessary conditions for this fundamental right to be respected. The strategy dedicates concrete resources to achieving these collective goals.

On September 17, 2023, on the occasion of the UN General Assembly High-level Week, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna reiterated France’s commitments at meetings that she held on different forms of feminist diplomacy and the situation of Afghan women. In particular, the Minister stressed that France is supporting the purchase and distribution of contraceptive methods through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Organization for Safe Abortion Dialogue (ODAS) in West Africa. Minister Colonna also recalled France’s €50 million contribution to the French Muskoka Fund, in order to help reduce maternal, newborn, and infant mortality, a crucial priority for Africa. Together with Mexico and UN Women, France has mobilized the international community in an effort to provide concrete support in the fight for the right to abortion by leading a coalition promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights at the 2021 Generation Equality Forum in Paris.

France conducts resolutely feminist diplomacy sand will continue to tirelessly defend women’s right to have control over their bodies, as well as the recognition that the right to abortion is a fundamental right, in the face of attempts to challenge it.

Q&A

Today, the president of Nagorno-Karabakh, Samvel Shahramanyank, stated that the republic will cease to exist, citing the extremely tense political and military situation. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the conditions of reintegration set by Baku. What is France’s reaction to this?

We hold Azerbaijan fully responsible for the fate of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, whose security and rights must be ensured. As the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs recalled during her speech before the UN General Assembly last Thursday, a diktat imposed by force on an unarmed civilian population cannot serve as a political solution.

In light of this, we are extremely concerned by the massive exodus of these people, tens of thousands of whom have been forced to flee their land and their homes following Azerbaijan’s military offensive and the nine-month-long illegal blockade, which have taken place under Russia’s conspirational watch.

Azerbaijan must re-establish unhindered international humanitarian access for UN agencies, in particular from Armenia, and must immediately ensure that there is full and unhindered humanitarian access in order to help those affected.

France maintains its strong commitment to Armenia and the Armenian people and its support for the Nagorno-Karabakh refugees. As the Minister announced yesterday, France will provide an additional €7 million in financial aid to NGOs, UN agencies, and the Red Cross Movement in Armenia to host these individuals and provide them with social, medical, and financial services. This financial aid comes in addition to the €5.5 million that France has already allocated since the beginning of 2023, bringing the total amount of support provided to refugees and displaced persons in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023 to €12.5 million.