Europe's Contraception Access: 14 Countries Improve, Poland Vows Change
The European Contraception Policy Atlas, an annual report by the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights (EPF), has revealed significant changes in contraception access rankings across Europe. Over the past year, 14 countries improved, while 5 experienced setbacks, and 27 remained the same. The report, which ranks 47 countries including Israel for the first time, highlights the importance of access to contraception supplies, counselling, and online information.
The lowest ranked countries are Poland, Hungary, Armenia, Cyprus, Turkey, and Russia. Antonina Lewandowska, National Advocacy Coordinator at FEDERA in Poland, stresses the 'human' element of human rights, sharing stories of challenges faced by rape survivors in Ukraine. EPF recommends including contraceptive coverage in national health systems, accessible counselling, and public information on modern methods.
In a positive development, Poland's new government has committed to improving access to contraception, including making emergency contraception available without a prescription. Cristina Puig, Coordinator for the European Consortium for Emergency Contraception, emphasizes the importance of widespread, easy access to emergency contraception. Looking ahead, the top four performing countries projected for 2024 are Luxembourg, the UK, France, and Belgium. Luxembourg's impressive rise from 60.9 to 94.2 percent in seven years is attributed to implementing a universal contraception program and making condoms widely available.
The 2023 European Contraception Policy Atlas underscores the progress and challenges in contraception access across Europe. With 14 countries improving and several committed to further enhancements, the outlook for sexual and reproductive health rights is promising. However, continued efforts are needed to ensure all individuals have access to the information and services they require.
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