Empowering Women: Enhancing Access to Contraception in Europe Across Regions and Cultures

Resolution 2331 2020 - Empowering Women: Promoting Access to Contraception in Europe

Authors: Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Text Adopted by the Standing Committee, Acting on behalf of the Assembly, on June 26, 2020.

1. The avlability of modern contraception is a pivotal factor for women's empowerment, enabling enhanced decision-making autonomy and promoting balanced living between personal commitments and professional responsibilities. It facilitates more efficient planning in employment and career development.

2. Despite its global importance, access to contraception experiences disparities among Council of Europe member states. Geographical challenges are evident across regions and within nations, with greater difficulties identified in rural and remote areas.

3. Financial barriers also impede access to contraception, particularly for younger populations and those on lower incomes who struggle to obtn services without financial support or subsidies.

4. Cultural norms, ger stereotypes, prejudices, and moral stigmas significantly impact contraceptive access, leading to a lack of knowledge about contraception methods, their avlability, and proper usage. These barriers affect potential users, especially women, young individuals, unmarried people, potentially deterring them from seeking assistance with contraceptives.

5. Vulnerable groups such as lesbian and bisexual women, transger and intersex persons, those with migrant backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by both financial constrnts and cultural barriers to accessing contraception, requiring specific attention and targeted interventions.

6. The Parliamentary Assembly underscores the critical importance of ensuring that all women have access to reproductive healthcare services. It calls for comprehensive policies that prioritize the empowerment of women by providing equitable access to contraception across Europe.

7. To address these issues effectively, the following recommations are proposed:

8. Improving Access and Avlability: Ensuring widespread avlability of all modern forms of contraception, including emergency contraceptives without prescription, in every region, particularly remote areas, is essential. This ensures that vulnerable populations have equal access to these services.

9. Affordability Enhancements: Implementing national health insurance schemes with adequate coverage for contraceptive expenses would significantly reduce financial barriers to accessing these vital services.

10. Targeted Subsidy Schemes: Developing and regularly reviewing specific subsidies or reimbursement programs tlored for young, low-income groups, ming to mitigate economic disparities in access to contraception.

11. Confidential and Non-judgmental Services: Ensuring all individuals receive confidential individual counseling that helps them choose the most suitable contraceptive methods based on their needs, while also facilitating periodic reviews as necessary.

12. Continuing Education for Healthcare Professionals: Encouraging ongoing education for healthcare professionals on contraception guidelines that are evidence-based and adhere to international standards set by the World Health Organization.

13. Data Collection and Research: Improving existing data collection systems or developing new ones with comprehensive, disaggregated data that reflects access disparities across different demographics sex, age, income, social status, education level, fostering a better understanding of current challenges.

14. Enhancing Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships between civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, and service providers in promoting contraception access and conducting research, while providing funding support for initiatives that align with these objectives.

15. Covid-19 Pandemic Response: Considering the ongoing pandemic as a significant challenge to reproductive health services, efforts should prioritize mntning essential health-care services such as contraception provision and maternal healthcare, even during lockdowns or restrictions on mobility.

The resolution calls for immediate action to address these challenges comprehensively, advocating for policies that promote women's rights and empower them through accessible and affordable contraception across Europe.
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