Feminist networks create safe access to abortion

Should the freedom to decide about your own body depend on your financial means? No. That is why feminists in Peru are organizing a network that gives women access to safe and free abortions. Our colleague Sandra De la Cruz Elescano explains how this works.

Sandra, why is the fight for legal, safe and free abortion in Peru important?

Sandra: Because women in Peru do not have the right to abortion and are therefore unhappy as mothers against their will. It is a great challenge for poor women to offer children a dignified life in Peru. It is therefore a form of discrimination against the poor majority of women, who risk losing their lives in clandestine abortion centers.

So abortion is not allowed in Peru? Or is it allowed under certain conditions?

Sandra: Only therapeutic abortion, when the life or health of the mother is in danger, has been permitted since 1924. But it was hardly applied for more than 90 years, due to the lack of a protocol for the health services. Thousands of women saw their right to therapeutic abortion restricted, and lost their lives or their health. These restrictions still exist today, due to bureaucratic obstacles, conscientious objections of medical personnel, the indifference of the state and the opposition of the anti-abortion movement. Conservative forces claim that the life and health of the woman can always be protected by continuing the pregnancy. If the life of the mother is not in danger, abortion is prohibited, even in cases of rape or deformity of the foetus.

Is the government or parliament taking any initiatives to legalize abortion?

Sandra: In 2015, there was a citizens' initiative with more than 60.000 signatures to allow abortion in cases of rape. But that was vertically classified in two parliamentary committees and never even reached the plenary session. Under President Humala (2011-2016, ed.), the government took cautious steps, without results. At the end of last year, member of parliament Ruth Luque submitted a new bill for legalization in cases of rape, but that has just as little chance in the current parliament. Nothing can be expected from the ruling party Peru Libre. It claims to be left-wing and for the people, but is actually conservative and patriarchal. The party consists largely of teachers, who are very macho and against sex education in schools. A tragedy for the children.

Are feminist organizations taking initiatives for the legalization of abortion?

Sandra: Not at the moment, but they do support Luque's bill. The feminist movement is divided and weakened. The pro-abortion movement is in the minority, against the advancing far right. That is why the feminists are choosing a different strategy, namely, supporting women who want an abortion.

Why is Peru less advanced than its neighboring countries in legalizing abortion?

Sandra: Because society here is different, very unequal, very racist. The poor education doesn't help either. Abortion is not seen as a right. There is an extremely individualistic culture. Every woman has to figure out how to pay for a clandestine abortion. Neoliberalism is not only reflected in the economy, in all areas the individual has to figure it out for himself. Peru is also much more conservative and religious than its neighbouring countries. The churches determine what happens in family life.

Which conservative groups oppose abortion rights?

Sandra: All right-wing forces, from liberal to fascist right. But also an important part of the left, which considers abortion, like other women's rights, as secondary. Together, these parties make up more than 80% of parliament. However, Peru has the highest figures on the continent for sexual violence against women and girls. So this should be a priority, but it is not, not even for the left. The aforementioned parties have formed an alliance with the church (mainly Protestant) hierarchy. They are economically very powerful. They control real estate, schools, universities, pharmacies, etc. They can mobilize a mass, for example with the movement With My Boys Not Too Much (Don't mess with my children, ed.) They confirm gender stereotypes and are against sex education. That is only a task for the parents, they think, not for the school or society.

What strategies and arguments do the conservative forces use?

Sandra: Their argument is that human life is divine. Only God may give or take life. The role of every woman is to be a mother, even against her will. A patriarchal vision. They have a lot of money for various strategies, in alliance with the government, parliament and the mass media.

How can one resist these conservative forces?

Sandra: The middle class must fight this battle, together with organizations that stand up for women's rights. They were able to prevent the government from rolling back women's rights even further. But the feminist and progressive movement has weakened, so their response is not massive. The left, like the right, claims that feminism divides society between "good women" and "bad men".

Are there any figures on abortion in Peru?

Sandra: There are no official figures, because abortion is illegal. But a 2006 study estimated the number at 350.000 per year, or about 1.000 per day. That is consistent with the figures of the World Health Organization, which says that 30% of all pregnancies worldwide end in abortion.

Why is that number so high in Peru?

Sandra: Because there is no sex education at school, and the subject is taboo at home. So there is a lack of education. Young people start their sexuality without knowledge, without access to contraceptives, with all kinds of restrictions. Conservative forces do not want the government to intervene and, for example, succeeded for a long time in banning the free morning-after pill in state pharmacies, because it would be abortive. In addition, there is sexual violence, which has increased during the covid pandemic, with mass rapes of girls. Women have abortions because their financial situation and the lack of basic services do not allow them to feed another mouth at home and offer a dignified life.

Who is mainly looking for access to abortion in Peru?

Sandra: Women of all social classes. Those who are rich can do it safely in an expensive private clinic. But those who are poor must resort to a clandestine and dangerous abortion.

Under what circumstances does such a clandestine abortion take place?

Sandra: The offer is diverse. On many walls and street poles you will find stickers with "irregular menstruation?" plus a telephone number. By calling, you can end up in a clandestine place. You take a huge risk, because you have no guarantee who will treat you, with what tools. Another method is pills, such as misoprostol, but there are many counterfeit pills in circulation. The age-old knowledge of indigenous communities often works. But some women still use knitting needles.

What position does the medical staff take?

Sandra: The majority are conservative, by education. They consider motherhood a duty. They criminalize abortion by playing police or judge. When they suspect that a woman ends up in the hospital for attempting an abortion, she is threatened and harassed. Recently, there was a woman who committed suicide by jumping out of a hospital window after a doctor warned her that the police would arrest her. Moreover, many medical personnel invoke conscientious objections to not performing therapeutic abortion. Fortunately, there are rare exceptions who are allies.

You mentioned that feminists support women in their pursuit of an abortion?

Sandra: Throughout history, other women, family members, friends or neighbours have always done this, while the government and society remained indifferent. The feminist movement has reinforced this as a strategy in the fight for women's autonomy. Such networks exist all over Latin America, with feminist volunteers who are trained and prepared for this. In Peru, these include Serena Morena, Justicia Verde, Línea Aborto Seguro, Red Compromiso, etc. For example, they provide correct information about safe methods, such as the use of misoprostol. Women thus find safe, supportive and free access to abortion, unlike the clandestine abortion centres that are only interested in profit. It is a form of social justice.

Have you worked with such an organization yourself?

Sandra: I have been informing and guiding women for years, including students and trade union women. Within my political movement Foro Juvenil de Izquierda we do this together with the collective Serena Morena.

Does that pose any dangers for you and other feminists?

Sandra: Yes, because if you guide women through an illegal abortion, you risk a prison sentence of 1 to 5 years. That is why I only do this with women from my circle of trust, or with women who are referred by family or good friends. You have to be very careful not to fall into the trap of the anti-abortion movement. There is no penalty for spreading information anyway. So that is possible.

Have any feminists ever been prosecuted for their involvement in an abortion?

Sandra: The law stipulates penalties for illegal abortion, ranging from 50 days of community service to 2 years in prison. But I am not aware of any women who have actually ended up in prison, as is the case in El Salvador. The law is primarily intended to deter and criminalize women. It forces them to make an individual choice for an unsafe abortion lab. It is also striking that these centers, just like the expensive private clinics, are never harassed by the government. Yet they are easy to find.

What would you recommend to a woman who wants an abortion in Peru?

Sandra: For women with a good education and job, with many contacts and a social network, there is no problem. But for poor women, who often have their family and the neighborhood against them when they want an abortion, and therefore continue their pregnancy unintentionally. It is not easy to reach these isolated women. You can seek help via social media. The Internet contains several manuals for a safe abortion. With Serena Morena, for example, we have a video. You can simply take misoprostol at home, up to twelve weeks of pregnancy. But you do not find that so easy. Many pharmacies do not want to sell it, or only with a medical prescription and at a very high price.

How can feminists and sympathizers in Belgium support the fight for abortion?

Sandra: It is not easy, but pressure through social media can help. They can contact and form alliances with feminist organizations in Peru. They can also tell us how these rights were obtained in Belgium after a long struggle.

Any last message?

Sandra: The right to abortion is the only path to a dignified life with opportunities for all women. We must force a collective victory against the lucrative private business of abortion in Peru.

About Sandra

Sandra De la Cruz Elescano has been following the FOS program in Bolivia since October 2021. She is active within the political movement Foro Juvenil de Izquierda, which collaborates with the feminist collective Serena Morena for women's access to abortion.

Author: Felix De Witte