For the past three months, the trial of the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pélicot has been making headlines in France and abroad. The trial has shocked public opinion with its horror. This trial is exceptional in its scale, but it is also and above all representative of rape culture and the societal debate on the legislation of consent. It raises an essential question: would your country have delivered justice for Gisèle Pélicot?    1. An Extraordinary Trial Highlighting Ordinary Rape Culture  This trial is exceptional in terms of the number of defendants and the long period over which the crimes took place.   Dominique Pélicot raped and organized the rape of his wife by one hundred men over the course of a decade. To do this, he drugged his wife without her knowledge with powerful sedatives and sleeping pills. This is known as “chemical submission”, or “drug-facilitated sexual assault”.  Dominique Pélicot posted the advert on a swingers' website and recruited the men by offering for them to rape his wife for free. The rapes were documented by Dominique Pélicot himself, who filmed them. When he was arrested, the police collected the videos and were able to identify 50 of the 100 men who appear on them.   This trial is unusual in the amount of evidence collected by the police. Feminist associations point out that in most cases of sexual violence, the evidence is thin. It is often two witnesses who confront each other. This case is therefore an exception, and presents the “ideal” situation for a conviction of all the accused.  But despite this overwhelming evidence, 35 of the 50 men accused have pleaded not guilty. These men deny the accusations: some say they thought Gisèle Pélicot was pretending to be asleep, others say they raped her under duress from Dominique Pélicot, others say they were drugged themselves and don't remember the rapes.   Only the videos of the rapes, shown during open court sessions (which is exceptional), show the full horror and dismantle the rapists' justifications. But that doesn't stop the lawyers of the men accused of the rapes, some of whom dare to accuse Gisèle Pélicot of being an ‘exhibitionist’, and others suggesting that Gisèle and Dominique had set up the rapes together. In the end, only Dominique Pélicot fully admitted to the crime, declaring at the trial: “I'm a rapist like all the men in the room”.  This trial reveals a fundamental debate in France on the legal and societal definition of rape. It raises a central question: Would your country give justice to Gisèle Pélicot? Is your national legislative framework sufficient to condemn rape committed through chemical submission?  

25 July 2024 – The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) laments the missed opportunity by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to ensure that the human rights of sex workers are respected, protected and fulfilled by all European Member States, in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights.  The ruling comes after 261 sex workers, many of them migrants and/or gender minorities, filed a complaint to the ECHR in December 2019 to challenge the French Prostitution Law 2016, upheld by the French Constitutional Court earlier in 2019, which criminalizes the clients of sex workers and led to human rights violations of the sex workers.   IPPF and its Member Association in France, Le Planning Familial, were among the numerous communities, health, human rights and feminist organizations that supported the sex workers’ application to the ECHR, noting the extreme deterioration in the living and working conditions of sex workers since the criminalization of clients came into force.  We are disappointed that the ECHR has chosen to neglect its duty to ensure the protection of human rights of all people, without discrimination. In doing so, the leading human rights norms and standards on sex workers rights remain in the recommendations of the major UN agencies including the World Health Organization, UNAIDS and the UNDP, as well as by major international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) World, Human Rights Watch, and Transgender Europe, as well as IPPF.  The court’s decision was an opportunity for the European region to establish a precedent in human rights jurisprudence that reaffirms what sex workers themselves have demanded for decades: that sex workers are entitled to the respect, protection and fulfillment of their human rights, free from discrimination, including the right to privacy and autonomy, the right to be free from violence and discrimination, and the rights to physical integrity and life.  Micah Grzywnowicz, Regional Director of the IPPF European Network, said:  “Rather than seizing a critical opportunity to protect human rights, we are disappointed that the European Court of Human Rights has instead deferred the issue to legislatures, despite recognition that the Swedish Model infringes on sex workers rights. Rather than ensuring the human rights of sex workers in Europe are guaranteed by States, their human rights are now dependent on their geographic location and the country in which they live.  Strong evidence demonstrates that criminalization laws have negative consequences for sex workers and their families, and lead to violations of their human rights. We are disappointed that the voices, human rights, and autonomy of sex workers have been deferred by a Court established exactly for the purpose of guaranteeing the human rights of all people, without discrimination.”  In 2022, IPPF adopted a Sex Work Policy which focuses on evidence-based policies which best respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of sex workers. Informed by the lived experiences of sex workers globally, our policy strongly supports decriminalization, together with social policies that address structural inequalities that manifest in all areas of society including sex work. Notably, the policy notes that “widespread criminalization, stigma and discrimination not only violate their human rights to live free from violence and discrimination, the right to health, and sexual and reproductive rights, but also limit sex workers’ capacity to self-organize, access funding for service provision and advocacy, and meaningfully engage with civil society organizations (including unions) and policymakers.”   It is essential that we stand with sex workers to support their continued advocacy to be free from discrimination and exercise their human rights. IPPF stands in solidarity with all sex workers around the world and calls on all governments to take immediate steps to guarantee sex workers’ human rights.  For media inquiries please contact [email protected]  About the International Planned Parenthood Federation  The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. We are a movement of 150 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries.  Building on a proud history of 70 years of achievement, we commit to lead a locally owned, globally connected civil society movement that provides and enables services and champions sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, especially the under-served.  We advocate for a world where people are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and bodies. We stand up and fight for sexual and reproductive rights, and against those who seek to deny people their human right to bodily autonomy and freedom. We deliver care that is rooted in rights, respect, and dignity - no matter what. 

This is a serious time. The results of the European elections mark a worrying turning point, with the rise of the far right across Europe and, above all, their sweeping victory in France. The results in France overwhelm us, with almost 38% of votes cast for far-right parties. We know that these parties undermine the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ people, gender equality and the rights of migrants and people far from the law. Their anti-choice, anti-feminist, racist and hateful political project endangers Le Planning Familial's actions towards all the people we support. These results come against a backdrop of increasing attacks on Le Planning Familial organization over the past few years, whether in the press, on social networks, through calls to cut our subsidies, or worse, directly against our local branches. When we attack Le Planning Familial organization, we jeopardize the reception of people who need to come to our clinics: those who come for an abortion, to access free contraception, those who are accompanied in their gender transition, women who are victims of domestic violence who come for support and a sympathetic ear, the young, the not-so-young, women in precarious situations... We are not fooled by these attacks, which are the work of a normalized extreme right and conservative anti-choice movements that are highly organized and ultra-funded! Our progressive actions are disturbing the extreme right, which is opposed to the evolution of society towards equal rights and access to healthcare for as many people as possible in France and Europe.  The European Parliament, the most progressive of the European Union's three institutions, has been a long-standing ally on gender equality issues. Planning familial was actively involved in the European elections, drawing up a manifesto with our recommendations for a feminist, supportive and inclusive Europe, meeting with various MEPs and analyzing the platforms of the main candidates. The new composition of the Parliament, with a more conservative majority, calls this dynamic into question. Nevertheless, we will continue to work with our new allied MEPs to advance sexual and reproductive rights in Europe. Despite these alarming findings, Le Planning Familial will not be silent, will proudly stand by its values and will continue its actions. We have 18 days left before the parliamentary elections to mobilize. It's important for many of us to take to the streets all over France this weekend, to show our support for our model of society and the values we defend. The challenges ahead are great, but Le Planning Familial will always be there to defend and advance human rights for all European citizens. Together, as feminists, in solidarity and in anger, we will resist! Thank you for your unfailing support.   Feminist solidarity,   Sarah Durocher President of Le Planning Familial   To support Le Planning familial click here

Over the past 30 years, more than 60 countries and territories have liberalized their abortion laws. Only four have regressed, including the United States. Abortion rights are increasingly becoming recognized as fundamental human rights for millions of people worldwide. The global landscape of abortion rights continues to evolve in 2024, with new legislation and feminist movements fighting for better access. Let's take a trip around the world to see the latest developments.

The enshrinement of the right to abortion in the French Constitution has been a historic demand of feminist organizations since I can remember. But for the past decade, this demand has had little resonance with the French population. Many felt that the Constitution would not have to be invoked to defend this right. I would even go so far as to say that many thought that this right was not at risk. But then, two years ago, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade and everything changed. Millions of people suddenly realized that, unfortunately, the right to abortion can be won and then lost. It's an ongoing battle. On 28 February, France’s Parliament will make its final decision on whether or not to pass the constitutional abortion bill. To succeed, we need the support of the international community.   The COVID crisis and the need to expand access to abortion To understand the impact of the US Supreme Court's decision on France, it is necessary to look at the context of abortion rights advocacy in our country. During the COVID crisis, the Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial - commonly known as 'Le Planning Familial' - joined forces with feminist associations, health professionals and Members of Parliament to ensure access to abortion care during lockdown. Our mobilization triggered an increase in media coverage of the issue: women of all ages began to share their own abortion stories. Thanks to their courage, we managed to bring to light the existing obstacles to access abortion in France. We focused our advocacy on one main barrier: the legal time limit - 12 weeks of pregnancy - to access abortion. We knew that some women would not be able to get an abortion within this time because of the lockdown.  Pregnant women reached out to us by calling our national hotline and our local centers as they were unable to leave their homes because of domestic violence, as well as minors. We knew that, by the time the lockdown was over, they would have exceeded the abortion time limits and would be forced to continue through pregnancies against their will. Over the months, our advocacy campaign evolved into a demand for a legal change to permanently extend the time limit for accessing abortion care in France. It was a long political battle. We celebrated a great victory on 2 March 2022: abortion time limits were extended by two weeks. It was at this point that we saw a significant increase in support: French people who had previously been silent on the issue of abortion began to speak out.  Meanwhile, the anti-choice and anti-rights groups intensified its attacks against us. In the space of a few months, they broke down the doors, the windows and the locks of many of our local centers. Online and in-person threats were sent to our members across France.

Today, on International Women’s Day, France has made it clear to the world that they stand shoulder to shoulder with women and girls in support of their non-negotiable freedoms by committing to enshrining abortion as a fundamental human right within the French constitution. We applaud President Macron for this decision.  We want to thank our Member Association, Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial and the feminist movement for never giving up the fight for women and people who want to end their pregnancy on their own terms with dignity, care and respect.  This momentous decision comes at a time when safe abortion care is under attack at an unprecedented level in the global north. We hope this decision inspires other nations to do more to protect the privacy, dignity and human rights of women and girls from political extremists who seek to force women and girls into giving birth.  We need more courage and action from the national leaders to protect and support women and girls. If you are a politician who believes in human rights; act now without fear. If you are someone who can vote or organize; demand more of your government, take to the streets, let them hear your voice, take your pen to the ballot if they do not listen.  IPPF will continue to work with activists, feminist movements, politicians and communities to protect and advance abortion care without apology and without fear. Today and every day we stand with women and girls, everywhere.    

Alice Ackermann is twenty years old; she’s the youngest IPPF executive committee member. Her convictions on women’s rights and sexual health are visceral. “I am angry”, she says when asked what drives her, “but, it is a positive anger”.  An early introduction to gender injustice Alice was born in the eastern, middle-sized city of Strasbourg to a Jewish Orthodox family. “It was so obvious to me, from the onset, that my three brothers and I were not treated in the same way” she says, explaining how the religious rites of passage – circumcision and bar mitzvah – gave importance to the different stages of her brother’s development. For girls, there was nothing. Her elementary education, in a Jewish school, was delivered in the same spirit: “we were considered lesser pupils”. She rebelled from a very young age; before she turned 10 she was called a feminist as an insult. Alice says this experience shaped what still drives her today: a clear conception of the injustice that is done to women and their rights. She was later, at her demand, transferred to a secular school, where she was confronted for the first time with, “something more violent”.   “When we were teenagers, my friends were sharing their experiences about being kissed without consent, and so many girls talked about being raped, but were not calling it that because it was so hard to put a name on it”, Alice recalls.  After hearing about her friend’s experiences, she was determined to do something about it.  Starting her own feminist club When the local sexual and reproductive healthcare organization gave a sexuality education session at her school, she asked if she could join as a volunteer but was told she was too young. Not one to be discouraged easily, Alice began organising demonstrations and awareness raising campaigns in Strasbourg on topics such as street harassment or the different shapes and sizes of vulvas. When she started high school a year later, she created a feminist club and organized debates and open conferences on the history of the SRHR movement. That’s also when she started, along with other student members of the club, doing peer-to-peer sex education. It was immediately effective: “the students felt free to ask questions, debate among themselves and talk about what they witnessed.”   Peer-to-peer education works She says the reason peer-to-peer works so well has to do with empowerment. “When you are young and being discriminated against, you are very vulnerable,” she explains. “What happens with peer-to-peer is that people look at you and realise that they can take action and have knowledge too. Every time I do a session people come to me afterwards and say ‘you are so young, how can you be doing this? How can I do it too?’"  The sessions worked so well the local sexual and reproductive healthcare organization in Strasbourg got on board. They provided her with training and she became, at 16 years old, their youngest volunteer. Alice continues to work as a comprehensive sexuality educator and she holds a paid job as a counsellor at one of Le Planning Familial's call centers in Paris.    SRHR rights on a global scale At last year’s G7 conference, Alice worked with other feminist activists to influence the recommendations put forward by the governments attending. “It’s hard” she says, “What’s harder is that, on the global scale, things don’t always appear to be changing for the better.” She says during the G7 conference, the American and Italian governments were not interested: “It’s really simple, if you talk about SRHR (sexual and reproductive health and rights) during a meeting, they just walk out. Donald Trump did it in Canada last year.” As someone whose commitment to feminism is motivated by her own life experience, Alice is acutely aware of the importance of coordinating international advocacy to a grassroots approach. That’s why she is not considering quitting counselling or peer-to-peer education. “I wish I were less of an exception, we need to have more young people involved in every level of the organization.” As a newly-appointed executive committee member, she is on a mission to change that.   As a regional youth representative of IPPF and a member of several feminist organisations, Alice advocates for women’s reproductive rights and youth empowerment at the national and international level. She’s also studying history at Paris University.