October 14, 2016.
The government wants to fight websites spreading “false information” on abortion, by creating a digital obstruction offense. Explanations.
Broaden the offense of obstruction
A pregnant woman who searches Google for information for a possible voluntary pregnancy intervention (abortion) will not immediately come across the website of the Ministry of Health. The first link that will appear will be the IVG.net site. A platform for discussions, testimonies and questions about abortion and its consequences for women and for couples.
But according to the government, this site, like many others in the field, are run by anti-abortion activists, who would propagate “ fake news On the issue of abortion. To put an end to the development of these sites, Socialist deputies submitted to parliament on Thursday 13 October a bill to extend the offense of obstructing these sites.
Created in 1993, the offense of obstruction prohibits the fact of preventing or attempting to prevent an abortion, by disrupting access to establishments or by threatening the staff or the women concerned.
Prohibit the guilt of women
” In the 1990s, the anti-abortion groups carried out commando actions to make women feel guilty and prevent them from accessing abortion centers. », Explains Catherine Coutelle, PS president of the delegation for women’s rights in the Assembly. “ These are the same reactionaries who are hiding behind fake websites today “. According to her, the methods used by the authors of these sites are ” criminal “.
An amendment along the same lines was ruled inadmissible last week by senators who rejected it in committee, as part of the examination of the equality and citizenship bill. But the Socialist deputies are not losing hope. ” We have until the end of February to adopt “this bill” during this session. », Explained Catherine Coutelle. ” When we want, we can, and I have no doubt that we can “.
Read also: Getting informed about abortion
