Over the past decade there has been progress across Europe, with many countries changing laws and policies to improve access to abortion. However, despite the progress, stigma and gender stereotyping narratives, combined with practical barriers, hamper access to abortion in Europe, with people from marginalized groups bearing the brunt of it.
Amidst these challenges, well-resourced and coordinated anti-gender groups are intensifying efforts to influence policies and laws to restrict access to abortion—primarily for political gain and as part of a broader agenda to undermine gender equality and women’s rights.
We are at a crucial time, when hard-won progress in abortion rights is at risk, and existing barriers to essential abortion care may increase across many European countries. “When rights aren’t real for all: the struggle for abortion access in Europe” provides a regional overview of the state of play on abortion rights. It is an additional tool for Amnesty and non-Amnesty campaigners and advocates to resist the growing backlash on reproductive rights and gender equality and campaign towards the right to abortion for all.
The briefing is available in English, French and Italian – see links below. Please feel free to share the briefing and the press release and repost social media posts with your contacts and networks.
Links:
Briefing (English) When rights aren’t real for all: the struggle for abortion access in Europe – Amnesty International; (French) and (Italian)
PR (English) Europe: Existing barriers to abortion access compounded by alarming attempts to roll back reproductive rights – Amnesty International; (Italian) and (German)
SOURCE: Amnesty International Newsletter, 6 November 2025;