Derogatory language, the obligation to listen to the “heartbeat of the fetus”, denied painkillers. In Italy, approximately 63,000 women choose to abort every year, but for many of them it is not an easy path. For the first time, we want you to listen to what really happens in the health facilities of our country. For this reason, in the center of Rome we placed a special installation inside which it was possible to live an immersive sound experience that allowed people to listen to the stories of Anna, Gaia, Valeria and Serena. So that their voices will not be silenced forever.
This is a mixed media report: The whole report is contained on the internet in Italian. Some of it can be translated into English by right-clicking on the first page and choosing Translate into English near the bottom of the list of options. The four women’s stories are summarised in English on the website page, and can be listened to on video in Italian. They are a few minutes each.
Anna’s story
Anna is a 26-year-old girl who decided to have an abortion two years ago. During her journey, no one supported her; indeed, several doctors tried to make her change her mind. She managed to have an abortion, after an infinite wait, only by accepting an inconceivable blackmail.
Gaia’s story
Gaia is thirty years old and when she decided to have an abortion she met only hostility from the health personnel. She was bounced from one hospital to another with the sole purpose of making her waste time. Finally, an invasive and psychologically traumatic IVG procedure was imposed on her.
Valeria’s story
Valeria is a 25-year-old student and three years ago she discovered she was pregnant, but she knew she couldn’t support a child. After an endless wait, insults and violence she finally managed to have an abortion. The comparison with other women, in her same situation, has particularly affected her.
Serena’s story
Serena is 38 years old and, as soon as she found out she was pregnant, she began the procedures for the termination of pregnancy. No doctor was empathetic with her, not even in the face of her severe physical pain. She did not have a reference figure to guide her in this difficult path, due to conscientious objector doctors and useless bureaucracy.
The report
This report, in Italian only, investigates the anti-abortion policies promoted at regional and national levels, denouncing a systematic attack on access to abortion. Between legislative proposals for forced listening to the “fetal heartbeat” or for the recognition of the legal capacity of the fetus, the allocation of public funds to anti-abortion groups, increasingly present even in public health facilities, or the normalization of practices such as fetal cemeteries, the fight against abortion in Italy has become increasingly violent. And in addition to denying a right that should be guaranteed, it can have consequences, even serious ones, on women’s mental health.
Read a summary in English at: https://www.medicidelmondo.it/the-unheard-voice
The pictures in the report are worth looking at too.
SOURCE: The Unheard Voice, by Medici del Mondo, Italy.