Ailbhe SMYTH is an Irish feminist activist. She was the Director of the Women’s Education, Research and Resource Centre (WERRC) of the University College of Dublin. Currently, she is the spokesperson for the “Repeal the Eight” movement that campaigns for the legalization of abortion. As a reminder, the Irish citizens will soon have to take part in a referendum on that matter on 25th May. As a reminder, the referendum of May 25th opened the door a legalization of abortion that should become reality this summer.
Dr Mirella PARACHINI is an obstetrician/gynecologist. She has been working since 1992 at the San Filippo Neri Hospital, in Rome. In 2000, she became a member of the FIAPAC, the International Federation of Professional Abortion and Contraception Associates, where she is now vice-president.
Krystyna KACPURA is a member of the European society for contraception and reproductive rights. She is also Director of the Polish Federation for women and Planned Parenthood.
Ann FUREDI has been director of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, since 2003. Before that, she led the communication and political department of the British authority regarding embryology and fertility, as well as the press office of the British Planned Parenthood. With more than 20 years of experience in community associations, she is considered as one of the spokesperson for the pro-choice movement in the UK.
Sonia BEN CHEIKH is a doctor and she is currently Secretary of State to the Tunisian Minister of Health. Executive director the Office National de la Famille et de la Population (ONFP) which answers to the ministry of health. She was assistant professor in community and preventive medicine at the medicine faculty of Tunis, as well as Inspector General of Health. One of her most important missions in Tunisia is to “strengthen the benefits gained in birth control and demographic growth, which relies on education of the different forms of contraception.” Even if Tunisia is the only Arab country that has legalized Abortion without conditions until 3 months of pregnancy, on the ground, contraception is often subjected to moralizing rhetoric from the family or the medical staff.
Justine MEKUI is a midwife from Gabon working at the teaching hospital of Libreville. She is also a national teacher in manual vacuum aspiration to reduce maternal mortality caused by clandestine abortions. She is Assistant Secretary General of the Midwives association of Gabon, and also medical coordinator of the Central Africa network for women’s reproductive health.
Cecilia DA COSTA, PhD in Psychology, is the co-founder of the « Women Help Women » platform. Organizer of relationship and sexual education activities, she works in several Planned Parenthood centers in Brussels. « Women Help Women » is an international group including activists, non-profit organizations and foundations whose goal is to allow access to information, services and products regarding reproductive health, in order to promote self-determination for women in their sexuality and pregnancy.
Irène DONADIO, graduated in political sciences and social business management, she is in charge of public health at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the biggest NGO regarding the protection of sexual and reproductive rights.
Neil DATTA, Executive director of the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development. He used to be coordinator of the parliamentary program at the IPPF, the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Marie ARENA, currently member of the European Parliament in the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
Barbara NOWACKA, Polish politician, candidate in the 2014 European elections on the list « Europa Plus », is a computer engineer and a MBA graduate. Involved since she was a student in the Polish Federation for women and Planned Parenthood, she is among the 100 most influential thinkers worldwide, this year, thanks to her role in the organization of protests against the prohibition of abortion in Poland.
Marleen TEMMERMAN is Professor at Aga Khan University in Nairobi (Kenya) Ghent University (Belgium) and Guttmacher-Lancet Commissioner at the SRHR Commission, and former Director of Reproductive Health and Research at the WHO.
Historian, graduated from the Université Libre of Brussels and psychoanalyst, Sylvie LAUSBERG is also director of the department Study & Strategy at the Centre d’Action Laïque.
Elected in February 2018 as President of the Conseil des Femmes francophones de Belgique, she has published numerous books and studies on the history of abortion and the right to abortion, and produced a documentary entitled “Le corps du délit”.
Nadine LOUIS is a Haitian feminist, Executive Director of the TOYA Foundation and former Director of Programs at PROFAMIL (Association for the Promotion of the Haitian Family) which offers services in sexual and reproductive health focused on family planning and community mobilization. As part of its responsibilities, she initiated a project to prevent clandestine abortions in witch she had the opportunity to facilitate the development of a political mapping of actors positioning on the decriminalization of abortion in Haiti. This document was used for the drafting of an advocacy project on abortion.
A legalist by training, Julie Papazoglou has worked in various fields such as international humanitarian law, youth assistance, adoption, the right of foreigners. She currently works in the CAL’s “Studies and Strategy” department, among other things, on ethical issues such as abortion and confinement issues.
Carolina RIVAS is a doctor and an abortion practitioner. She collaborated as a volunteer in refugee camps in Greece. She also participated as a speaker at the FIAPAC congress in Lisbon in 2016 with the following presentation: “Recent developments in Spain after the reform of the law on abortion: the particular situations of minors”.
Representing ACAI (Spanish Association of Clinics Authorized for Interruption of Pregnancy).
Dr. Chraïbi Chafik: Professor of gynecology
obstetric – Head of Department, Maternity of the Orange , C.H.U. of Rabat; Founding President of the Moroccan association for the fight against illegal abortion (AMLAC); Founding President of the Moroccan Society of Breast Diseases (SMMS); 1st vice-president of the Royal Moroccan Society of Gynecology Obstetrics; Medal VERMEIL of the French Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters (Paris April 2007).
Violaine LUCAS is Regional Advisor Pays de la Loire and participates in the book “Clause of the most favored European”. She also holds the position of coordinator within the “Choisir” and “yeswomen.eu” associations.
