My Voice, My Choice: Advancing Safe and Accessible Abortion across Europe

No More Violence Against Women; the podcast of the WAVE Network.

In this podcast, WAVE voices are amplified to give insight on topics such as sexualised violence, online violence, femicides, violence against women with disabilities, youth activism, important legislation such as the Istanbul Convention, and more to highlight the different forms and dimensions of violence against women and girls.

In this episode, WAVE is joined by Nika Povž. She is the Director of Communications for the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “My Voice My Choice,” a groundbreaking campaign advocating for safe and accessible abortion across the EU. The initiative calls on the European Commission to prioritise the creation of an opt-in financial instrument that enables women to safely travel within the EU for abortion access and supports participating member states in funding these essential services.

Nika, alongside WAVE Office interns Carlotta and Morgane explore the campaign’s demands, the legal complexities of the ECI process, and the political implications for legalizing and ensuring access to abortion at the EU level. This discussion also highlights the vital connection between access to safe abortion and combating violence against women, as well as the role of youth activism and volunteer efforts in driving this movement forward.

Tune in to hear about this campaign, supported by many WAVE members, and discover the transformative potential of collective action in securing reproductive rights for women across Europe.

About:

My Voice, My Choice: “My Voice, My Choice” (MVMC) is a movement of friends, activists, and organisations who joined forces to make Europe a better place for all. MVMC aims for a Europe that protects equality, and demands justice and respect for fundamental rights, among them reproductive rights. MVMC welcomes people from all walks of life, of all genders and different age groups. Through their ECI, they are asking the European Commission to submit a proposal for financial support to Member States that would be able to perform safe termination of pregnancies, in accordance with their domestic law, for anyone in Europe who still lacks access to safe and legal abortion.

Nika Povž: Nika is the Director of Communications for the “My Voice, My Choice” campaign, where she leads a team dedicated to amplifying the campaign’s impact. After more than a decade as a copywriter in advertising, where she mixed creativity with strategy to tell stories that stick, she is now using those same skills to support causes she is passionate about. From catchy ads to meaningful advocacy, Nika believes in the power of a good story to make a difference.

Carlotta Geremia: Carlotta is the Winter 2024 intern of the WAVE Office. She recently graduated in European Studies with a focus on gender, and she is strongly interested in the world of EU policy making, especially on women’s rights and gender equality.

Morgane Thomas: Morgane is the Winter 2024 Intern of the WAVE Office. She specialises in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action, with a focus on gender, and is also a member of the Women’s Rights Commission of Amnesty International France.

Links:

Created and developed by Nika Povž, Carlotta Geremia and Morgane Thomas

Produced and edited by Carlotta Geremia, Morgane Thomas and Beverly Mtui, WAVE Communications Coordinator

WAVE Network: Website, Twitter/X and Instagram

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or opinion/position of Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE).