On March 9 of this year, the European Parliament approved a resolution on progress on equality between women and men in the European Union in 2013. The resolution was passed with 441 votes in favor, 205 against, and 52 abstentions, and urges states to improve policies to achieve effective equality between men and women.

Among many other issues, by means of this resolution, the European Parliament:

"Maintains that women must have control over their sexual and reproductive health and rights, not least by having ready access to contraception and abortion; supports, accordingly, measures and actions to improve women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services and inform them more fully about their rights and the services available; calls on the member states and the Commission to implement measures and actions to make men aware of their responsibilities for sexual and reproductive matters."

The European deputies’ stance represents a significant advance toward effective access to legal and safe abortions, very much in line with the demands of the campaign launched by Rights International Spain and many other Liberties partners.