This year, no thousands of people in a protest march through Utrecht, and no flyers against abortion in the letterbox of the Dutch. The Christian action group ‘Scream for life’ has been active for years, but for the first time in its existence it is forced to adjust the action week in line with the corona rules.
Billboards along the road
The efforts to get their message across are no less. Large billboards with the text ‘Before the unborn life!’ Hang at ten busy traffic junctions. A full-page advertisement will be published in the national and regional newspapers.
–
–
Regret
Anyone who watches one of the NPO channels in the coming days will be presented with a campaign spot with the story of Deborah, who wanted to have an abortion, but decided against this when seeing the ultrasound. In a social media campaign, she says that the child in question is now 3 years old and bears the name Eden. She wonders why she ever even considered not giving her child a chance of life.
FIOM is a specialist in pregnancy issues. Director Ellen Giepmans has questions about the Scream for Life campaign. “What I find complicated is that they draw attention to the woman who is unintentionally pregnant. It seems well-intentioned, because who is against that?”
“But they immediately add the desired solution for them. They argue for more help, but abortion is not part of their solution at all, while in the Netherlands it is just a right for women.”
–
–
‘Conservative headwinds’
Proponents of abortion feel called upon to also appear on the scene in the abortion debate. They watch developments in Eastern Europe with suspicion. Following a recent ruling by the Supreme Court in Poland, women’s right to abortion has been drastically curtailed there.
Minister Kaag for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation spoke of a ‘bleak conservative headwind’ that is blowing, also close to home.
A worrying development, according to Eva de Goeij. She herself had an abortion when she accidentally got pregnant. Now she is committed to women who experience the same. “There are things in our society that make abortion still taboo. We have to speak up, stay alert. How is it made difficult for people who are unwanted pregnant?”
–
–
Supporters and opponents of abortion and their arguments
Eva de Goeij, expert by experience and pro-freedom of choice
“I am confident that women can make that assessment themselves. I have felt it myself. Am I ready to raise a child? Do I want a child? I wish every child that it is desired. Relief is the most common emotion after abortion. “
Cry for Life
The Christian foundation Cry for Life is against abortion. “We say: if you are expecting a child, then from that moment on you also have a duty to take care of it. That child also has the right to life. It remains telling that abortions often take place for socio-economic reasons: the housing does not fit, a relationship has ended “, says Diederik van Dijk on behalf of the foundation.
–
–
Intimidation and pressure
In recent years, the discussion around abortion has hardened, experts say. Women attending abortion clinics are sometimes intimidated by opponents, confronted with plastic fetuses, or otherwise urged to choose not to have an abortion.
This means that the pro-abortion movement is also becoming more agitated. “People make their voices heard more,” thinks sociologist Quita Muis of Tilburg University. “It is more of this time to protest again, we have social media: there are new ways of expressing opinions. It is often action, reaction.”
Researchers note that supporters and opponents are not easily convinced. “This is a purely moral issue. People have an inner sense about this. Even if the facts about abortion are not disputed, but their interpretation is, the discussion remains difficult.”
–
–
Crowdfunding
The anti-abortion movement has many resources at its disposal to make the noise heard in society. “We raised 150,000 euros through crowdfunding,” says Diederik van Dijk, chairman of the platform behind Scream for Life and also senator for the SGP.
He laughs off noises about foreign financing. “People often think that. But no, we do not have partner organizations in the US and in Russia. This is provided by everyone who wants to donate 5 or 10 euros.”
Spotlights on TV, in newspapers and roadside billboards: normally a costly affair. But then there was the corona crisis: the purchase of advertising space has become cheaper as a result.
–
–
