There has not been any change in the the laws about abortion. The same laws that existed under the fascist regime are still on the statute book. Abortion is illegal. Even if the woman's life is in danger it is not allowed. The penalty is two to eight years in jail. There are people even now in prison who were sentenced under the Caetano regime.
• What about contraception?
It is forbidden by law to advocate contraception publicly, and pharmacists are not allowed to display contraceptive aids.
If a woman uses contraceptive aids against her husband's will then this constitutes grounds for divorce.
You can only get contraceptive aids with the permission of the docMadelena Barbosa is a member of the Portuguese 'Movement for Free Contraception and Abortion on Demand' (MCALG). A featured speaker at the 25,000 strong National Abortion Campaign demonstration on 21 June, she gave the following intertor. Then you have to pay - which means that it is almost impossible for the poorer people. always asks, why do you want contraception?'. he decision rests solely with them. As most of them come from better-off families with strong Catholic traditions, they are often not very sympathetic.
• What is the attitude of the They have not even talked about it.
They have not given any financial aid to the Family Planning Association which is a private body that distributes contraceptives. have not given it any practical support, nor have they provided any facilities of their own.
What help does MCALG get of all the parties of the left to dis"liberalising the law' but they are not really interested and play no part in the campaign.
The doctor and groups. any work in the campaign.
• What does MCALG do?
It started only a short time ago when we had this meeting of the left parties and the women's liberation movement -the factories and the communities They and organise meetings amongst the women.
traception are not private matters but are social and political issues.
isation MLAC (Movement for Free With the exception of the Trotsky- women? ist LCI, none. There was a meeting cuss this issue. The Communist Party and the Socialist Party talk about all this. about it' Nor have they organised any activity in support of abortion and contraception on demThe Maoists say that they support these demands but they are bitterly tions. opposed to the existence of women's They therefore do not do they are pregnant.
Portuguese society.
MLM. We go to We explain that abortion and connight.
A number of houses have been occupied and turned into clinics and medical centres. The French organWhen we have spoken to meetings of women they have been shocked at first. They have said: "We know But it is not proper to talk Many of these women are more afraid of using contraception meth ods such as the pill than they are of We have spoken to women who have had as many as 35 aborWorking class women often resort to all sorts of methods when There is one hospital in Lisbon which admits 30 women every day from abortions that Women are very oppressed in We meet single women of 22 or 23 years old who want to come to meetings of ML and other women's groups. They are unable to do so because their fathers will not allow them to go out in the Many women who work have to shop in their lunch break and then go home and do the housework at This means they have very little time to attend meetings. MADALENA BARBOSA What aid can the internation•al workers movement give to your struggle?
We need literature, films, and photographic displays on issues like contraception and abortion. We are holding an International Week of Action - probably in the last week of July - on women's oppression People should send material for this. It would also be excellent if contingents could come from other countries to participate and help with this campaign.
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view to Red Weekly during her stay in London. • What are the laws on abor- tion in Portugal?
• from the political parties? CONTRACEPTION et JAVORTEMENT OUR EA GRATUIT CEN LIBRES et
INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION