sibilities through segregation into low paid precarious jobs and cuts in the state provision of services that make it possible to stay in the labour force and assume family responsibilities. In this context we have also seen, and can expect to see a continuation of, attacks on women's right to abortion and contraception.
The respon-
DOSSIER se of the women's movement, whose fight during the
1970s and
1980s for women's right to aborand tion contraception and to the right to work was fundamental to achieving many of the changes in women's position, has been uneven. Nevertheless, the proposal for a "women's strike" in Germany for International Women's Day (8
March) and the interest in Sweden in the idea of a women's party to defend women's interests, show that women can and will continue to organise and seek ways to resist these attacks. Such national initiatives are crucial in developing awareness of the severity of the attacks we are facing and mobilising women at the grassroots.
At the same time, we also have to develop an international response. It is clear in Western Europe, where governments in those countries that form the European Union and those that are applying to join use the excuse of European "harmonisation" or "interference" in social legislation to justify their policies, that only the development of contacts and solidarity will make it possible to fight
For more details or registration women is that being and more women are please contact: spearheaded by the the change in social single parents, and Co-ordination Nationale des Conservative Party in rightwing of the attitudes has also Associations pour le Droit à Britain which combines led women to reject lAvortement et à la attempts to criminalise the idea that Contraception, single mothers by holor natural role, a totally fulfilling staying at home is 4 square Saint-Irénée 75011 Paris, France c/o MFPF force them back into a rela- the "evils of society" and to ding them responsible for despite the tionship of financial depenpleasure that they find in Fax: 33-1 4700 7977 # 33-1 4807 2910 dence on the fathers of their children. caring for their children. The impact of childcare re- there are thus ideological sponsibilities on women's working lives attacks on women's right to is demonstrated by the correlation be- independence and freedom of choice tween women's working patterns and and an undermining of their material possuch attacks effectively. But the internationalisation of attacks and thus the solidarity required to combat them goes beyond the confines of "Fortress Europe" ", not only to Eastern Europe but worldwide. As a step in building an internationalist women's movement at a European level, the 3rd European Conference for the Right to Abortion and Contraception is particularly important. PENNY DUGGAN O 1. Women in Europe supplement, no. 36, 1990. 2. Hervé Le Bras, Cahiers du Féminisme, no. 67, 1994.
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International Viewpoint #254 March 1994
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