“France cannot be accomplice of retrograde policies”: the United States will destroy contraceptives stored in Europe

These contraceptives, intended for women living in the most disadvantaged countries, especially in sub -Saharan Africa, are stored in a warehouse in Geel, in Belgium, and must be incinerated “at the end of July” in France, specify the two sources mentioned. Moreover, A spokesperson for the United States Department of State confirms that “preliminary decision has been made to destroy certain abortive contraceptive products from USAID contracts”. Meanwhile, the American agency for international development, passed under the chairmanship of Joe Biden. Similarly, The destruction of these products will cost $ 167,000, he said.

Why Washington wants to destroy them? – "france cannot accomplice retrograde policies":

The announcement of this destruction is part of the policy led by Donald Trump since his first mandate in 2017. Nevertheless, Barely elected. Similarly, the American president had signed a decree restoring the “policy of Mexico”, initially entered into force under Reagan, which “france cannot accomplice retrograde policies”: prohibits the financing of foreign NGOs practicing abortion or actively militant in his favor. Added to this is the dismantling of the USAID. the downward revision of American international aid, amputated on July 18 by some $ 9 billion.

Questioned by The Guardian. the US State Department also highlighted the issue of product expiration dates – but according to press information, contraceptives actually expressed between April 2027 and September 2031.

What alternatives to destruction?

The International Organization MSI Reproductive Choices said that it had proposed “to buy. recondition and manage logistics” at its expense “ensuring that the products reach people in need” – but “these efforts have been rejected several times”. Same proposal made – without success – by the International Federation for Family Planning (IPPF). The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that it has “initiated diplomatic approaches to the United States Embassy in Brussels”. being in the process of “france cannot accomplice retrograde policies”: exploring all possible tracks to avoid the destruction of these products, including temporary relocation solutions “.

What are the reactions?

In the United States. the Democratic Senator of New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen denounced a “mess” and presented, with the Democratic Senator of Hawaii, Brian Shatz, a bill to prevent their destruction. In terms of feminist associations. the IPPF denounced an act of “intentional reproductive coercion” in a manifesto also signed by the French family schedule. “France has a moral responsibility for acting. a government which proudly registers the right to abortion in its constitution must also work to protect contraception and the rights of young girls beyond its borders,” said the president of the planning Sarah Durocher. France became in March 2024 the first country to explicitly include abortion in its constitution.

An opinion shared by environmentalists who. in an open letter addressed on Saturday to Emmanuel Macron, ask the head of “france cannot accomplice retrograde policies”: state to intervene urgently to prevent destruction. “Our country cannot be an accomplice, even indirectly, of retrograde policies,” they say. The Élysée did not wish to make any comments.