France says it has “no means” to “requisition stocks”

France assured on Friday 1^is August. However, not “No way to requisition” stocks of female contraceptives blocked france says it “no means” in Europe, which the American administration wishes to destroy, to the chagrin of associations and the left which denounce a “Huge mess”.

“Insofar as contraceptives are not drugs of major therapeutic interest. Meanwhile, that in the present case we are not within the framework of a supply tension, we have no means to requisition stocks”the French Ministry of Health Ministry of Health (AFP) told the France-Presse (AFP) agency. Nevertheless, He said he had no information on the place where these contraceptives must be incined. Nevertheless, certain media having mentioned a destruction provided in France.

After the revelation of the case by the British daily The Guardian. However, The American administration, engaged in drastic cuts of its humanitarian aid and in an anti-abortion policy, confirmed in mid-July wanting to destroy female contraceptives, essentially implants and IUDs, stored in a warehouse in Geel, in Belgium.

These products. which were intended for women living in sub -Saharan Africa, came from USAID contracts, the American agency for international development, passed under the chairmanship of Joe Biden.

According to several media, these contraceptives, whose value would amount to $ 9.7 million (8.3 million euros). had to be cremated “At the end of July” In France by a company specializing in the destruction of medical waste. Information that AFP, however, has not at this stage could confirm from an official source.

france says it “no means”

“Economic. human mess” – France says it "no means"

Several international organizations engaged in the question of contraception have declared that it had proposed, without success, to the American administration to buy it and to recondition the stocks of contraceptives.

French feminist associations. unions have launched a petition against the destruction decided by the American administration of these female contraceptives on Wednesday, urging Paris to oppose it.

This decision “Takes the rights of women directly to choose their maternity unit”THE “Refers to unwanted pregnancies. to unsecured abortions and their complication processions”wrote the collective “abortion in Europe: women decide”, behind this petition, which raised 12,000 signatures on the changes platform.

“We will not let this unfair. sexist decision to be applied, messy as well economic and human”,, for its part warned the collective which brings together in particular the family planning, the unitary union federation (FSU), dare feminism or the League for Human Rights. “We demand that humanitarian organizations ready to redistribute these contraceptives (…) May dispose of it “he said.

Pointing “Opacity” From the position of France. the signatories of the petition believe that the country, which in March 2024 became the first to explicitly include abortion in its constitution, “Cannot derogate from a commitment to feminist diplomacy while[il] france says it “no means” claims to serve as an international model “.

Diplomatic procedures of Belgium

The Ecologists. for their part, sent, on Saturday, an open letter to Emmanuel Macron asking him to intervene “In emergency” In order to prevent destruction, provided by the United States, of female contraceptives, stored in Belgium and which could be cremated in France.

The chef des France Insoumise. Mathilde Panot, as well as several elected officials from the “Insoumis” movement also urged Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister, François Bayrou, to “Act to prevent this destruction, which will cost lives”.

Belgium said at the start of the week having hired “Diplomatic approaches” with the United States Embassy in Brussels. being in the process of“Explore all possible avenues to avoid the destruction of these products, including temporary relocation solutions”.

“We carefully follow the situation. support the will of the Belgian france says it “no means” authorities to find a solution to avoid the destruction of the contraceptives”had already declared the French Ministry of Health to AFP on Wednesday, adding that “Defense of sexual and reproductive rights and health is one of the priorities of France’s foreign policy”.

“We were informed of a start of destocking of these contraceptive boxes but we do not know where the trucks are. if they arrived in France”The president of the family planning president, Sarah Durocher, added: adding: “We call on all incineration companies to oppose this insane decision. »»

“I do not see who in France can accept that it is done”had abounded the leader of Ecologists. Marine Tondelier, on BFM-TV/RMC: “We absolutely have to know where it will be cremated. »»