These female contraceptives, mainly IUDs and implants, were intended for women living in the most disadvantaged countries, especially in sub -Saharan Africa. Garo / Phanie via AFP
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The Agite NGO case, feminist associations, unions and civil society: the Trump administration confirmed in mid-July wanting to destroy female contraceptives, stored in a warehouse in Belgium and which could be incinerated in France shortly. Despite calls to prevent a decision tried “Insane”, The Ministry of Health said this Friday, August 1, that the country had “No way for [les] Requisition “.
• Stock contraceptives in Europe intended for disadvantaged countries
The information was revealed on July 18 by the British daily Le “Guardian”: the government of the United States decided to destroy female contraceptives, mainly IUDs and implants, intended for women living in the most disadvantaged countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
These products, which would have a value of $ 9.7 million (8.3 million euros), are stored in a warehouse in Geel, in Belgium, and must be cremated “End July” In France, specify the two sources mentioned.
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A spokesperson for the United States Department of State confirmed to AFP that “Preliminary decision was made to destroy certain abortive contraceptive products from USAID contracts”the American agency for international development, passed under the chairmanship of Joe Biden. The destruction of these products will cost $ 167,000, he said.
• A decree prohibits the financing of NGOs practicing abortion
Since Trump’s return to power, the United States has been engaged in drastic cuts of humanitarian aid and an anti-abortion policy. In January, the American president signed a decree restoring the “Mexico City” policy, named after a policy that came into force in 1984, which prohibited the funding of foreign NGOs practicing abortion or actively militant in his favor.
Added to this is the dismantling of USAID and the downward revision of American international aid, amputated on July 18 by some $ 9 billion.
With the “Guardian”, the US State Department also highlighted the issue of product expiration dates. However, the Reuters news agency, which quotes an internal document, says that they will actually expire between April 2027 and September 2031.
• Incineration in France?
A vagueness remains on the current location of these stocks, and on their current status. The president of the family schedule, Sarah Durocher, told AFP on Thursday to have been informed “36 hours ago from the start of destocking of these contraceptive boxes”. “But we don’t know where the trucks are and if they arrived in France”she added.
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The name of the company responsible for incineration was not revealed either. In France, the Veolia group, sometimes quoted, confirmed to AFP having a framework contract with Chemonics, the Logistics provider of the USAID, but specified that this contract concerned “Only the management of expired products which is not the case with the stock” in Belgium. Solicited by AFP, Suez indicated “Do not provide waste management services for all contraceptive products purchased by USAID”.
The French Ministry of Health also specified that they have no information on the place where these contraceptives must be cremated.
• Umplifted in France and elsewhere, a petition launched
The American decision sparked a shield. “France has the 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”estimated the president of family planning Sarah Durocher. “We call on all cremation companies to oppose this insane decision”, she added.
“France cannot become the scene of such operations, a moratorium is essential”abounded five NGOs, including MSI Reproductive Choices, in a platform published on Friday on the world site, denouncing the“Absurdity” of the American decision.
A petition launched by feminist associations and unions collected 13,000 signatures by denouncing a “Economic and human mess”.
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The Ecologists sent an open letter on Saturday to Emmanuel Macron, asking him to intervene in an emergency to prevent destruction. A similar request was to the European Commission by the French delegation of the Green Group in the European Parliament.
In the United States, the Democratic Senator of the New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen denounced a « gâchis » and presented a bill to prevent their destruction.
• Alternatives sought, “no means” for France to requisition stocks
Several international organizations engaged on the issue of contraception, including the IPPF or MSI Reproductive Choices have claimed to have proposed, without success, to the American administration to buy it and to recondition the stocks of contraceptives.
Belgium also said that it had taken diplomatic approaches to the American authorities and says it explores all the “Possible tracks to avoid the destruction of these products”.
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France has said it for the time being helpless: “On the French side, we have examined the means of action we had, but unfortunately, there is no legal basis allowing an intervention of a European health authority and a fortiori from the National Agency for Medicines Safety (ANSM) to recover these medical devices”said the Ministry of Health, requested by AFP.
“Insofar as contraceptives are not drugs of major therapeutic interest (MITM) and that in the present case we are not within the framework of a supply tension, we have no means to requisition stocks”we added from the same source.
