Manitobans Advocate for Abortion Rights in the U.S. and Action in Canada


Music, songs and cries of protest could be heard for nearly an hour in front of the Manitoba Parliament Building.

Protest organizer Kat Greer wants to show her support for American women, who she says are at risk of losing a basic human right.

It is our duty to develop empathy towards other human beings and to defend their rights when they are violatedshe says in an interview with Radio-Canada.

One of the participants, Karen Smith, agrees. It is important for us to show our solidarity with our sisters all over the world.

Karen Smith with a mask on May 8, 2022.

Karen Smith is a mother and assures that it was her choice. And, according to her, it should be everyone’s choice.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Walther Bernal

Canada must also do better

Kat Greer took the opportunity to provide an update on access to abortion in Canada, which remains an issue in many northern communities and remote regions.

Three women with placards.

At the pro-choice protest in Manitoba, signs read: ‘women’s lives are more important than a potential baby’ and ‘take care of your own womb’

Photo: Radio-Canada / Walther Bernal

In Canada, according to her, the various governments should have a better investment plan to allow better access to abortion for all women, and also invest in mental health related to abortion.

On the Manitoba side, she believes that it is unacceptable that reproductive health is no longer the domain of the Ministry of Health, but of the Ministry of the Status of Women.

They don’t see it as a health care issueshe laments.

Kat Greer standing May 8, 2022.

Kat Greer is the protest organizer. She is also co-administrator of Handmaids’ Local 204 & 431 Manitoba, an activist group advocating for abortion rights in Manitoba.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Walther Bernal

Learn from history

The speaker at the event, Leslie Braun has more than 40 years of service in the health system as a nurse, including several years in women’s health.

She reminded participants that the history of support for reproductive health in Manitoba is recent and that there is a need to protect the gains.

Leslie Braun on May 8, 2022 in Winnipeg.

Leslie Braun has over 40 years of experience in the health field, including several years in women’s health.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Walther Bernal

For example, it was in 2004 that an independent clinic in Manitoba for access to reproductive health for women finally obtained funding, after nearly 23 years of service.

Once a fight seems to have been won, we forget how long it took and how hard people had to work to make it happen. I don’t want people to forget […] and I don’t think we’re completely out of the water, we’re not safe, we could lose these women’s rights and that could be tragic.

political actions

NDP MP for St. John and House Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Nahanni Fontaine is a long-time activist for the reproductive rights of women and gender-diverse people.

She came to the protest to support Kat Greer’s initiative and call for more political involvement.

Whenever there is an opportunity to come together and come together, to reaffirm the right to access to abortion, it is important, and everyone must be present.

She is concerned about advancing the reproductive rights of women and gender-diverse people in Canada.

Nahanni Fontaine at the abortion rights protest on May 8, 2022 in Winnipeg.

Nahanni Fontaine is the NDP MP for St. John and House Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP).

Photo: Radio-Canada / Walther Bernal

It is important to know who we vote for and who we place in parliamentsshe says.

She insists that there is still a lot of work to be done regarding the recognition of abortion as a human right and a right to health.



Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca

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