Posted ,
Reading 4 mins.
The question of women’s access to their health is increasingly present in the national debate. But it divides the candidates for the presidential election. An additional budget against violence, menstrual leave, recognition of endometriosis… Here are the candidates’ proposals.
With the rise of the #MeToo movement in recent years, women’s voices have been released. Victims of sexist and sexual violence finally feel entitled to express what they have experienced. The feminist question is central in society today. Different debates intrinsic to feminism are thus highlighted. Among them: women’s right to health.
Of all the candidates questioned, the 10 candidates who responded put forward several measures. While everyone agrees on the priority to be given to this theme, the proposals reveal a right/left divide.
Left: one billion euros against gender-based and sexual violence
Jean-Luc Melenchon promotes a “feminist politics”. The candidate proposes more than twenty actions to improve women’s rights and fight against the violence they suffer. “We urgently need to deploy a clear plan: developing prevention, training, helping associations and getting justice back on the road are strong and necessary measures”. It requires the creation of a “High Commission dedicated to the fight against gender-based and sexual violence”who “will drive the measures to be taken, will have regular and privileged links with feminist associations”. To respond to requests from associations, the LFI candidate proposes “to allocate a billion euros of budget” for gender-based and sexual violence. He also wishes “Constitutionalize and make free access to the right to abortion” and “allow real free and free access to contraception”. The candidate undertakes, among other things, to fight against obstetrical and gynecological violence. He also suggests “recognize endometriosis as a long-term condition and ensure 100% reimbursement of care by social security” and to introduce “menstrual leave” for women with painful periods.
Yannick Jadot also intends to dedicate one billion euros to fight against violence committed by men. He wishes “extend the possibility of filing a complaint within all hospitals and medical spaces”. The environmentalist candidate proposes in particular “education courses on sexuality, consent, tolerance and respect from primary school”. Like Jean-Luc Mélenchon, he is in favor of a “optional menstrual leave of twelve days a year”. The candidate also has “to support schools, universities and organizations that are committed to fighting menstrual poverty by providing women and students with free period protection”. He also undertakes to fight against obstetrical and gynecological violence, “through prevention and training of health professionals on good treatment in care, through awareness campaigns aimed at the general public and caregivers”.
Anne Hidalgo also happened andcommitted to devoting one billion euros to the fight against gender-based and sexual violence. “This billion will be used to implement a public policy on the model of Spain, which obtained, with the help of associations and thanks to a reform of the judicial process, a 25% drop in feminicides since 2004. victims file complaints there four times more than in France”, entrusted the PS candidate to Doctissimo. She wishes “develop specialized reception centers throughout the territory and accessible at any time of the day or night, where a team of multidisciplinary specialized personnel will guide and advise the victims in a more welcoming environment than a police station”. She finally promises to recognize the “the notion of traumatic amnesia and the psychotraumatic consequences of sexist and sexual violence”.
Philippe Poutou also claims a billion euros “to fight against gender-based violence, support for victims, the implementation of prevention and training actions, at school, in the city, at work, in the police and to establish a common culture not sexist”. The NPA candidate is in favor of free protection, contraception, or even the development of abortion centers, allowing effective access throughout the territory.
The proposals of the right-wing candidates
Valerie Pécresse wish “change the way we look at women’s health and make it the second cross-cutting priority of her mandate”. Candidate LR intends to set up “mother/child consultations” for “to allow mothers, who too often forget their health, to seek treatment or consult at the same time as their child”. She also wishesgain full recognition of endometriosis as a long-term condition”in order to provide the women concerned “all the necessary protection and not adding to the suffering the anxiety of a financial burden”. The candidate also proposes “generalize free protection in schools and universities, by reducing the VAT rate on feminine hygiene products to 2.1%”. Finally, she demands “an overhaul of maternity decrees” and “valuing midwives”.
Marine Le Pen propose “two important measures for women’s health”. The first concerns “screening for abuse and incest, screening for endometriosis and sex education” As for the second, it allows “a financial and intellectual revaluation of the midwifery profession”.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan announces a series of 14 measures for women’s rights. Regarding health, he suggests “promote information campaigns on contraception carried out by Family Planning, including among young people in high school”. It also offers “to influence public health policy so that the offer of specific care for women (gynecology, maternity, access to abortion, frequency of screening and control tests, etc.) is properly ensured”.
The other candidates: vague information
Emmanuel Macron propose “to make gender equality the great renewed cause of the five-year term and to tackle health inequalities that particularly affect women”.