Backlash in Europe

VILNIUS, 22 March 2021 - A proposal submitted by the Lithuanian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to include the hormonal IUD in the list of reimbursable medicines has been approved.

Lithuanian Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys signed the decree to add Levonorgestrel to the list of reimbursable medicines.

Lithuania's repeatedly low score in the European Contraception Policy Atlas has mainly been caused by its lack of contraceptive reimbursement schemes for young or vulnerable groups.

Once the new price list of Reimbursable Medicinal Products is updated and enters into force, Levonorgestrel intrauterine devices (IUD) will be available for girls aged 18 to 20 who consult a gynecologist for contraception and girls aged 15 to 17 who follow a new "Minister of Health procedure" yet to be established.

ONLINE, 12 March 2021 - On the occasion of the International Women‘s Day, the Lithuanian Parliamentary group on Developmental Cooperation, Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights, hosted an online event together with EPF, including a documentary screening and discussion on radical movements in Europe targeting women‘s rights.

APPG Chairwoman and EPF Executive Committee member, Hon. Dovilė Šakalienė, MP, moderated the event in Lithuanian with the ARTE documentary: "Abortion: Backlash in Europe" screened with Lithuanian subtitles.

Panellists included EPF Secretary Neil Datta; Hon. Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Member of the Polish Sejm; Šarūnas Černiauskas, Head of the Siena Center for Investigative Journalism and Indrė Vareikytė, gender equality expert, reviewer, former member of the European Economic and Social Committee.

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Watch the event here