Marine Tondelier, leader of the French Greens, wrote an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron, urging that France must not be “complicit, even indirectly, in retrograde policies, nor tolerate the destruction of vital medical resources that could save lives, prevent unwanted pregnancies, and enhance women’s autonomy.”
The contraceptives are mainly long-acting, like IUDs and birth control implants, according to the Guardian. | Francis Malasig/EPA
In a written response to POLITICO, a French diplomatic official stated that Paris would “continue to monitor the situation” and support Belgium’s efforts to “find a solution to prevent the destruction of contraceptives, ensuring they reach the men and women worldwide who need and await them.”
Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot informed the AFP that his government had “initiated diplomatic talks with the U.S. Embassy in Brussels” and is currently “exploring all possible avenues to avert the destruction of these products, including temporary relocation solutions.”
A European Commission spokesperson noted they had “taken note of [Camara’s] letter and acknowledge the concerns raised.”
The spokesperson also highlighted that NGOs and international organizations, including United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and MSI Reproductive Choices, had offered the U.S. to collect the contraceptives, “though without result so far.”
Pressure has intensified over the last two weeks, with civil societies and international organizations condemning the decision as “unconscionable.”
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