DOC TALK Seminar “ABORTION RIGHTS OR WRONGS: Women’s Voices Are the Answer”

On Saturday, October 28, 2017, the Documentary Club, in collaboration with the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, the Network for Women’s Choice in Unplanned Pregnancy, the Sexuality Studies Association, the Women’s Health and Gender Justice Program, the Foundation for Women’s Health Understanding, the Sexual Health Promotion Program, the Path2Health Foundation, the Tam Tang Group, Women Help Women, and Women on Web organized a documentary screening of “Jackson” at the Auditorium, 5th floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, starting from 3:00 PM.

After the film screening, there was a Doc Talk seminar on the topic “Abortion Rights or Wrongs: Women’s Voices are the Answer,” which was a discussion on the film, linking to the issue of abortion rights, questioning whether it should be a woman’s choice. Three speakers shared their views with the audience, moderated by Tasanai Khantayaporn, advisor to the Path2Health Foundation. Here is a summary of the interesting discussion content.

Dr. Nithiwat Saengruang – Volunteer Doctor RSA: Abortion in our country and in America is quite different. The first is the law; our country still has many restrictions for women to access safe abortion services, unlike in America, where it is more open. However, from the film we watched, the events in Jackson, Mississippi, where the law allows it, may not be the answer to everything. The law is good, but there are two opposing groups: those who support and those who oppose abortion, unlike in our country where each group stays separate, doing their own duties without confrontation.

But the problem in our country is that people can use various rights, such as social security rights and gold card rights, to access all diseases comprehensively. However, for unplanned pregnancy, there are still problems in accessing treatment. At the very least, doctors or hospitals cannot advertise that they provide abortion services, and each service provider has different abortion regulations and uses different technologies, making abortion difficult to access and use.

Wipapan Wongsawang – Admin of Thai Consent Page
There are many interesting issues in the film, which relate to society and culture.

• Knowledge, which shows that there is still bias, like the scene where someone says condoms are 98% effective, but there are still people who refuse to believe that is knowledge. Or providing information related to treatment, such as never having information about the dangers or pain of cancer treatment, but providing information that seems to scare people away from abortion. The methods and steps in describing abortion are still told with bias.
• The inequality of rights for women with unplanned pregnancies, which has many restrictions. Women who want an abortion must prove they deserve the right, while women who want to give birth do not have to prove readiness. The door to accessing services is unequal from the start. Women seeking abortion must go through many hurdles to receive services, and these hurdles are not timed. If you cannot pass them in time, you will not receive the right to an abortion.
• Beliefs, giving value to the use of names, which can be seen in many scenes, such as when a pregnant character talks about her first abortion from taking pills, calling it a blood clot, while anti-abortion officials call it a child. The use of names has political implications, giving value to persuade people.
• Help that is occasional, where a woman with an unplanned pregnancy must use pro-life services because they offer benefits, not because she wants to. Unplanned pregnancy is truly difficult because it is a lifelong burden, which pro-life groups seem to deny. This is reflected in the final movement scene in the film where pro-life groups claim victory, raising the question of whose victory it is, as they do not help raise the child. This is an important question the film leaves behind.
• Sex Education that does not help people understand proper safe sex, reflecting the Thai context where it is often taught that “condoms are nirvana,” but there is no knowledge about relationships after sex. Knowledge does not grow with the reality of life.

Cheewin Wongsathongchai – Counselor, Hotline 1663: If the question is asked, “Is it a woman’s right if she is unplanned pregnant and chooses to terminate the pregnancy?” In reality, it must be said that many women still do not understand the word “right.” But what certainly happens is that when pregnancy occurs, they know who will face the hardship. In an era where society and the economy are like this, planned and prepared pregnancy is good, but unplanned pregnancy for various reasons becomes a problem women must face alone. Since working, no woman has ever called to consult with a smile and peace of mind. Most face discomfort, sadness, and fear alone.

From the perspective of Hotline 1663, this is a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body. Once she chooses, she should be confident in that choice, knowing she can proceed securely. From our experience working with 1663, many stories have impressed us. Many times, those who consult tell us, “I don’t know who you are, I can’t tell anyone about this, but you helped me so much, I don’t know how to thank you.” This inspires us to continue working on unplanned pregnancy issues.

Exchanges from seminar participants on film issues and abortion decision rights

• Listening to the forum, there are many parts that seem hopeful, such as abortion pills being included in the drug list or children accessing help from 1663.
• Attitudes towards abortion issues among medical personnel may significantly hinder acceptance, as most still focus on morality and responsibility. However, if medical personnel can change their perspective to see women as victims of the system or believe in rights, it will improve abortion issues in public health services.
• There should be groups of friends with experience to help others with unplanned pregnancies, who do not need medical knowledge but can empower and share experiences.
• Some cannot access safe sex methods, such as children not accessing condoms due to high prices.
• Accessing groups that provide safe abortion help is difficult, while finding information on illegal abortions online is easier.

The seminar concluded, but the work of groups driving safe abortion continues, alongside efforts to create new mindsets, making society aware that abortion is a right all unplanned pregnant women should have. Living with unpreparedness is a heavy burden awaiting them, and it is difficult to find someone to help share the responsibility. Efforts to change attitudes to not judge or stigmatize, which would create a stigma for unplanned pregnant women, remain a heavy task for the network to help with, as everyone should have the right to decide about their own body.