“Finalists for Sakharov Prize Advocating Abortion Rights”
The European Parliament (EP) has announced its finalists for the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, and three of them are women who advocate for “the right to free, safe, and legal abortion.” These women include Colleen McNicholas, a medical professional associated with Planned Parenthood, along with Justyna Wydrzyńska, a member of Poland’s “Abortion Dream Team,” and Morena Herrera, a feminist and abortion activist from El Salvador.
Colleen McNicholas, as highlighted in a profile by Marie Claire, travels extensively across the American Midwest to provide abortion services. She is known for her dedication to her work, often performing up to 31 abortions in an eight-hour workday. McNicholas expressed her commitment to ensuring that women have access to care, explaining that it’s difficult for her to decline requests because doing so would mean denying care to those in need.
The European Parliament recognizes McNicholas as an American obstetrician-gynecologist with a strong record of delivering quality patient care and advocating for reproductive health. This recognition positions her as a compelling candidate for the annual Sakharov Prize, awarded to individuals and organizations dedicated to defending human rights and fundamental freedoms since 1988.
In addition to the three abortion advocates, the EP is also considering Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, and Freedom Movement in Iran, as well as Vilma Núñez de Escorcia and Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos from Nicaragua.
The finalists were selected by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the Foreign Affairs and Development committees during a joint vote on Thursday, October 12. The European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents will announce the Sakharov Prize laureate on Thursday, October 19, with the award ceremony scheduled to take place on December 13 in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg.
