'The French Pill, A Revolution for Women' premieres June 2nd on ARTE!

The French Pill, A Revolution for Women premieres June 2nd on ARTE!

May 27th, 2015

This documentary will premiere June 2nd at 10.20 pm on ARTE!

In 1982, Prof. Etienne Baulieu’s discovery of the abortion pill RU-486 (RU stands for Roussel-Uclaf) triggered intensely passionate debates, seven years after the law legalizing abortion. Long years of a fierce battle would ensue until it was actually made available to women.
Immediately targeted by the pro-life movements, RU-486 became the focus of a virulent ban campaign, never on scientific or medical grounds but on religious, or ideological ones. In France, as well as in Germany, Italy, Spain, or in the US, women’s rights activists are rallying to challenge vociferous and often highly structured oppositions.
Why would a medical abortion be so controversial? It is a less invasive and less brutal procedure which can be done earlier and cheaper than a surgical intervention.
It all comes down to the issue of the rights of women to have control over their own bodies and their reproduction.