Brussels, 28/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - The MEPs' protest movement is growing against the Spanish draft law that plans to abolish abortion rights (apart from in rape cases or when there is a significant physical or mental risk to the health of the woman). On the initiative of the Socialists at the European Parliament and a number of other organisations, a march took place in Brussels on Wednesday 28 January, to show solidarity with the Spanish women who will be subject to this restrictive law. This demonstration is prior to the one in Madrid on Saturday 1 February, which will protest against the initiative of the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, leader of the People's Party. This mobilisation of MEPs, however, won't just be stopping there. The Left has distributed a statement in which it claims that the Spanish government's action effectively means “a 30-year step backwards for women's rights”. The statement also supports the right of Spanish women to decide themselves on issues affecting their health. So far, 230 MEPs have given their support by signing the declaration with a similar number of national MPs, to whom the statement was also sent, signing (on Saturday 25 January, a similar initiative was taken by French Socialist politicians). Marc Tarabella MEP (S&D, Belgium), who is active in opposing the move, warned that individual freedoms, “are not to be played around with” and pointed out that every nine minutes a woman dies from back street abortions: “The right of women to choose what to do with their own bodies is not a luxury but an essential right!” The statement will be availablde for signature until next week. (MD/transl.fl)