Grey Germany and TERRE DES FEMMES Fight for Women's Freedom of Information Rights

In accordance with the Criminal Code (StGB), Paragraph 219a, strictly prohibits, as it puts it, “advertising for the termination of a pregnancy." Moreover, the paragraph goes on to limit any kind of corresponding information. This means in short that doctors are only allowed to make it publicly known that they perform abortions. However, they are forbidden to openly provide information about how they perform them. Otherwise, they are liable to prosecution. In worst cases, they can face a prison sentence of up to two years or a heavy fine. 

To help end this outdated and restrictive law, TERRE DES FEMMES launched the campaign "Abolish Paragraph 219a" Its goal: to raise more awareness about pregnancy termination and help Paragraph 219a to disappear from the penal code. 

"For us, a woman's freedom and the freedom to choose to have an abortion are inseparable. The new campaign, not only wants to abolish Paragraf 219a, but also ensure that all women have access to comprehensive and professional information regarding pregnancy termination, says Christa Stolle, Managing Director of TERRE DES FEMMES.  

At the center of the campaign is the website www.abolish219a.now since 20th, April, TERRES DES FEMMES has used the site to bundle and publish all relevant information regarding the topic of a pregnancy termination – information that physicians currently may not make known. The downloadable information is available in various formats so that anyone can pass it on to affected women and other interested parties and platforms like social media channels. To show how absurd and misogynistic this law is, the campaign used emotional radio spots and viral films showing laypeople with no medical background giving out information about abortions. These included restaurant-owner Billy Wagner (Nobelhart & Schmutzig), TV host Melissa Khalaj (currently on "The Voice Kids"), actor Max Koch (e.g. "Helen Dorn"), and auto mechatronics engineer Patrick Schirmer. The spots highlighted the ridiculous and tragic fact that all non-professionals are allowed to share information about abortion except doctors.

The campaign idea and creative implementation came from Grey Hamburg. The development of the campaign mechanics, as well as its distribution via PR and social influencers, was done in collaboration with the agencies achtung! and achtung!Alive.

The spots were produced by Tempomedia Filmproduktion and directed by Sergej Moya. Post was handled by Deli Pictures. The campaign kicked off at the end of January with the first radio spots. The spots used the same mechanic as the central creative idea in the films and have already won silver at this year's Radio Advertising Awards. The radio spots were produced by German Wahnsinn. 

Kerstin Correll (ECD Grey Hamburg) explains, how such a comprehensive and activating campaign came from an initial creative idea. “It’s absurd that access to professional information is restricted due to a completely outdated law that stems from the darkest times of our country. TERRE DES FEMMES wants to actively contribute to the abolishment of paragraph 219a and inform others. That’s why our campaign is not satisfied with a single appeal. Every single campaign component is driven by a clear call to action. Everyone should be able to join in so that the creative campaign becomes a real movement.  

It’s precisely this call to action that is being widely and effectively communicated with the help of partner achtung! through activating PR measures and the activation of influencers.”

A prominent supporter of the campaign is Genera Practitioner Kristina Hänel. The 64-year-old has been personally affected by the serious consequences of the paragraph: despite an appeal, she was convicted by the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court because she provided information on her website about abortion procedures. Shortly thereafter, she filed a constitutional appeal. Her case is now before the Supreme Court in Karlsruhe. Kristina Hänel is taking the fight to the highest court while appealing to the public: "I think it's important that everyone who has the opportunity informs and educates regarding abortions. Often, women, who find themselves in this situation are in an emotionally fragile situation. For them, access to reliable information would make all the difference.”