Let Them Live

Laissez-les-vivre – SOS futures mères (often shortened to Laissez-les-vivre, and known in English as Let Them Live) is a French association belonging to the pro-life movement, campaigning against abortion in France. It was founded in 1971 by Geneviève Poullot and Paul Chauchard, who served as its first president, making it the first association in France specifically dedicated to opposing abortion. The geneticist Jérôme Lejeune acted as its scientific adviser until 1985. The association was particularly active in the 1970s and 1980s, opposing a series of laws and bills that liberalised abortion: the 1973 Messmer-Taittinger-Poniatowski bill, the 1975 Veil law, the 1979 Pelletier law and the 1982 Roudy law. It organised major demonstrations, including a march from Montparnasse to the National Assembly on 17 November 1979 (estimated at 40,000–50,000 participants) and a march from the Bastille to the Concorde on 15 May 1982 (estimated at 30,000–40,000 participants). In 1982, in response to the Roudy law introducing state reimbursement for abortion, it created the Association pour l'objection de conscience à toute participation à l'avortement (AOCPA), chaired by Michel Raoult. The organisation publishes a quarterly bulletin and various books, and runs the SOS Futures Mères helpline (0 800 868 838) offering support to pregnant women. Its website provides documentation on demography, abortion and related topics, and invites supporters to donate, distribute its phone number and join local branches. It is based in Paris and remains active, issuing press releases on current family and demographic policy, such as its January 2024 statement criticising the government's proposed birth leave.

Laissez-les-vivre – SOS futures mères was founded in 1971 by Geneviève Poullot and Paul Chauchard, who became its president. It was the first association in France specifically dedicated to opposing abortion. The geneticist Jérôme Lejeune served as its scientific adviser until 1985. The association was highly active in the 1970s and 1980s, opposing a series of laws and bills that liberalised abortion: the 1973 Messmer-Taittinger-Poniatowski bill, the 1975 Veil law, the 1979 Pelletier law and the 1982 Roudy law. It was the main organiser of major demonstrations, including a march from Montparnasse to the National Assembly on 17 November 1979, together with the Confédération nationale des associations familiales catholiques, which reportedly gathered between 40,000 and 50,000 people, and a march from the Bastille to the Concorde on 15 May 1982, which reportedly gathered between 30,000 and 40,000 participants. In 1982, in response to the Roudy law instituting state reimbursement for abortion, Laissez-les-vivre created the Association pour l'objection de conscience à toute participation à l'avortement (AOCPA), chaired by Michel Raoult. The association publishes a quarterly bulletin and various books, including "Mon bébé m'a sauvée du trou noir", "Culture de Vie" (proceedings of its 25th anniversary congress), "Sa vie avant la naissance", "Les partis écologistes, fourriers du malthusianisme mondialiste" (1993), "Un million de chômeurs de moins avec cette politique familiale et démographique" (1995) and "L'affaire Rockefeller". It continues to operate a helpline, SOS Futures Mères, and maintains a website with documentation on demography, abortion and related topics, as well as press releases on current policy debates.

• 2024

  Issued a press release on 19 January criticising the proposed birth leave.

• 1995

  Published "Un million de chômeurs de moins avec cette politique familiale et démographique".

• 1993

  Published "Les partis écologistes, fourriers du malthusianisme mondialiste".

• 1985

  Jérôme Lejeune ended his role as scientific adviser.

• 1982

  Organised a demonstration from the Bastille to the Concorde on 15 May.

• 1982

  Opposed the Roudy law and created the AOCPA.

• 1979

  Organised a major demonstration from Montparnasse to the National Assembly on 17 November.

• 1979

  Opposed the Pelletier law.

• 1975

  Opposed the Veil law liberalising abortion.

• 1973

  Opposed the Messmer-Taittinger-Poniatowski bill.

• 1971

  Association founded by Geneviève Poullot and Paul Chauchard as Laissez-les vivre.

French pro-life association opposing abortion and advocating for the protection of unborn life and support for pregnant women.

• Quarterly bulletin (Le Courrier)

  A quarterly publication; issue no. 201 was available online.

• SOS Futures Mères helpline

  A helpline (0 800 868 838) offering support to pregnant women.

• Books and publications

  Includes titles such as "Sa vie avant la naissance" and "L'affaire Rockefeller".

1. 1Official websitelaissezlesvivre.free.fr
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Wikipédia (fr)fr.wikipedia.org