PO Box 20203, Washington, D.C. 20041
2009 August Volume 3, No 8
Pro-Life Actions: Africa
Demonstrations Against the Maputo Protocol
The African nation of Cameroon is in the midst of a debate on the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women, commonly known as the Maputo Protocol, owing to its promotion of abortion in section 14. The Catholic Church, in cooperation with Cameroon Christian and Muslim communities, has been holding marches and protest demonstrations against the document, which "authorizes" abortion. Cameroon has signed the Protocol, however, those concerned want to ensure they are not forced by the provisions of Maputo to change their nation's sovereign laws protecting the unborn and their mothers from abortion. Chief Albert Ngwana, leader of the Cardinal Democratic Party, says, "Mine is a political demonstration and we're fighting right now that the Constitution must not be amended and the penal code must not be amended to legalize abortion."
Pro-Abortion Strategy
Africa
"Reproductive Health" Legislation is a Strategic Tactic to Advance Abortion
Legislation in the parliaments of both Nigeria and Kenya demonstrate the tactics currently in use to advance abortion. Both bills employ the term "reproductive health" to advance access to abortion and include abortion as a "reproductive right". Entitled the 'Reproductive Health Bill' in Nigeria and the 'Reproductive Health and Rights Bill' in Kenya, the writing of both pieces of legislation was heavily influenced by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), a group of women lawyers in Africa with strong connections to pro-abortion NGOs. The former director of FIDA in Kenya, Violet Awori, currently sits on the CEDAW committee at the UN, a committee which notoriously admonishes countries to legalize abortion. FIDA works closely with New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights which promotes abortion around the world and has the support of numerous pro-abortion organizations.
In both countries large pro-life coalitions have mounted opposition to the bills knowing that these reproductive health and domestic violence measures are a strategic way to open the door to legalization. PNCI encourages pro-lifers to be alert to similar tactics and offers a guide to the legislative process for those interested in working with their legislature. To request a copy email: info@pncius.org
Latin America
Use of Hotlines to Promote Access to Abortion
The use of technology to promote access to abortion is increasing in countries with pro-life laws restricting abortion. The Dutch pro-abortion organization, Women on Waves, uses the web and hotlines to distribute abortion pills and information on procuring abortion to women around the world. Abortion pills are recklessly sent through posted mail to women in countries whose laws protect the pre-born from abortion, regardless of the woman's health and access to medical care.
The organization also sponsored hotlines for women seeking abortion in Ecuador and Argentina. Last year it hung a banner from the statue of the Virgin Mary at El Panecillo in Quito with the words: "Safe Abortion" followed by a cell phone number. In July a coalition of pro-abortion organizations under the direction of Women on Waves sponsored a similar effort in Argentina and advised callers to use the powerful drug misoprostol/cytotec for abortion up to 9 weeks of pregnancy, how to purchase the drug, and how to use it. Misoprostol is legally available regionally to treat gastric ulcers.
Misoprostol-induced abortion produces intense uterine cramping and heavy bleeding and often results in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as the woman self-aborts at home. It does not always complete the abortion and the resulting blood loss is especially dangerous to women suffering from anemia, a common disorder for women in Latin America. Recently, headlines in Chile demonstrate illegal use of the drug during the second trimester resulting in serious complications for the women. Pro-life activists in Argentina shut down the hotlineby saturating it with calls and filling the voice mail with messages in protest.
Issues
Maternal Mortality
WHO Warns on Use of Misoprostol
The Department of Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a recent statement addressing the use of the uterine-contracting drug misoprostol/cytote c for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) acknowledging that there is great interest in the use of the drug to stop bleeding after childbirth. However, WHO issued a new warning and emphasized that the drug should only be used by skilled health workers who can administer it correctly after childbirth and manage side-effects.
WHO stated that it "does not recommend the distribution of misoprostol to community level health workers or women and their families for routine or emergency use." Further, WHO reiterates that it does not include misoprostol on its List of Essential Medicines for the prevention and treatment of PPH because: "systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials show that misoprostol is less effective than oxytocin and other injectable uterotonics, has side-effects such as high temperature and shivering, and there is concern that it may actually increase the risk of maternal mortality."
This statement is of critical importance as efforts to register the controversial drug are advancing in countries around the world. Misoprostol is a drug with two conflicting uses-- it can both save lives and end lives. It can help stop PPH and save a mother's life when used correctly but it can be used to induce an abortion and bring about the death a pre-born child. Registration of misoprostol for use in treating and preventing PPH needs to include regulations on its use. Organizations such as Venture Strategies, founded by global abortionist Dr. Malcolm Potts and his wife Martha Campbell, seek registration of misoprostol for PPH while cloaking their abortion activism.
Other organizations that support abortion include misoprostol tablets in safe delivery childbirth kits to women in rural areas of Africa for self-use or to be used by midwives. Pro-life advocates have been concerned that wide distribution of misoprostol tablets will result in misuse of the pills to induce early labor and the expulsion of the developing child from the womb. This advisory from WHO, should provoke extra care and caution in government leaders when considering the registration and regulation of misoprostol to ensure that the lives of both women and their unborn children are protected.
Nations with Pro-Life Laws Have the Lowest Maternal Mortality
An analysis of UN data indicates that nations that protect the unborn have the lowest maternal mortality . A 20 percent increase in maternal deaths in South Africa from 2005-2007, where abortion has been available on demand since 1996, is evidence against the pro-abortion argument that legal abortion reduces maternal mortality. A 2009 World Health Organization (WHO) Report shows the lowest maternal death rates in Africa and South America are in Mauritius and Chile, both nations with strong pro-life laws. The Report also shows that countries that have changed their law to permit abortion, such as Ethiopia, have failed to lower maternal deaths. Ethiopia's maternal death rate is 48 times higher than in Mauritius. Globally, the nation with the lowest maternal mortality is Ireland, where abortion is prohibited by the constitution.
Sex-selective Abortion
Secretary Clinton Voices Opposition, Urged To Ban Its Use
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has voiced her opposition to sex-selective abortion and said more needs to be done to combat it. In an interview with the New York Times, Clinton noted the problem of sex-selection abortion in China and India and said, "Unfortunately, with technology, parents are able to use sonograms to determine the sex of a baby, and to abort girl children simply because they'd rather have a boy." PNCI Director Marie Smith urges the Secretary to endorse legislation in the US House designed to ban the practice of sex-selection abortion in the United States.
Executive News
Slovakia: President Signs Law To Expose the Dangers of Abortion
Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic has signed into law legislation to inform women of the risks of abortions and alternatives to it. The bill, which also includes parental notification for teenagers seeking abortion, was passed the parliament earlier this year by a vote of 80-7 despite strong pressure from pro-abortion NGOs. The bill's sponsor, MP Ludmila Muskova, said women deserve to know about the dangers of abortion.
PNCI Director Marie Smith applauded passage of the law: "This pro-woman, pro-life amendment is great news for Slovak women who will have access to the true facts about the harmful physical and psychological effects of abortion, be offered alternatives to abortion, and fully informed on the development of their unborn child." Smith believes the vote holds critical importance because parliamentarians agreed that the amendment is "in accordance with the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, with the international treaties, and other international documents binding for the Slovak Republic."
Australia Revokes Overseas Funding Ban: AusAID Can Now Pay For Abortions
Tragically, Australian foreign aid money can now be used to fund abortions. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has issued new family planning guidelines for AusAID (Australia's foreign aid program) that permit Australian taxpayer dollars to be used for abortions up to 20 weeks gestation in countries where abortion is legal. This move ends a 13 year ban on AusAID funds being used for abortion that was instituted by the Howard Government in 1996.
Judicial News
Mexico: Pro-life Lawyers File Complaint Against Legalization of Abortion in Mexico City to the OAS
The College of Catholic Lawyers of Mexico has filed an official complaint against Mexico naming the Mexico City Legislature, Government Chief Marcelo Ebrard, and the Supreme Court for the decision to legalize abortions in Mexico City. In the complaint to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the College argues that the passage of the law violates Article 1 of the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man which states: Every human being has the right to life, liberty and security of his person. The complaint also states that the legalization of abortion in Mexico City "violates the human rights of the unborn and disassociates from them the term death, which seems to erase their status as human beings and does not recognize that their lives are being ended."
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The Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues (PNCI) is committed to networking members of democratically-elected legislatures in efforts to advance respect for the inherent value, worth, and inviolable dignity of every human being from the first moment of existence. PNCI issues the Parliamentary Network E-News to provide lawmakers, and those who work with them, news from various sources on the international threat to pro-life laws and current legislative and judicial actions on critical life issues challenging parliamentarians around the world. PNCI is a project of Life Issues Institute.
All news articles include links to original source. PNCI cannot verify that the information contained in the news articles is accurate. info@pncius.org
