PO Box 20203, Washington, D.C. 20041
2009 December Volume 3, No 12
International Pro-Life
Report on Maternal Mortality: Permissive Abortion Laws Endanger Maternal Health
A report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) released this month shows that nations with pro-life laws are better at reducing maternal deaths, and that those countries with liberal abortion policies have higher rates of maternal mortality. The results of this report counter a recent Guttmacher Institute report that featured unsafe abortion as the leading cause of maternal deaths and claimed nations that restricted abortions were damaging women's health. Conversely, the WEF report cites Ireland- where unborn children are strongly protected from abortion-- as having the best maternal health rates and demonstrates a similar trend of pro-life laws and better maternal health throughout the world. In Africa, Mauritius has the lowest maternal mortality rate and strong laws protecting the unborn while Ethiopia, which decriminalized abortion in 2005, has a maternal death rate that is 48 times higher than Mauritius. South Africa with abortion on demand has a high maternal mortality ratio of 400 deaths per 100,000. These results highlight the need for essential emergency obstetrical care and skilled birth attendants as ways to save women's lives, not access to abortion.
Dutch Pro-Lifers See Largest March to Date
Pro-lifers in the Netherlands gathered this month for the annual March for Life, marking the largest turn-out in the event's history. Sponsored by the Cry for life and Christians for Truth, the March for Life has been held every year since 1980 when the Dutch Parliament legalized abortion on demand. Organizers called it the best march ever and noted the increased number of young people participating
International Pressure for Abortion
Ghana: Planned Parenthood Expands Services and Training
The Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), an affiliate of IPPF, is moving to make abortion more readily available and accessible throughout the nation which allows abortion for broad exceptions. PPAG will set-up abortion centers throughout the country beginning next year and is currently training midwives, nurses and volunteers to in two-day "abortion value clarification" workshops. The objective of the workshops is to persuade health care providers to separate their personal, religious and cultural beliefs and values -conscience-which opposes abortion, from their participation in an abortion procedure. Ghana is a target of numerous pro-abortion organizations- including IPPF, Marie Stopes International, Ipas and Pathfinder-which sponsor programs to perform abortion and promote its acceptance throughout the nation.
Legislative News
Spain Votes to Increase Access to Abortion
The Spanish parliament voted this month to permit abortion on demand up to fourteen weeks and allow adolescents to procure an abortion without parental consent. The new law further liberalizes the country's abortion policy, previously limited to twelve weeks. In practice, however, abortion is permitted at any stage of pregnancy on the basis of mental distress- the reason cited for the majority of abortions in Spain each year. The legislation now awaits action by the Senate, which is expected to approve it in early 2010.
Italy Approves Sale of Abortion Pill RU-486
Italy has given the final approval for the sale of the abortion drug RU-486. The decision, strongly opposed by the Vatican and some government officials, approves the use of mifepristone but restricts its use to hospitals out of concern for serious side-effects which include bleeding and nausea. The drug is limited to within seven weeks of conception. The Italian Pharmaceuticals Agency (AIFA) had given the abortion pill the green light this past summer but it required additional consideration. Abortion activists vow to fight for greater access to the abortion-inducing drug and question the limitation to hospital use.
Executive News
Bangladesh Implementing China-like Policy of One Couple, One Child
Bangladesh will soon introduce a "one couple, one child" family planning policy in an effort to curb the nation's population growth. Crediting Chinese policy with the idea, the Director General of the Directorate of Family Planning said the policy will not be mandatory but they will educate the public through an awareness campaign that includes the slogan "No more than two children, one is best". Couples with one child will be given preference for services and financial assistance. Bangladesh will be looking for assistance from Chinese population planning authorities on ways to gain public support for the controversial anti-child policy.
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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.
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