PO Box 20203, Washington, D.C. 20041
2009 July Volume 3, No 7
Focus on Aging Population
Two Reports Warn Governments to Prepare for Unprecedented Aging Populations
A new world report on aging, " An Aging World: 2008,"by the US Census Bureau (commissioned by National Institute on Aging (NIA ) contains serious implications for governments in developing countries who are warned that they must begin now to set up policies and programs to care for increasingly elderly populations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau report: "The number of people 65 and older is exploding around the world, and these elderly folks will outnumber children under 5 for the first time ever within the next decade."
According to Richard Suzman, Ph.D., director of NIA: "Aging is affecting every country in every part of the world. While there are important differences between developed and developing countries, global aging is changing the social and economic nature of the planet and presenting difficult challenges."
The report states that 62% of all people over age 65 live in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Oceania. The fastest-growing sector of many national populations is the "oldest old" or people age 80 and over.
A different report from the French Institute for Demographic Studies warns developing nations that they have only a short time to set up workable pension schemes for what is describes as a "population time bomb". If developing nations are unable to devise and fund such programs, the report warns, "the alternative is the prospect of vast numbers of their elderly people living in poverty."
According to the French report, the trend has not begun in Africa's poorest states but experts say it will and at a much faster rate. According to the BBC, "If the French researchers are right, it means the current pension crunch in rich countries may look relatively insignificant compared with what is coming in the future for the rest of the world."
The report states that global aging represents a triumph of medical, social, and economic advances and points to "the advancement of birth control methods" as a reason for imbalance in population.
PNCI commentary: Missing from either report is the tragic number of aborted children whose right to life was denied by abortion and whose lives are so sorely missed and urgently needed for the health and survival of their country, the country which allowed and provided for their destruction. Pro-life supporters have always recognized that pre-born children are a nation's greatest resource. Many countries which allow abortion on demand are now facing dire circumstances. Challenges to economic and social systems are leading to increased concern for respect for life in the final years and during illness and disability. Legislation to advance infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia is already appearing in a number of industrialized countries. These sobering reports come at a critical time as pro-abortion advocates have once again resorted to tired overpopulation arguments in an attempt to gain support for the violence of abortion.
International Pressure for Abortion
Abortion Rights Advocate = Human Rights Defender?
The Center for Reproductive Rights has released a report portraying abortionists and abortion activists as human rights defenders. Entitled " Defending Human Rights: Abortion Providers Facing Threats, Restrictions, and Harassment," the new report petitions government at all levels to protect those working in the abortion industry or advocating to overturn pro-life laws. The report claims special protection is needed against "harassment, discrimination, legal restrictions, and stigma" experienced by abortion activists. While the main focus of the report is six U.S. states, the report also highlights the "struggle" of abortion advocates in Nicaragua and the Philippines whose abortion advocacy it states needs to be protected. It claims that national pro-life laws violate these so-called "human rights".
Pro-life Actions
Cameroon: Thousands March Against Abortion in the Maputo Protocol
Cameroon saw over 20,000 people take to the streets in a march against abortion. The march took place on the anniversary of Cameroon's approval of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women, commonly known as the Maputo Protocol on Women's Rights. The Maputo Protocolis the first international treaty to list women's "reproductive right" to abortion and "authorizes medical abortion for rape, incest, and physical or mental health and life of the mother or the unborn child". Cameroon Catholics, Protestants and Muslims joined together in opposition to abortion.
Legislative News
EU: Swedish MP Launches Citizens' Initiative to Force Abortion into Pro-life European Nations
A liberal Swedish MP has initiated a 1 million signature campaign to force acceptance of abortion as a "human right" under the Lisbon Treaty. Birgitta Ohlsson, Sweden's Liberal People's Party, has founded the group "Make Noise for Free Choice" to collect the signatures necessary to bring forth a "citizens' initiative" to force pro-life nations Ireland, Poland and Malta to legalize abortion. While citizens can bring forth proposals under the "citizens' initiative" mechanism of the Lisbon Treaty, they can only request the European Commission to act in areas where the European Union (EU) already has competences. Ohlsson is mistaken in the effect of the petition on EU policy on abortion since the EU does not have competence over abortion. However, pro-life advocates need to be aware of attempts by pro-abortion activists like Ohlsson to manipulate the political system to force pro-life nations to accept abortion.
Mexico: Yucatan Is the Latest State to Passes Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment
The Mexican State of Yucatan has passed a constitutional amendment protecting the right to life , becoming the 14th state to do so since Mexico City's 2007 legalization of abortion on demand. The new amendment states, "The state of Yucatan recognizes, protects, and guarantees the right to life of every human being, expressly affirming that, from the moment of fertilization, he comes under the protection of the law, and is to be treated like a human being that has been born for all corresponding legal effects, until his natural death, with exceptions already foreseen in ordinary laws." This action is the latest in a wave of opposition by states to efforts to legalize and fund abortion across the nation.
UK: House of Lords Votes against Decriminalizing Suicide Tourism
The UK's House of Lords defeated legislation by a vote of 194-141 to promote suicide tourism. The amendment stated that "no offence shall have been committed if assistance is given to a person to commit suicide," repealing the current law which prohibits suicide tourism and includes imprisonment for up to 14 years for persons found guilty helping others to end their lives.
Paul Tully, general secretary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, a U.K. pro-life organization stated, "This was a significant victory for the right to life....". "It's time for the Voluntary Euthanasia Society - now repackaged as Dignity in Dying - to drop its parliamentary campaign, a campaign which is offensive to very many people who live with, or care for those with disability or terminal illness," he said.
South Korea: Revised Law Toughens Abortion Restrictions
South Korea has moved to tighten restrictions on abortion . Current law permits abortion in limited cases that include rape, incest, mother's health, and the presence of a hereditary disease, and must be procured within 28 weeks gestation. The revised Mother and Child Health Law approved by the Cabinet this month shortens the period of permissible abortion from 28 to 24 weeks gestation and removes seven diseases from the list of hereditary diseases including hemophilia, bipolar disorder, hepatitis and others. "The revised law is expected to enhance respect toward life and reflect what modern medical skills can offer to a mother and her fetus," an official of the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said. The revised law is the result of two years of meetings with physicians and religious and civic groups.
Judicial News
EU Court Moves Irish Abortion Case to Grand Chamber
A case against Ireland's law banning abortion pending before the European Court of Human Rights has been moved to its Grand Chamber, increasing the significance and effect of the Court's decision. Decisions by the Grand Chamber set the policy and precedence for lower courts, member states, and increasingly U.S. courts which look to European court rulings while considering cases. The case, brought forth by women challenging Ireland's pro-life laws, is supported by Ireland's Family Planning Agency which seeks to bring abortion on demand to the country. A pro-life legal defense is assisting the Irish government, and argue that the case does not have standing in the EU court and that the European Commission on Human Rights does not confer a right to abortion. Roger Kiska of the Alliance Defense Fund, legal counsel on the case, emphasizes its significance, "This case could be the Roe v. Wade of Europe, so its importance should not be underestimated."
Issues
US: One-Fourth of Abortions From Abortion Pills
A new study reports that about a quarter of U.S. women obtaining early abortions last year used the abortion pill rather than surgery. The study, which obtained its data from U.S. Planned Parenthood clinics, the largest provider of medical abortions, analyzed data from 2005-2008. During that time period, Planned Parenthood changed its protocol for the administration of misoprostol to be taken orally- after the deaths of several women from infections- and instituted a regimen of antibiotics to protect against infection. Following these results, the use of abortion pills is expected to rise even higher.
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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
