PO Box 20203, Washington, D.C. 20041
2009 June Volume 3, No 6
International Pressure for Abortion
Global "Safe Abortion" Conference Final Report Reveals Pro-Abortion Strategy
Following up to their 2007 Global "Safe Abortion" Conference, Marie Stopes International and Ipas have released the conference's report. In October 2007, PNCI reported that the conference focused on forming strategies to target governments to change laws and policies on abortion in order to further advance abortion worldwide. The primary targets of this strategy are nations in the developing world whose laws still protect the unborn.
The conference, which also highlighted "the promise of medical-abortion technologies... regardless of legal context", featured Dr. Malcolm Potts, abortionist, abortion proponent and founder of Venture Strategies, a medical distribution company. Venture Strategies seeks registration of the uterine-contracting drug misoprostol for treatment of post partum bleeding while hiding advocacy of its use for self-induced abortion by women in the home. In his conference remarks, Potts made clear the ultimate goal of global abortion: "Access to safe abortion is as essential to modern living as the internal combustion engine or the silicon chip."
NGO Funds Abortion Lobby Efforts as Part of Women's Health
The International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC) and its partners advance abortion in Latin America, Africa and Asia by influencing governments and other policy makers. It believes: "Everyone can make a difference. Even if you don't sit in the parliament, if you don't sit in the government, if you don't sit in any UN body, in those networks within your circle of life, you can make a difference." IWHC helps pro-abortion activists advance access to induced abortion. The newly released 2008 report describes some of the projects to advance abortion in Ecuador, Nigeria, and other countries. IWHC awarded over $2 million in grant money to local projects and lists the organizations and institutes receiving the funds by region and country including Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Nigeria, Cameroun, South Africa and India.
IWHC states in the report "We are one of few international organizations willing to speak and act unequivocally for access to safe abortion as an essential health service and a fundamental right. We are one of an even smaller number that provide sustained financial, professional, and moral support for local partners who advocate for reform of policy and practice, and effectively fend off highly organized anti-abortion groups." Read the entire report including grant recipients here.
Pro-life Actions
US: Congressman Encourages Pro-Life- "This Is Your Finest Hour"
Representative Chris Smith, co-chairman of the US House Pro-Life Caucus told those attending the National Right to Life Convention that despite the bleakness of the current time it is one in which pro-lifers will look back upon and regard as their "finest hour". Smith encouraged pro-life advocates to continue their efforts in "the greatest human rights struggle on Earth" and to continue to be "the conscience of a nation that has lost its way".
Smith praised the unselfish motives of the those in the pro-life movement and thanked them for "devoting your lives, your talent, your time and your money to defending generations of unborn children, their moms, their dads, the frail elderly and the disabled (like Terri Schiavo), most of whom you will never meet, at least not in this life." Smith recounted the series of pro-abortion actions by President Obama whom he labeled "the Abortion President".
Smith urged the pro-life advocates to "be disciplined and alert and wise" and to "recruit new activists here and around the world especially among the young." He said, "This is no time for quitters or the faint of heart. I truly believe that this will someday be regarded as our finest hour, when against overwhelming odds, we stood firm and overcame evil with good."
Smith assured those present, "even at this most difficult of times when the clouds seemingly are at their darkest, you and I can stop Obama's abortion agenda. And... through it all, we can actually smile, and be joyful, with a peace that surpasses all understanding not only because we are doing our duty, but because our trust is vested unequivocally in the mercy, justice and awesome power of God." For the full text of the address click here.
Legislative News
East Timor: No to Abortion
The parliament of East Timor recently passed a law ensuring its protection of life . The legislation, which renews the nation's penal sanctions on abortion, passed by a vote of 45 to 0 with 7 abstentions. East Timor's action comes in response to intense pressure from the United Nations and pro-abortion NGOs who are pushing for the legalization of abortion as a human right. Former United States Ambassador to East Timor Grover Joseph Rees said the "claim that access to abortion is an internationally recognized human right" is "outrageous," and commended the government for adhering to its country's values and tradition.
Jamaica: Abortion Advanced by Radical Feminists Using Inaccurate Data on Maternal Deaths
The parliament of Jamaica is currently considering legalizing abortion as it reviews a report that claims abortion is a leading cause of maternal death. The report from the Abortion Policy Review Group was commissioned by former Minister of Health John Juror to review Jamaica's abortion law on the grounds that abortion was necessary for the nation to achieve the Millenium Development Goals. The report, which recommends the legalization of abortion and its availability in "specified centres in each health region", uses data from the World Health Organization (WHO) to claim that legalized abortion will save women's lives. However, pro-lifers are drawing attention to the push by pro-abortion NGOs and the fact that the Jamaican government's own statistics which show a very low rate of death from abortion. Dr Wayne West of the Coalition of the Defence of Life said, "We are at a place in Jamaica where the legalisation of abortion is being advanced by the feminist movement under the pretext of a public health concern, and I believe this was done in collaboration with technical personnel from the Ministry of Health."
Nigeria: Imo State Rejects "Reproductive Health" Abortion Bill
The Parliament of Imo State, Nigeria , sent a strong message to the international abortion community when it overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would legalize abortion. Crafted by abortion proponent Ipas, the legislation was touted as a women's reproductive health bill and did not specifically mention "abortion". However, the bill would in effect legalize abortion, contraception, and sterilization in the State. The people of Imo clearly recognized what was being pushed on them and protested the legislation and with signs that read, "Reproductive right is abortion". The bill was defeated by a vote of 13 to 1 and marked a victory for the nation's sovereign laws, culture and tradition.
Slovakia: Parliament Approves Informed Consent
The Parliament in Slovakia, the Seimas, amended its liberal abortion law to require that women seeking an abortion be informed of the dangers of abortion, learn about the alternatives, and be given facts on the development of the unborn child. Pro-abortion NGOs tried unsuccessfully to pressure lawmakers to vote "no"charging in a letter that the pro-life amendment violated international and regional human rights "standards". Lawmakers rejected the argument and passed the bill 80 to 7.
Estelle Duval of the local Familiokratos Coalition which organized pro-life support for the measure commented, "While international abortion groups seek to put pressure on this Parliament to restrict a woman's choice, it is paramount that abortion is not a human right under European law and that individual States have the sole authority to determine the protections they wish to afford to life and to women's health."
PNCI Director, Marie Smith, stated: "Lawmakers were also careful to support the right of parents to know that a minor daughter is pregnant and seeking an abortion. This measure will help prevent the cover-up of sexual crimes against young women." She continued, "Pro-abortion NGOs from around the world heavily lobbied the Slovak lawmakers in opposition to giving women vital information about the consequences of abortion including US-based Center for Reproductive Rights, Ipas and Catholics for Choice."
U.S. House Authorizes Spending to Export Abortion
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation giving President Obama federal funding to promote abortion overseas. The Foreign Affairs Reauthorization Act (HR 2410) authorizes all spending and programs for the State Department including those for reproductive health, which under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's own admission, includes "access to abortion". The bill also includes the creation of an Office of Women's Issues, a new post that will concentrate entirely on international women's issues. Rep Chris Smith twice offered amendments to ensure the new office does not promote abortion, however, one amendment was defeated and the second not permitted consideration by the Democratic majority. The legislation is now pending consideration by the Senate.
Judicial News
Mexico: State of Jalisco Challenges Mandated Abortions for Rape
An appeal against mandated abortions in cases of rape was filed by the Governor of the Mexican state of Jalisco to the Mexican Supreme Court. The new national regulation known as the Official Mexican Norm requires state hospitals to provide for abortion in the case of rape. Jalisco does not allow for such exemptions in its pro-life policy. Doctors from fourteen states also filed an appeal stating that criminal investigations into charges of rape are the duty of law enforcement not hospitals as stipulated in the new law. Doctors and clinics in Mexico City have also filed appeals.
************************************
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
