PO Box 20203, Washington, D.C. 20041
2009 September Volume 3, No 9
International Pressure for Abortion
Pro-abortion NGO Seeks to Increase Use and Sale of Pills for Abortion
US NGO Ipas launched a new website this month to expand the use of pills for abortion around the world in what it calls a "Medical Abortion Initiative". Ipas explains this abortion technique as "a method of using pills to end a pregnancy through a process similar to miscarriage...It provides a noninvasive method of ending an unwanted pregnancy that women can use in a range of settings, and often in their own homes."
Ipas calls the new website a "portal" for pro-abortion activists to increase access to abortion via uterine contracting drugs and provides information on how to "promote medical abortion through training, community partnerships, research, and policy advocacy". It gives advice on how to gain support from government officials, NGOs, and religious and community organizations. Policy makers are asked to incorporate 'medical abortion' into the country's health system and support the registration of the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol in their country.
The women Ipas is targeting most often reside in countries where mothers and their pre-born children are protected from abortion on demand. Their lives and health are often already endangered by the lack of access to health care. Ipas states the abortion pills are intended for those women "for whom cost, distance or other factors are barriers to obtaining other safe services." Abortion induced by medication is not safe and presents many safety and health complications, including severe blood loss, to women who are likely suffering from common health problems including anemia and hypertension.
Ipas is not only increasing its advocacy for self-induced abortion via medication but is creating a network of pharmacy workers to instruct women in off-label use of drugs for abortion. Ipas has also created a new organization to market abortion 'technology' called WomenCare Global LLC. Ipas states, "The new company will focus on reaching women most in need with safe and effective abortion and contraceptive products, with special attention to new and underutilized technologies."
PNCI warns pro-life advocates to monitor the activities of Ipas in their countries as Ipas works closely with health ministries to change regulations to increase access to abortion and avoid the legislative and judicial processes.
Population Control Claims by Pro-Abortion MPs Debunked by New Study
A new study from London debunks previous claims that populations in developing regions of the world must be reduced in order to reduce the effects of climate change. The new study by David Satterthwaite, of the International Institute for Environment and Development, compared changes in population and greenhouse gas emissions for the world from 1980 to 2005. The study finds that population growth in developing countries contributes little to climate change and "is a dangerous distraction from the main problem of over-consumption in rich nations".
The study recommends that Western countries need to focus on reducing consumption of goods, services and energy. Dr Satterthwaite reports: "A child born into a very poor African household who during their life never escapes from poverty contributes very little to climate change, especially if they die young, as many do."
This study is a welcome challenge to arguments coming from others in London including the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health (APPG) which in July issued a report entitled The Return of the Population Growth Factor. The report- largely the work of radical pro-abortion 'experts' including Malcolm Potts, his wife, Martha Campbell (President of Venture Strategies), Steven Sinding (Guttmacher Institute)-was issued by the UK parliamentary group in an attempt to re-focus attention on population control, including abortion, in developing countries in relation to achievement of the MDGs.
The parliamentary group receives funding from UNFPA, Marie Stopes International, IPPF, Ipas and other organizations which promote abortion. In contrast, pro-life parliamentary groups struggle for funding from their members or governments for basic operation. APPG is the leading pro-abortion parliamentary group in the world and its leader, Christine Mc Cafferty, promotes abortion on demand not only in the UK but around the world and at the Council of Europe where she is a Member.
Kenya: Doubling of US Aid Funds
The USAID Office of Population and Reproductive Health recently announced a doubling of funds to Kenya for population control and HIV/AIDS. Under enforcement of US Mexico City Policy, which prohibited funding of groups which performed or promoted abortion, both Marie Stopes International and IPPF affiliate, the Family Health Organization of Kenya (FHOK), significantly reduced their activities in Kenya.
President Obama's reversal of the pro-life policy now allows funding to pro-abortion NGOs. Current Kenyan law allows abortion only for life of the mother exception but is facing international pressure to expand access to abortion. A Reproductive Health and Rights bill is pending in the parliament. Pro-life advocates in Kenya are concerned that new US funding will fuel the abortion lobby. Details on the recepients of the new funding are not public and lack of transparency at USAID makes it difficult for pro-life advocates to know exactly which NGOs and which programs receive funding.
Amnesty International- Maternal Health is a Human Right
Amnesty International (AI) has launched a new campaign for "the right to maternal health" targeting the United States, Peru, Nicaragua and Sierra Leone. Entitled the "Demand Dignity Campaign", AI is advancing the concept of maternal health as a human right and "safe" abortion as a service to which a woman is "entitled". Amnesty International is following radical pro-abortionists at the UN including the CEDAW committee which states "legal provisions on abortion constitute a violation of the rights of women to health and life and of article 12 of the Convention." (in reference to the CEDAW Convention)
The AI campaign in Nicaragua argues against the law protecting the pre-born from abortion and claims the law "endangers the lives and health of all pregnant women in Nicaragua". The report states: "AI believes that where women's access to safe and legal abortion services and information is restricted, their fundamental human rights may be at grave risk."
AI also addresses maternal care in the U.S. as a human rights issue and is gathering personal testimonies for a report on maternal mortality. The report will focus on health issues surrounding pregnancy and childbirth and is raising suspicions that it may be another pro-abortion attempt to discredit pregnancy centers. AI states that it is seeking input from women who experienced what it calls "inappropriate or discriminatory attitudes or behavior" or if women felt that health providers were not "respecting patients needs and questions." The report is due to be released in March 2010.
Legislative News
Dominican Republic: Ratifies Pro-Life Constitution
Lawmakers in the Dominican Republic have approved a pro-life provision to the new constitution establishing the right to life from conception to natural death. The National Assembly ratified Article 30 for a second time, thereby ensuring its inclusion in the new national constitution by a vote of 128-32. The constitution now reads, "The right to life is inviolable from conception until death. In no case can the death penalty be established, pronounced, nor applied." The national newspaper Listin Diario reported that the pro-life victory was secured despite international pressure to legalize abortion including from Amnesty International. It stated that the "massive vote in support of the measure has proven the fundamental conviction of Dominican lawmakers regarding the defense not only of the unborn but all of all people, in any stage of existence, against the inclinations to relativize human life."
Spain: Moves to Legalize Abortion on Demand
Spain's cabinet has approved a new proposal to permit abortion on demand in the first 14 weeks. The new law would liberalize the current law which permits abortion in cases of rape, health of the mother, and for fetal deformation. Additionally, the new proposal expands access to abortion to 16 year olds without parental consent. The Catholic Church and pro-life lawmakers in Spain plan to oppose the legislation and argue it does not have the support of the public.
Mexico: More States Pass Pro-life Constitutional Reforms
Two more Mexican states passed constitutional reforms this month to grant legal protection to the unborn. The State Congresses of both Queretaro and Oaxaca voted to protect life from the moment of conception to natural death. In doing so, these states became the fifteenth and sixteenth Mexican states to enact pro-life changes to state constitutions.
Philippines: Reproductive Health Bill Closer to Debate
The Philippines House of Representatives is moving to bring the reproductive health bill to a vote this year. The leadership announced it is finalizing the rules for debate of the legislation. If the Congress does not act on the bill by the end of the 14th Congress, the process will begin again next session. Since the reproductive health bill has been pending since the 11th Congress, Majority Leader Arthur Defensor says the Speaker wants the issue settled once and for all. The Catholic Church is leading the opposition to the bill while pro-abortion groups continue to heavily pressure the government to pass the legislation.
Marie Stopes International (MSI) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently signed an agreement to expand access to family planning services in key countries in Africa and Asia, including the Philippines. MSI is known to perform abortions in countries regardless of laws protecting the lives of unborn children.
Canada: MP Brings Attention to Fetal Pain
A Canadian MP has brought forth a petition in parliament to protect life from conception
to natural death and to acknowledge that unborn children experience pain. MP Maurice Vellacott filed the petition in response to recent petitions from liberal MPs calling for animal welfare legislation out of concern that animals feel pain. Vellacott noted that under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, "everyone has a right to life, freedom from pain and freedom from the kind of assault fetuses experience in the womb."
Executive News
Grand Duke of Luxembourg Awarded for Opposition to Euthanasia
This month the Grand Duke of Luxembourg was awarded the Van Thuan Prize, an award given for leadership in the promotion and defense of human rights. Grand Duke Henry I was acknowledged for his leadership last year in rejecting a parliament-passed proposal to legalize euthanasia. Following his decision not to approve the measure, the parliament changed the constitution to limit the Duke's power and then proceeded to legalize euthanasia. The Grand Duke's commitment to life despite a high personal price is greatly respected and admired.
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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
