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Lawmakers: 'Abortion is Not the Answer to Zika'
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USA: House Members Send Letter to Top UN HR Official
50 Members of the US House of Representatives sent a letter initiated by Congressman Blake Farenthold to the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein
expressing concern for the High Commissioner's recent statement 'Upholding women's human rights essential to Zika response- Zeid' which appears to call on Zika-affected countries to change laws against abortion.
The Member letter asks the top United Nations human rights official to "immediately
clarify your statements to make clear that you and the U.N. High
Commission on Human Rights are not calling for changes to laws
protecting the human rights of unborn children, and particularly unborn
children with disabilities in countries affected by the Zika virus."
The
Members of Congress emphasized the need for governments to determine
the best policies on how to stop the spread of the virus and opposed the
promotion of abortion generated by an unconfirmed link to microcephaly
in unborn children:
"We
believe the Zika virus should be a time for thoughtful deliberation as
local and national governments determine the best policies to curb the
spread of this disease. It should not be an occasion to exploit a
genuine public health crisis to advance a political agenda to overturn
laws of many nations protective of life at all stages of development.
Yet advocates for abortion have seized upon the fear surrounding this
new disease to push a radical pro-abortion agenda, especially in parts
of the world that have laws that affirm the basic human rights of unborn
children."
The
congressmen and women also objected to the assertion that a
"pro-abortion standard" exists or emanates from U.N. treaty compliance
committees as pro-abortion entities claim stating, "States
party to these bodies do not consent to have committee members alter
their domestic legislation and any such attempt to do so would be a
breach of Article 2 of the U.N. Charter which offers robust protections
of state sovereignty, and other principles of international law.
Compliance committees cannot permit red to mean blue because some of
their members believe it so. Compliance committees, like the states that
acceded to the corresponding international agreements, are bound by the
plain text of the documents that generate the committees' existence."
In closing, they implored the High Commissioner "to
clarify your statement to make clear you are not lending your voice to
efforts to capitalize on this disease to promote a politically motivated
pro-abortion agenda. We hope that your recent remarks do not favor
abortion as a public health tool to tackle the Zika virus, and would
appreciate a response with your clarification."
PNCI
notes that the statement from the High Commissioner sounds similar
to statements from pro-abortion organizations which are using the health
crisis to push the agenda of universal access to abortion on countries
most impacted by the Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean whose
laws against abortion are among the strongest in the world.
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Brazil: Lawmakers Seek to Increase Penalties for Abortion
Legislators
in Brazil's Chamber of Deputies have reacted to the pro-abortion push
to legalize abortion for women diagnosed with the Zika virus by writing
draft legislation to strengthen Brazil's laws against abortion. The legislation
would amend the 1940 penal code to "provide increased penalty in the
case abortion committed because of microcephaly or abnormality of the
fetus."
The author of the legislation, Anderson
Ferreira, a member of the evangelical caucus, represents the state of
Pernambuco, where the most cases of microcephaly have occurred and are
suspected, but not confirmed, to be linked to the Zika virus. Ferreira
is outraged that the crisis is being used by what he describes as "a
feminist movement" that "has tried to take advantage to change our
abortion laws." He believes that, "This movement needs to be
confronted. Everyone needs to realize the gravity of the crime that is
abortion and that it is not acceptable."
The
legislation follows a submission to the Brazil's Supreme Court
requesting an exception to the abortion law for microcephaly after the
Court granted an exception for anencephaly in 2012. The Institute of
Bioethics filed the submission and is seeking the legalization of
abortion for all women who are diagnosed with Zika.
Public opinion polls show overwhelming support for maintaining
Brazil's policy against abortion which recognizes exceptions for life of
the mother and in the case of rape with lawmakers considering removing
the exception for rape.
The current draft legislation calls abortion "the maximum
punishment" and equates it with the death penalty. It seeks to stop any
chance of additional expansion of exceptions to the abortion law, in
particular as a response to illness or disease. The bill states that
resorting to abortion as a response to microcephaly only attests to the
inability of the government to face serious public health problems and
calls the extermination of life in abortion a "kind of alibi". The bill
declares that it is the duty of the State to support families whose
children have any kind of illness and to always fight for the
perpetuation of life.
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USA: Congressmen Urge Care, Not Fear
The US House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on global health held a hearing
on the growing threat of the Zika virus and the US response to it.
Members of Congress raised the importance of research to rapidly learn
how to treat and prevent the Zika virus, asking top American health
officials on the status of their efforts to combat the disease. "We
must work harder to prevent maternal infections and devise compassionate
ways to ensure that any child born with disabilities from this or any
other infection is welcomed, loved and gets the care he or she needs," said Chairman Rep. Chris Smith. "Just
as scientists found ways, including highly efficacious drugs, to
prevent transmission of HIV-AIDS in pregnant women to their unborn
children, further research must be undertaken to prevent mother-to-child
transmission of other infectious diseases including Zika virus, if that
link is established."
Members
also stressed that the Zika virus crisis should not be manipulated as
an excuse to push affected countries to change their pro-life laws. "Latin American countries have some of the strongest laws protecting the life and welfare of the unborn," said Rep. Jeff Duncan. "The Zika virus has created a push for Latin American countries to liberalize their laws."
When
questioned on the use of the $1.8 billion requested by President Obama
for emergency funding for Zika, government officials promised that none would be used to promote abortion. "I can assure you that the emergency supplemental request does not contain any plans to change policy in regards to abortion," said Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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International Pressure for Abortion
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Discrimination by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
The
UN committee tasked with oversight of the Convention on the Rights of
the Child (CRC) again demonstrated its discriminatory practice in
electing only to advocate for children after birth while promoting
"children's access to safe abortion".
The 71st session of the CRC revealed that the current committee is pursuing an activist pro-abortion agenda as it instructed a number of countries to change their laws protecting children in the womb from abortion in contrast to the Convention's preamble that states, "...the child, by reason ofhis physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth".
The CRC used the reporting review
to tell Ireland, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Haiti, Iran, Kenya, Peru and
Senegal--all with strict laws limiting abortion-- that they must "Decriminalize abortions in all circumstances". All but Senegal were instructed to "review its legislation to guarantee children's access to safe abortion" and "ensure that the views of the pregnant girl are always heard and respected in abortion decisions".
In issuing the extreme pro-abortion recommendations the CRC referenced its General Comment No. 4: Adolescent Health and Development in the Context of the Convention on the Rights of the Child but moved beyond the actual text as it discounted national sovereignty. General Comment (GC) No.4, issued in 2003, states in paragraph 27 that State parties are to provide access to sexual and reproductive health services, including "safe abortion services where abortion is not against the law".
However, the CRC ignored the caveat "where abortion is not against the
law" and instructed countries that they ought to change their laws
restricting access to abortion.
The
CRC increasingly relies on the General Comments it has issued and not
on the actual treaty during its recommendations to countries to justify
its activist statements. In General comment No. 15 on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, issued in 2013, the CRC states in paragraph 70: "The Committee recommends that States ensure access to safe abortion and post-abortion care services, irrespective of whether abortion itself is legal."
PNCI notes that countries are not obligated to follow the recommendations of UN treaty bodies.
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International Pro-Life Actions
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Northern Ireland Assembly Says No to Abortion
Members
of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) rejected attempts to expand
access to abortion, bucking outside pressure to change its sovereign law
which allows abortion only for risk to the mother's life. Two amendments
to the Criminal Justice Bill were brought up in the Assembly. One would
allow abortion in cases of rape and incest and the other when an unborn
child is diagnosed with a so-called "life-limiting disability".
Northern
Ireland's law is in contrast to the 1967 Abortion Act which legalized
abortion in other parts of the UK. The votes follow a recent High Court
ruling claiming the country's pro-life laws were "incompatible" with the
EU's Convention on Human Rights and directing the Assembly to legislate
on the legality of abortion.
The
legislature responded with resounding support to continue protecting
unborn children, without exception. The amendment to legalize abortion
for children "with life-limiting conditions" up to birth, sponsored by
Alliance MLAs Trevor Lunn and Stewart Dickson, failed to pass the
Assembly by a vote of 59-40. Similarly, the amendment from Alliance MLA
Anna Lo to legalize abortion for rape and incest was rejected by a vote
a 64-30.
The
Assembly's overwhelming rejection of abortion sends a clear pro-life
response to the recent High Court ruling and to those pushing for
abortion on demand. Pro-life groups rallied citizens to lobby their MLAs
and urge them to protect the right to life. Precious Life vowed to hold
MLAs who voted for the pro-abortion amendments accountable in the
upcoming election in May.
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The Saving Power of Blood Transfusion
Maternal
deaths are on the decline in countries following efforts to combat
hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal deaths. A hospital in Tanzania
has announced
a 50 percent decrease in maternal deaths in one year due to efforts for
increased blood donations by the National Blood Transfusion Services
(NBTS). The Temeke Regional Hospital had 58 maternal deaths in 2014
attributed to blood shortage and 28 in 2015. Efforts to encourage the
public to donate blood and creation of new regional centers that allow
for an increased blood supply save lives.
In Malawi,
rates have gone from 984 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2004 down to
574 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014. The significant improvement
is attributed to initiatives to improve service delivery,
infrastructure, outreach to providers and community mobilization.
However, hospitals still cannot meet the demand but are working on
improvements. "One major step is by establishing Malawi Blood
Transfusion Service as a dedicated entity to intensify blood collection.
We also need to increase public awareness on the importance of donating
blood," said a spokesperson in the Ministry of Health, Adrian Chikumbe.
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Initiatives Seek to Protect Disabled Babies from Abortion
Advancing
technology is making prenatal genetic screening available earlier and
earlier, much to the detriment of unborn children with disabilities such
as Down syndrome. In many countries where these tests are available,
the rate of Down syndrome babies aborted is a staggering 90 percent or
higher. Legislative initiatives seek to protect these children and
reduce the discrimination against the disabled. Laws such as "Chloe's Law",
passed in Pennsylvania in 2014, provide parents with positive and
supportive information when they receive a Down syndrome diagnosis for
their unborn child. Eleven states have passed similar legislation to
educate parents and protect these vulnerable children.
An international petition
is calling attention to the rise in prenatal genetic screening and is
seeking the protection of the right to life of unborn babies with Down
syndrome as "ability-selective" abortions are becoming accepted in a
growing number of countries, at times with government encouragement of
discrimination against the disabled through prenatal testing.
The
petition asks the UN to require that member states "stop systematic
prenatal screening programs that target Down syndrome and deliberately
encourage abortion as part of public health programs, regulate the
introduction of prenatal genetic testing, and allow the use of genetic
testing solely to enhance human care and well-being". The petition will
be presented to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on World
Down Syndrome Day, March 21, 2016.
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Legislative News
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Russia: New Legislation on Abortion and Morning After Pill
MPs have introduced legislation
in the Russian Parliament to limit the sale of the morning-after pill
by removing it from retail shelves and making it available only with a
prescription. "In
order to rule out the uncontrolled use of pharmaceutical drugs destined
for interruption of pregnancy, we suggest the introduction of a direct
ban on their retail sales and also make up a full list of organizations
that will receive the right to buy them wholesale," state the bill's authors.
The legislation would also require abortions to only be performed in
state-run clinics, imposing fees on private entities that violate the
law. The bill is sponsored by Yelena Mizulina of the Fair Russian
Federation, Sergey Popov of the United Russian Federation party, Dr.
Lakhova, leader of the Women of Russia party and Mrs. Afanasieva of the
Democratic Party of Russia. MP Mizulina has been a leader for efforts to
reduce abortions in Russia, arguing they are contributing to Russia's
rapidly declining demographics.
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Portugal: Parliament Overrides Veto to Further Liberalize Abortion
The Portuguese Parliament has overridden
the President's veto and approved legislation to make abortion more
accessible. The new law removes the mandatory counseling previously
required for abortion and offers government funding for the procedure.
President Anibal Cavaco Silva had vetoed the legislation, citing the
need for mandatory counseling, claiming it is a norm among European
countries. As constitutionally required, the legislation was
subsequently signed into law by President Silva, who steps down from office this spring.
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Canada: Parliamentary Committee's Pro-Death Recommendations
Canada's special Joint Parliamentary Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying, composed of 11 MPs and five senators, issued its recommendations
to regulate what it calls "MAID" - medical assistance in dying. The
Committee's report, if implemented, would open the door to euthanasia,
including for those with mental illness and minors, mandate that
publicly funded healthcare institutions provide euthanasia and assisted
suicide, and mandate that objecting doctors provide an "effective
referral."
The
recommendations go much further than last year's Supreme Court ruling
in support of physician assisted suicide. The Carter decision broadened
Quebec's law to permit euthanasia for consenting adults with "a grievous
and irremediable medical condition". Conservative MPs opposing the
report issued a dissention which reads, "Unfortunately, the regime
recommended in the committee's main report falls far short of what is
necessary to protect vulnerable Canadians and the Charter protection of
conscience rights of health professionals."
Objection to the report included concern
for Canada's faith-based health care institutions. Larry Worthen,
executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of
Canada, stated, "This is a grave threat to a large number of
faith-based health care institutions across the country, including
hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes and hospices.
Forcing these members, and leaders of these facilities, to act in this
way would be trampling on their constitutional right to freedom of
conscience and religion guaranteed under the Charter."
"In
our view, effective referral and participating in assisted death are
morally and ethically the same thing. This would force people of
conscience and faith to act against their moral convictions and threaten
the very core of why they became physicians, which is to help to heal
people. This is discrimination. It is unnecessary. No other jurisdiction
in the world requires physicians to refer for assisted death."
The
recommendations were tabled in the House of Commons and legislation
will be forthcoming to meet the Court's June 6th deadline.
In
the meantime, the Supreme Court declared that provincial courts can
authorize euthanasia on a case by case basis. Persons seeking euthanasia
can apply for a license to be killed, allowing a judge to determine yea
or nay. The decision has dangerous implications for Canadians according
to Wesley Smith who stated, "The Supreme
Court's ruling is so broad and radical that virtually any medical
condition beyond a tooth ache can qualify for euthanasia."
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Executive News
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Sierra Leone: Parliament Sends Abortion Act Back to the President
Sierra
Leone's Parliament has sent a bill to legalize abortion back to the
president, after he initially refused to sign it, without any
amendments. The Safe Abortion Act would legalize abortion on demand for the first trimester and during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy would allow it when "the
continued pregnancy would pose a risk of injury to the female's health;
or there is a risk of fetal abnormality; or according to the pregnant
female, the pregnancy resulted from rape, incest or other felonious
intercourse." President Ernest Bai Koroma refused to sign the bill
after it passed the legislature this past December after meeting with
religious leaders and surprising abortion advocates who had been
actively working for its passage.
The
president sent the bill back to lawmakers and urged them to review it
with the Inter Religious Council. However, despite the strong opposition
from religious leaders, the parliament did not make any changes to the
Safe Abortion Act and sent the bill back
to the president's desk, where it awaits his signature. Pro-life
efforts opposing the bill have been strong, led in part by the Culture
of Life Africa. "It is indeed true that we may not have the massive
funding that our pro-abortion opponents have, but the truth remains that
most Africans oppose abortion and will act IF they know that
pro-abortion western-based organizations like Ipas, Marie Stopes, and
IPPF are working so hard to unleash legal abortion upon our people," said Culture of Life founder and President Obianuju Ekeocha.
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Abkhazia: Bans Abortion to Boost Population
Abkhazia has passed a new law
banning abortion from the moment of conception in an effort to boost
the state's declining demographics. "The state recognizes the right to
life of an unborn child from the moment of conception and forbids
artificial pregnancy terminations," states the law. "In view of the
equal right to life of a mother and a child, the state defends and
upholds this right." One of the bill's sponsors, Said Kharazia, cited
the 11,900 abortions in the republic of 242,000 since 1993, arguing that
"abortion artificially reduces the number of the already small
population of Abkhazia."
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Judicial News
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IACHR Sends IVF Case Back to Inter-American Court
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has filed
an application with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in regard
to Costa Rica's prohibition of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The IACHR
charges that Costa Rica failed to comply with the Court's Judgment in
the Case of Artavia Murillo Et Al. v. Costa Rica. The IACHR charged
that Costa Rica "was internationally responsible for violating the
right to private life and family life and the right to humane treatment
[personal integrity] in relation to personal autonomy, sexual health,
and the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific and technological
progress and the principle of non-discrimination" for the 18 individuals
named in the case.
The Commission's Merits Report had recommended that Costa Rica lift
the prohibition on in vitro fertilization, enact regulations for the
practice so that individuals or couples have access to the techniques,
and make "full reparations to the victims in the present case, in the
form of material and moral damages, including measures of satisfaction
for the harm done." Read about the pro-life implications of the Court's
2012 decision here.
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Issues
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India: Dangers of DIY Abortion
Self-use of abortion-inducing drugs is receiving attention in India where doctors are expressing concern for the safety of women who "have taken to abortion pills without medical scrutiny, leading to a surge in unhealthy, life-threatening abortions". It is reported that "40%
of women who underwent abortions came with complications after taking
abortion pills without prescription. These women were then taken for
emergency treatment that included surgical abortion."
It
was discovered that for a number of women their pregnancies were more
advanced than they realized, some did not know that their pregnancy was
ectopic and some took the pills in the wrong order. A number of doctors
interviewed expressed their preference for surgical abortion so they are
certain that the abortion is complete since in their experience women
do not "come for a follow-up scan".
Other
doctors expressed the view that abortion-inducing drugs can be used
providing women receive counseling and take every bill under medical
supervision. Dr Nazira Sadique explained, "We give them the first
pill and ask them to come back for the second dose. We send them only
after we know they don't have severe bleeding or other side effects.
Every patient is followed up with a scan."
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Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
Advancing global respect and dignity for life through law
and policy.
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Visit us on the web!
www.PNCIUS.org
has been updated with expanded information on Human Dignity and critical
issues including: Abortion, Bioethics, Child Mortality, End of life issues,
Infanticide, Maternal mortality and Sex-selective abortion.
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All news articles include links to original source. PNCI cannot verify that the
information contained in the news articles is accurate.
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