Parliamentary Network E-News

Volume 10
No. 2
February, 2016
 
Lawmakers: 'Abortion is Not the Answer to Zika'

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.

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.

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).
International Pressure for Abortion

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.
 
Read more.
International Pro-Life Actions

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.
 
Read more.



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.

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.
Legislative News

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.

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.

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."
Executive News

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.

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."
Judicial News

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.  
Issues

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."

 
 
Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
Advancing global respect and dignity for life through law and policy.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill Call for Respect for the Inalienable Right to Li

 

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met in Cuba in an historic first meeting between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches since 1054 when the "Great Schism" began. The religious leaders issued a joint declaration that declared, "It is with joy that we have met like brothers in the Christian faith who encounter one another "to speak face to face" (2 Jn 12), from heart to heart, to discuss the mutual relations between the  Churches, the crucial problems of our faithful, and the outlook for the progress of human civilization."
 
The 30 point declaration discussed past history and faith while looking at the challenges of the contemporary world and the need for the Church to respond.

Three areas of mutual concern listed in the declaration are ones that pro-life and pro-family organizations engage on a daily basis-- threats to the inalienable right to life, to the family, and to marriage. In regards to abortion, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill exhorted,
"We call on all to respect the inalienable right to life. Millions are denied the very right to be born into the world. The blood of the unborn cries out to God (cf. Gen 4:10)."
 
They raised concern over the emergence of "so-called euthanasia" which they stated, "leads elderly people and the disabled... to feel that they are a burden on their families and on society in general." Biomedical reproduction technology was presented as "the manipulation of human life" with the religious leaders stating that it "represents an attack on the foundations of human existence, created in the image of God."
 
Read more.

www.pncius.org
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.
 
Contact PNCI
Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
P.O. Box 20203
 Washington, DC 20041
703-433-2767 
info@pncius.org
 
PNCI is a global outreach of Gospel of Life Ministries.

All news articles include links to original source. PNCI cannot verify that the information contained in the news articles is accurate. 

Back