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Focus on India
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India: OTC Sale and Use of RU 486 Can Increase Maternal Deaths
Researchers
in India continue to warn that over the counter sale (OTC) and use of
RU 486--WHO's "gold standard" for medication induced abortion,
so-called 'medical abortion' --can lead to increased maternal mortality
and morbidity. In the recent abstract, How
safe are over the counter abortion pills-differences between its
intended and practical usage and its implications - a study conducted in
a tertiary care centre in Shillong, Meghalaya, India the
authors Manika Agarwal and Amrita Datta present the concern that the
Medical Termination Act (MTP)of 2002 in India legalized 'medical
abortion' for the first trimester restricting the prescribing of
'medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) pills' to "medical
practitioners" but that "the rampant usage of over the counter
medical abortifacients leads to complications. This study was done to
gather data regarding the over the counter purchase and usage of medical
abortifacients and its effect on women."
Their conclusion is addressed to legislators in India, "Over
the counter purchase of medical abortifacients without proper knowledge
causes unprecedented maternal morbidity and mortality. National bodies
should impose strict legislations to stop this."
"In
spite of such clear guidelines and recommendations, self-administration
of these drugs by pregnant women without any medical consultation or
supervision has become highly prevalent due to availability of these
drugs over the counter without any prescription. Many women depend on
medical abortion and consider it as a method of spacing between
pregnancies. Due to unrestricted availability of these drugs the society
considers this to be an extremely safe option of termination of
pregnancy. Life threatening complications like excessive hemorrhage,
sepsis and deaths due to undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies are not
uncommon in women administering these drugs by themselves."
It
reports on the high prevalence of anemia in pregnant women-- almost
87%--and states that the condition is estimated to cause 22,000 maternal
deaths a year. Concern is expressed for the lives of pregnant women
with anemia who self-induce with drugs that are known to cause heavy
blood loss: "Self-medication of abortion pills in women with severe anaemia could be fatal."
Other studies from India that raise concern on self-use of RU 486 are mentioned and referenced including the following:
"Studies comparing intake of abortion
pills with medical supervision and self-administration showed that
serious complications like anaemia, sepsis, failure and incomplete
abortion is higher in women who self-administered the drug.
"Studies comparing medical and surgical
methods have shown that hemorrhage and incomplete abortion and rate of
surgical evacuation was more after medical abortion. In our study 62.5%
of patients had presented with incomplete abortion, 5% with incomplete
abortion in shock, 7.5% with incomplete abortion with sepsis and
22.5% with failed abortions. Thirty two (80%) patients required surgical
evacuation in our study.
"Similar study on consequences of self-administration showed that 70.2% had incomplete abortion and 10.8% had failed abortion. This
study also reported ruptured ectopic pregnancy and also one maternal
death following self-administration of abortion pills. Another study
reported 41.54% of incomplete abortion, 6.54% of septicemia and 1.15% of failed abortion." The study also concludes with a call for legislation:
"Unsupervised medical abortion can lead to increased maternal morbidity
and mortality. To curtail this harmful practice, strict legislations are
required to monitor and also to restrict the sales of abortion pills
over the counter and access to abortion pills for the public should be
only through centers approved for MTP. Large scale prospective studies
are required to assess the actual magnitude of this problem."
Pro-abortion
activists and NGOs who sell abortion pills on the internet, who teach
pharmacists to sell mifepristone and/or misoprostol, who instruct women
via hotlines to buy and use abortion pills, who illegally
dispense abortion pills to women who are without access to medical care,
or who deliver the pills via drone need to read the data from India and
stop putting the lives and health of pregnant women around the world at
risk by promoting self-use of abortion pills.
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International Pressure for Abortion
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Why is Uruguay a Model Country for Pro-Abortionists?
The
relatively small Latin American country of Uruguay is considered by
many pro-abortion activists as a model country for access to abortion.
After years of implementing a strategy dubbed the "risk and harm
reduction strategy" devised by Iniciativas Sanitarias, the
country affiliate of International Planned Parenthood Federation,
Uruguay decriminalized abortion in 2012 allowing it on demand during the
first 12 weeks of pregnancy and for the rape exception up to the first
14 weeks of pregnancy. In the "risk and harm reduction strategy"
government health providers issue 'advice' to women on how to induce
illegal abortion via medication and urge them to go to the hospital if
they encounter complications.
This
month, the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics,
published by the radically pro-abortion International Federation of
Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has a special issue detailing the
Uruguayan Experience, including highlights of the FIGO role in
overturning the country's pro-life policy. Reducing Maternal Mortality by Preventing Unsafe Abortion: The Uruguayan Experience
contains nine abstracts that look at different aspects of the process
in Uruguay to promote access to, and use of, abortion-inducing pills and
of the stages of the successful effort to change the law.
The
abstracts include one on how the Uruguayan model has been implemented
in the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina and how it is believed that
it can be replicated in other countries, especially in Latin America.
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European MPs: SRHR Tour of the Philippines
Members of the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) were hosted by the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) for a "study
tour" to "look at how to deal with and overcome opposition on sexual
and reproductive health and rights in a predominantly catholic
country--over 80 per cent of Filipinos are catholic."
The
seven MPs, Members of European parliaments from Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Romania and Spain visited the Philippines
for a week-long study tour "to learn more about the arguments and
influence of the Catholic Church with regard to sexual and reproductive
health in a developing country."
While in the country the European MPs called on colleagues
to ensure implementation of the controversial Responsible Parenthood
and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law which passed in 2012 despite strong
opposition from Catholic bishops and others. The delegation met with
Members of the PLCPD including Representative Edcel Lagman and
Congresswoman Pia Cayetano, main authors of the RPRH Law, officials of
government agencies responsible for implementation of the law, civil
society organizations that pushed for the passage of the law, and the Provincial Government of Benguet and the Municipal Government of La Trinidad.
According to the EPF, the various meetings "featured
a discussion of the salient provisions of the law and the difficulties
in implementation that national agencies and local government units
(LGUs) face, including: funding, legal challenges concerning young
people's access to services and public procurement and distribution of
family planning commodities, and retrogressive bills filed by anti-RH
lawmakers at both the national and LGU levels."
EPF
is a network of 31 national all-party parliamentary groups that "are
committed to protecting the sexual and reproductive health of the
world's most vulnerable people, both at home and overseas" -including
access to abortion--and works with legislators globally to encourage
national governments to support SRHR issues. EPF regularly leads study
tours to developing countries. According to EPF President Ulrika
Karlsson from Sweden, "The voice of European MPs must clearly be heard in emphasizing the importance of SRHR in achieving the entire range of SDGs."
EPF began as a project of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Europe.
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Focus on the United Nations
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Open Letter Requesting 'UN International Safe Abortion Day'
Pro-abortion
NGOs petitioned UN officials to officially mark and designate September
28 as 'UN International Safe Abortion Day'. September 28 is a date that
has been used by pro-abortion activists to protest pro-life laws and
stage events promoting abortion since 1990. The Open Letter states that the purpose of an official UN day for so-called 'safe abortion' is "to
send a strong signal to the international community and to all our
governments, with a simple but highly symbolic statement of support for
safe abortion". The letter is filled with pro-abortion falsehoods and arguments.
UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received his letter in person, delivered
by Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi from South Africa, the Special Envoy on
Gender of the African Development Bank. The letter was also addressed to
the heads of UN Women, UN Development Programme, World Health
Organization, UN Population Fund, UN Children's Fund, UNAIDS, and
UNESCO.
The Open Letter acknowledges that September 28 activities include "campaigns for abortion law reform, clarification of thelaw and/or implementation of existing law, calls for increased access to safe abortion methods and services, training of providers, and efforts to obtain the release of women and abortion providers who are in prison."
These
activities primarily take place in the overwhelming majority of UN
Member States whose sovereign laws do not allow abortion on demand but
restrict abortion knowing that it can cause physical, emotional,
psychological and spiritual harm to the woman and that it is never safe
for the child whose life these governments often seek to protect.
As reported in the PNCI June newsletter,
the Open Letter, organized by the International Campaign for Women's
Right to Safe Abortion, was to be delivered on July 4 but due to lack of
support delivery was delayed until this month. Signers of the letter
include 430 organizations and individuals from 73 countries and reveal
key pro-abortion agitators whose lobby work at the UN has failed to
advance the pro-abortion agenda. Many of those supporting the letter are
affiliated with leading pro-abortion organizations including Marie
Stopes International, IPPF, Ipas and associated organizations that work
on advancing radical aspects of 'sexual and reproductive health and
rights (SRHR)'.
Organizations
and individuals from the US made up the largest block of support. Their
comments demonstrate tired pro-abortion verbiage including that by
Marge Berer who coordinated the effort for the International Campaign
for Women's Right to Safe Abortion: "Safe abortion is an essential
health service for women. Would anyone today deliberately withhold
effective HIV treatment or safe contraception from people who need them?
Why, then, is it still acceptable that safe abortion is being withheld
from so many women and girls with unwanted pregnancies?"
PNCI
notes that if the UN were to designate a day to support the actions of
pro-abortion NGOs to overturn laws on abortion it would demonstrate
contempt and disdain for sovereign laws of Member States and for
parliamentarians who are tasked with the responsibility of passing laws
on abortion. In addition, it would be conflict with the ICPD Programme
of Action which states, "Any measures or changes related to abortion
within the health system can only be determined at the national or
local level according to the national legislative process."
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Pro-Life Actions
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Nigeria: Bishops Condemn Health Minister's Plan
The Nigerian Catholic Bishops Conference criticized
plans by Health Minister Isaac Adewole to promote contraceptives which
they fear will lead to or include a push for the legalization of
abortion. The Health Minister is reported to be working with foreign
NGOs that promote anti-life policies. The bishops issued a communiqué
condemning the proposal. "The policy is being done all in the name of providing better maternal health and empowering our people," they wrote. "We
see such moves as deceptive to our people and harmful to moral values
and we ask Nigerians to reject them. Our youth and women need better
power supply, potable water, good roads, better health and educational
institutions more than these contraceptives. Our country must reject
this relentless offer of anti-life incentives under the guise of foreign
aid in order not to destroy our beautiful culture," the bishops
state. They encouraged local governments and grassroots efforts to
oppose the plans and protect the country's pro-life laws.
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Legislative News
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AU: Bill to Legalize Abortion Before New South Wales Government
The New South Wales parliament is considering legislation
to remove abortion from the criminal code. A new bill backed by the
Greens party would legalize abortion and create "privacy zones" around
abortion clinics. The proposed bill also removes doctors' conscience
rights. The province has been facing mounting pressure from legal and
academic communities supporting the bill. The Christian Democrats are
strongly opposing the legislation. "This anti-life Abortion Bill
confirms the double standards of the Greens Party which strongly
condemns the live baiting of baby rabbits, but is indifferent to the
death of unborn human babies," said party leader Reverend Fred Nile,
referencing the Greens' support for shutting down the greyhound
industry. New South Wales is one of two Australian provinces that
protects the right to life and bans abortion.
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Nepal: Parliament Approves Government Funding of Abortion
In
its recently approved budget for FY2017, Nepal has allocated funding
for abortion for the first time. Pro-abortion NGO Ipas, active in Nepal
since legalization of abortion in 2002, reported
the parliament's move highlighting the government's program as a model
for other countries. The Honorable Arzu Rana Deuba, a member of
parliament and of Ipas's global Board of Directors, said, "This
budget allocation represents a significant step forward in our
government's efforts to guarantee women's reproductive rights and their
ability to obtain fundamental health-care services."
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Poland: Parliament to Debate Abortion Legislation This Fall
The Polish Sejm is set to debate two competing bills
on the legality of abortion. A pro-life bill backed by the Catholic
Church that would enact a total ban on abortion was presented to the
parliament with over 400,000 signatures, while a pro-abortion bill that
would permit abortion on demand for the first trimester and increase
access to contraception was also presented to the Sejm. This bill was
sponsored by the Save the Women civic committee and had 200,000
signatures. Parliament has three months to act on the opposing bills,
fueling what is being reported as a "cultural war" between pro-life and
pro-abortion campaigners. Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo called for a
free vote on the issue in parliament and has indicated her support for
the pro-life initiative. Poland currently protects the right to life
with exceptions for rape or incest, disability of the child or health of
the mother.
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Executive News
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UK: Marie Stopes Clinic Suspended After Inspection
Surgical abortions were suspended
at Marie Stopes International's headquarters in England following a
surprise inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Women
scheduled for abortions were told to go elsewhere for their safety. The
CQC reported they were unsure if staff was properly trained to
administer anesthesia and they were concerned about issues of consent.
Consequently, all procedures for patients under 18 and those requiring
any sedation were suspended. The CQC said it will release the details of
its findings once the investigation is complete. "We will continue to
monitor these services very closely and we will not hesitate to take
further action, if needed," said Professor Edward Baker, Deputy Chief
Inspector of Hospitals at the CQC.
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Issues
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China: Report Filed at UN Details China's Continued Use of Coercive Population Control
A
new report filed at the UN details the continued use of forced abortion
in China under the new "Two-Child Policy". In the report, Women's
Rights Without Frontiers details the repeated use of coercive population
control through the screening of women of child-bearing age for
pregnancy, imposition of heavy fines for violators, banning single
women from having children and the forced abortion of children whose
birth was not "approved".
Women's Rights Without Frontiers filed a complaint against China with the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, citing China's continued human rights violations. "Sending
out the message that China has "abandoned" its one-child policy is
detrimental to sincere efforts to stop forced abortion and gendercide in
China, because this message implies that the one-child policy is no
longer a problem," said Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women's Rights Without Frontiers. "Let
us not abandon the women of China, who continue to face forced
abortion, and the baby girls of China, who continue to face
sex-selective abortion and abandonment under the new Two-Child Policy.
The one-child policy does not need to be modified. It needs to be
abolished."
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Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
Advancing global respect and dignity for life through law
and policy.
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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.
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Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues
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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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