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International Pressure for
Abortion
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Oslo:
Pro-abortion
Agenda
Targets OSCE
Parliamentarians
The push for
abortion as
a so-called
"sexual and
reproductive
right" was
taken to a
new
parliamentary
forum--the
Parliamentary
Assembly
(PA) of the
Organization
for Security
and
Cooperation
in Europe
(OSCE), a
human rights
monitoring
body.
Pro-abortion
Swedish
lawmaker
Cecilia
Wigström-with
strong
support from
MPs Hedy Fry
and Francine
Lalonde from
Canada-introduced
a resolution
which
expressed
OSCE PA
concern for
lack of
access to
abortion in
the OSCE
region. The
resolution
also
contained
references
to sexual
rights and
the
achievement
of MDG 5,
reduction of
maternal
mortality.
Debate was
limited to
one minute
statements
with no
rebuttal
resulting in
a number of
completely
false
statements
by
pro-abortion
lawmakers. The
most
outrageous
statement
was the
claim by Fry
that women
who become
pregnant,
while another
child is
under 2
years of
age, know
they will
die from
post partum
hemorrhage
so they seek
abortions.
Pro-life
amendments
to remove
references
to abortion
failed, as
did an
amendment to
acknowledge
progress
already made
in reducing
maternal
mortality as
demonstrated
in the
recent
Gates-funded
study.
Pro-abortion
lawmakers
erupted in
applause
after each
pro-life
defeat.
However,
the resolution
was amended
to
include acknowledgement
that
the unborn
child
deserves
protection
as stated in
the Preamble
of the
Convention
of the
Rights of
the Child,
recognition
of the need
to achieve
MDG
4-reduction
of child
mortality-and urging
of states
to implement
modern
medical
technologies to
treat
pre-born
patients in
the womb to
achieve MDGs
4 and 5.
Rep.
Chris Smith
of the USA
was the lead
sponsor of
the
amendments
with
co-sponsorship
from Mr.
Aderholt of
USA, Mrs.
Allegrini
and Mr.
Barbieri of
Italy, Mrs.
Aleknaite
Abramikiene
and Mr.
Dinius of
Lithuania,
Mr.
Poncyligusz
and Mr.
Bartus of
Poland, Mrs.
Enochson of
Sweden and
Misters
Azzopardi,
Farrugia,
and Deguara
of Malta.
A
resolution
on achieving
the MDGs was
successfully
amended by
Mrs.
Allegrini of
Italy to
include
pro-life
references:
"Convinced
that the
achievement
of universal
development
depends more
on respect
for human
dignity, the
protection
of the right
to life and
genuine
solidarity
between rich
and poor
countries
than on mere
technical or
administrative
solutions."
The final
declaration
can be found
on the
website of
the
OSCE PA.
US: Obama
Administration
Funding Yes
Campaign in
Kenya
U.S.
lawmakers
have
received the
initial
results from
the official
investigation
into USAID
funding for
Kenya's
referendum
on a new
contentious
constitution
which
liberalizes
current
Kenyan law
on abortion.
The federal
investigation
reveals that
the Obama
administration
has spent
over $23
million in
Kenya for
the election
and to
influence a
vote in
favor of the
new
constitution.
These
actions
include
funding of
organizations
who favor
the
legalization
of abortion
in Kenya.
Representatives
Darryl Issa,
Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen,
and Chris
Smith,
requested
the
investigation
to determine
if USAID
violated a
federal law
that
prohibits
the US from
lobbying for
or against
abortion in
a sovereign
country. The
results
reveal that
funding had
indeed gone
to
organizations
intent on
changing
Kenya's law
on abortion.
In addition,
grants for
nine
organizations
in Kenya
were put on
hold after
it was
discovered
that these
organizations
were indeed
campaigning
for a Yes
vote with
funding from
the USA
despite
assertions
to the
contrary by
the US
ambassador
to Kenya.
US foreign
policy has
always
supported
and
advocated
for fair,
free and
non-violent
elections
but did not
try to sway
elections in
favor of one
view as it
is doing in
Kenya.
Background
information
and details
of the
results of
the
investigation
can be
accessed
here.
Nigeria: UN
Pressure to
Legalize
Abortion
from CRC
The United
Nations
Committee on
the Rights
of Child
(CRC)
recently
reviewed
Nigeria's
country
report and
issued
recommendations
calling for
Nigeria to
amend its
current law
to legalize
abortion.
During the
review of
Nigeria's
compliance
with the
Convention
on the
Rights of
the Child,
the
Committee
expressed
its concern
over
Nigeria's
law which
tightly
restricts
abortion.
The
list of
recommendations
from the
Committee
included
reiterating
the
recommendation
from CEDAW
to overturn
the current
law which
protects
unborn
children
from the
violence of
abortion:
"Consider
the
recommendations
by the
Committee on
the
Elimination
of
Discrimination
against
Women to
review and
amend the
State
party's
abortion
laws
(CEDAW/C/NGA/C/06,
para. 34)."
In a
shadow
letter submitted to
the CRC
Committee,
the Center
for
Reproductive
Rights and
the Nigeria
Women
Advocates
Research and
Documentation
Centre
called on
the Nigerian
government
to
immediately
begin the
process of
legalizing
abortion.
They claimed
that overturning
the nation's
pro-life
laws would
"bring them
into
conformity
with
international
human rights
standards".
The
CRC, by
recommending repeal of
Nigeria's
pro-life
laws,
abandons
Article 6 of
the
convention:
1. States
Parties
recognize
that every
child has
the inherent
right to
life. 2.
States
Parties
shall ensure
to the
maximum
extent
possible the
survival and
development
of the
child.
The
Committee
also ignores
the critical
intent of
the
Convention
on the
Rights of
the Child to
include
protection
of the
unborn child
as expressed
in the
Preamble:
"Bearing in
mind that,
as indicated
in the
Declaration
of the
Rights of
the Child,
'the child,
by reason of
his physical
and mental
immaturity,
needs
special
safeguards
and care,
including
appropriate
legal
protection,
before as
well as
after
birth."
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Pro-life Actions
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Pro-Life
Leaders
Unite to
Support
Pro-Life
Efforts in
Kenya
Over 170
pro-life
leaders from
21 countries
signed a
petition
against the
new Kenyan
constitution
that will
increase
access to
abortion as
a national
referendum
on the new
constitution
quickly
approaches.
The
petition,
"In Support
of the 'No'
Campaign -
Kenyans
Opposed to
the
Pro-Abortion
Constitution",
was
facilitated
by the World
Congress of
Families.
African
nations are
increasingly
facing
pressure to
legalize abortion
and Kenya is
currently
the target
of
pro-abortion
NGOs and the
US
government,
EU and other
donor
countries.
World
Congress of
Families
Managing
Director
Larry Jacobs
urged
Kenyans to
"carefully
consider the
consequences
of this
fatal move,
which could
be the first
step on a
road the
West has
followed,
leading to
one-quarter
of all
pregnancies
in the U.S.
ending in
abortion."
The vote is
scheduled
for August
4th.
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Executive News
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South
Korea:
Government
to
Consider
Legalization
of Abortion
Pro-lifers
in
South
Korea
have
responded
quickly
to
suggestions
by a
government
committee
to
legalize
early
abortions.
Some
members
of
the
Ministry
of
Justice
committee
are
citing
pro-abortion
public
sentiment
and
Western
precedent
as
sufficient
reasons
to
change
current
law,
which
prohibits
abortion.
Illegal
early
abortions
are
widespread
with
no
enforcement
of
curren
law
banning
abortion
and
many
doctors preform
abortions. The
Pro-Life
Doctors,
a
pro-life
coalition
of
obstetricians,
gynecologist,
political
and
academic
leaders,
this
year
launched
a
campaign
against
the
illegal
practice
of
abortion
and
is
poised
to
actively
oppose
any
efforts
to
change
the
pro-life
laws.
"Abortion
is
an
unethical
act
that
not
only
damages
the
mental
and
physical
health
of
women
but
also
damages
respect
for
life,"
said
Dr.
Shim
Sang-duk,
a
member
of
Pro-Life
Doctors.
The
committee
will
begin
public
hearings
in
late
August
on
proposals
to
be
sent
to
the
National
Assembly.
Argentina:
Health
Minister
Backtracks
from
Guide
Expanding
Abortion
The
strong
pro-life
reaction
of
lawmakers,
religious
leaders
and
physicians
has
helped Argentina's
Health
Minister
Juan
Manzur
to
separate
himself
from
his
agency's
new
"guide"
which
expands
the
permissible
exceptions
for
abortion
under
current
law.
The
controversial
Technical
Guide
for
Integral
Attention
for
Non-Punishable
Abortions
says
abortions
are
permitted
for
women
who
sign
an
oath
that
they've
been
raped
and
allows
adolescents
to
get
abortions
without
parental
consent.
Minister
Manzur
claims
he
never
authorized
the
guide.
José
Cano,
the
president
of
the
Congress'
Committee
of
Health
and
Sports,
has
said
he
will
subpoena
Manzur
so
he
can
testify
and
explain
what
happened.
"It
is a
document
that
continues
to
be
displayed
on
the
webpage
of
the
ministry,
this
document
that
has
not
been
made
official,"
said
Cano. "It
is a
rather
sensitive
topic
and
it
should
be
treated
in a
serious
way."
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Legislative News
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USA: Moms Who Chose Life
Take Their Babies to
Congress
A
new campaign
highlighting the
life-saving work of
pregnancy resource
centers brings mothers
who chose life to U.S.
Capitol. "Babies Go to
Congress", organized by
Heartbeat International,
features women who were
facing unexpected
pregnancies and chose
life for their babies.
These mothers and their
children will meet with
Members of Congress to
share their stories of
the life-giving help
they received from
pregnancy help centers
and the critical role
these centers play for
women in similar
circumstances who are
often under intense
pressure to abort. The
campaign comes at a
critical time as
pro-abortion Members of
Congress are introducing
legislation to restrict
the activities of
pregnancy resource
centers in the USA.
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Religious News
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Russia: New
Patriarch Urges
Orthodox-Catholic
Collaboration on
Moral Values
Patriarch Kirill, the
new leader of the
Russian Orthodox Church,
has called on Orthodox
and Catholics to work
together
to preserve traditional
values. Recently
selected as the 16th
Patriarch of Moscow and
All Russia, Patriarch
Kirill has spoken out
against the moral
decline of Russia,
anti-Christian attitudes
throughout Europe, and
the influence of secular
culture into religion
that have resulted in
liberal policies that
disregard the values of
family. Patriarch Kirill
has called for Catholics
and Orthodox to work
together for a return to
fundamental Christian
values. Noting Pope
Benedict's leadership on
moral issues, he said,
"... on many public and
moral issues his
approach fully coincides
with the approach of the
Russian Orthodox Church.
This gives us an
opportunity to advocate
Christian values
together with the
Catholic Church, in
particular at
international
organizations and on the
international arena."
PNCI welcomes Patriarch
Kirill's call for
religious unity and
joint action with the
Catholic Church to
advance respect for
life.
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Judicial News
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Spain: Court Will Not
Suspend Abortion Law
While It Hears Case
Against It
Spain's Constitutional
Court ruled this
month not to suspend the
new pro-abortion law
while it considers a
challenge to the law
that further liberalizes
the nation's abortion
law. The law, which went
into effect this March,
increases the time frame
for abortions allowed by
law, including for girls
as young as 16 without
parental consent
protections, and
declares abortion to be
a 'right'. Spain's
conservative Popular
Party has filed the suit
challenging the new law
and pro-life opposition
to it remains strong.
Catholic Archbishop
Francisco Gil Hellin of
Burgos has called on
Spanish citizens to
resist the law, saying
it is not actually a
law. "It is no law
because nobody has the
right to take the life
of an innocent human
being," he stated.
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Parliamentary
Network for
Critical Issues
Advancing
global
respect and
dignity for
life through
law and
policy.
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Family Research Council
Debunks UK Claim that Unborn
Do Not Feel Pain
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The Family Research Council (FRC) released a report refuting a recent study by the UK's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) which claimed that unborn babies do not feel pain before 24 weeks gestation. FFRC's report refutes the RCOG's study, particularly their basis for the finding that the unborn baby's cortex of the brain is not yet fully formed. "RCOG is using a faulty definition of pain in this study," said Jeanne Monahan, Director of the FRC's Center for Human Dignity. "A number of experts in the field of fetal development ... previously have refuted the idea that the cortex needs to be fully developed for an unborn baby to feel pain. On the contrary, it is possible that unborn babies between 20-30 weeks of development can experience greater pain than a full-term newborn or older child."
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Contact PNCI
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Parliamentary
Network for Critical
Issues
P.O. Box 20203
Washington, DC
20041
703-433-2767
info@pncius.org
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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