Statement by Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations

506  Statement by

Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations

Commission on Population and Development

47^th Session

United Nations Headquarters, New York, 10 April 2014

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation takes this opportunity to express its best wishes to you and your Bureau for a productive session, and looks forward to working constructively with delegations as we assess the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.
 

According to the report of the Secretary General, no fewer than 80 countries now register a fertility rate below replacement level.[1] These statistics should be a great cause for alarm, as expressed in another report of the Secretary General:


 

"Old-age support ratios, defined as the number of working-age adults per older person in the population, are already low in most countries of the more developed regions and are expected to continue to fall in the coming decades, ensuring continued fiscal pressure on support systems for older people."[2]

The unsustainable phenomenon of ageing populations can only be resolved by promoting family life and fertility. Support systems for the ageing can only be sustained by a larger, not smaller, next generation, either by paying into a social security system, or by providing intergenerational family support directly.

Mr. Chairman,
My delegation wishes to express grave concern over a very proscriptive approach taken in the zero draft of the outcome document, towards the implementation of the ICPD. This approach seems to treat fertility and pregnancy as a disease which must either be prevented or managed via government or outside assistance. While this may well reflect the concerns of certain highly developed countries, on a universal scale it certainly skews the population and development realities for the most part of the developing countries of the world, for whom other issues take greater priority.



My delegation is of the view that a more sensible approach should focus less on reducing fertility and more on programs and values which support integral human development, namely: personal, social, and spiritual development. Access to education, economic opportunity, political stability, basic health care, and support for the family should serve as the key priorities for achieving such integral human development.

Mr. Chairman,

An issue of great international sensitivity is an insistent promotion of so-called sexual and reproductive “rights”, almost to the exclusion of any other issue. This reflects an improper overtaking of the ICPD Programme of Action by efforts to promote the legalization and/or liberalization of abortion laws, whether by Member States or some UN Agencies, who openly promote laws providing for legal abortion.[3]

However, the Programme of Action in no way promotes abortion, but expressly repudiates it as a mean of controlling families or the population. The ICPD denies that it creates any new rights in this regard. Such laws and policies remain the prerogative of individual Member States according to the Programme of Action. All States emphasized at Cairo that Governments should help women avoid recourse to abortion.

Pope Francis recently addressed this issue:

"Among the vulnerable for whom the church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us. Nowadays efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this. … [T]he church cannot be expected to change her position on this question… It is not ‘progressive’ to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life…"[4]

 

Mr. Chairman,

The Holy See continues to serve at the front-line addressing greater global poverty, human rights and development. Through its presence and emphasis on providing quality and affordable education, health care, access to food and respect for all human rights, the Holy See demonstrates that care and compassion for the poor, rather than focusing on fertility reduction, serves as a model for a truly human-centered approach to development.[5]

Thank You Mr. Chairman

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[1] E/CN.9/2014/5, para. 7

[2] E/CN.9/2014/3, para. 42

[3] See OHCRH and UNAIDS, International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, 2006 Consolidated Version, pg. 35:“Laws should also be enacted to ensure women’s reproductive and sexual rights, … including safe and legal abortion …”, http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/HIV/ConsolidatedGuidelinesHIV.pdf

[4] Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 213 & 214

[5] See Pope Francis, Message to the World Council of Churches, 4 October 2013

17 Feb 2014    re-printed here with permission

http://thirtyone8.com/blog/im-not-called-to-fight-abortion/ 

“I’m Not Called To Fight Abortion”

by Andy | posted in: Commentary, Guest Post | 25

A guest post by my sister, Lydia Mead.
Most people I know don’t care about murdered children.
Sound harsh?

They’re well educated. They know what a human looks like from single cell to embryo to foetus. They know what abortion does. They’re mostly Christian, so they’re fairly well versed on what Jesus is like, what he did on earth, and what he wants us to do. Generally, they get that we’re to love God, and love other people – the fulfilment of the law. They usually draw the line at getting their hands dirty. I talk with them about this.

“Yeah. I know it’s a problem – but my heart’s not in it. I just can’t make myself feel concerned enough to help”. Or: ‘I know – but it’s just not my battle’. Though they usually verbally express this to me, sometimes they say everything by saying nothing at all.

There isn’t any place for a verbal exchange on the brutal reality of abortion amongst polite, Christian people.
 

The other day, sitting around a coffee table with our cappuccinos and cupcakes, I was asked what I’d been doing before our child arrived. There was a hushed silence and the conversation moved quickly on to other topics when I explained how I’d worked in a crisis pregnancy centre, receiving calls from abortion seeking women and girls.

When you mention the A-word amongst your good Christian friends or church folk, you’ve overstepped: there isn’t any place for a verbal exchange on the brutal reality of abortion amongst polite, Christian people. 

The gut feeling you get from your church is – if you’re going to go out and do something awkward and uncomfortable, then it should be evangelism. We’ll pray for you to go and do that in India or an African country; we’ll even send you some money now and then.

But abortion’s too horrible to entertain as a thought, let alone to discuss or do anything about. Not only that, but working to end abortion is going beyond what Christians need to do.

To the friend who exclaimed, in the middle of my fiery exhortation: ‘Gosh, you’re really passionate about this,” followed by: “I just can’t really feel it in my heart to do anything about it” – I’d say, you’re not alone.

I don’t want to do anything about abortion either. Abortion is something I hate thinking about. I hate the idea of thrusting the issue into the faces of decent, well-meaning folk out there. I’d honestly much rather read a novel, play the piano or go have a coffee with friends and chat about nothing.

But there’s a clear reason that polite, decent Christians don’t want to think, discuss or do anything about child murder: it’s a catastrophically large issue with our entire society complicit; even our governmental institutions have upheld and entrenched this ‘right’. Which is why we all draw a blank when it comes to abortion: it’s too hard to actively fight against a society that accepts and upholds the practice.


Believe it or not, those people out there who are raising the subject in their churches and with their friends, praying outside abortion clinics, volunteering for pregnancy counselling helplines, attending marches, running pro-life groups, writing articles, working on a local and national level for legislative change – they don’t want to be doing what they’re doing.

They are always struggling with themselves to keep on, because the prevailing desire – the easy option, is to do nothing. It’s always hard for them to keep fighting abortion. They’d really rather go to the pub and have a beer with the mates and forget about it all.

Those fighting for the lives of children yet to be born, and in memory of those that have died, fight for no benefit for themselves.


The soldiers who answered the call to enlist in the two world wars at the start of last century had a noble task; yet I would posit that those people who continue to fight on behalf of the unborn have a still more noble task.

The brave Allied soldiers in WWI and WWII were fighting for their countries, their families and their own lives, and those that survived received accolades, memorials, respect and praise.

Those fighting for the lives of children yet to be born, and in memory of those that have died, fight for no benefit for themselves or their families and their hostile society treats them with anger and scorn.


The only reward for people who’re fighting against the greatest mass-murder of all history is the knowledge that there are people whose lives have been saved, and hearts changed, through their work.

One day in the not-too-distant future, we’ll be judged on how much we loved God, and how much we loved his people. Jesus reminds us (and I paraphrase): ‘When you saved the lives of the unborn and became a voice for the helpless you did it for Me’.

God counts our actions towards others as though we were doing the same for him in those situations. So, yeah, it’s hard. It’s not a fun topic. It’s not much fun being out in the cold, praying about abortion.

To you pre-born advocates out there – keep working and fighting, and remember that God will give you more love and courage as you persevere.


And to everyone else: don’t wait until you feel ‘called to the ministry’ of fighting for the pre-born, or to ‘feel in your heart’ that you care about abortion. That day won’t come if you’re waiting for it. Get out there and get involved – the passion will come to you on the job.

 Responses

CANADA UN's Rapporteur on Torture Called to Investigate Cases of Children Born Alive After Late Abortions

465  UN's Rapporteur on Torture Called to Investigate Cases of Children Born Alive After Late Abortions         

Appeal Notes Cases in Canada, UK

 

STRASBOURG, FRANCE, April 23, 2014 (Zenit.org) - In an “urgent appeal”, the European Centre for Law and Justice has called the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to investigate on children born alive after late abortion, and on methods of late abortion, especially in the United-Kingdom and Canada: in Canada, between 2000 and 2011, 622 babies born alive after an abortion were left to die, and 66 in the United Kingdom in 2005. Some cruel methods of late abortion constitute torture, especially the one called dilatation and evacuation: the foetus, still alive, is dismembered to be pulled out of the womb in pieces.


The ECLJ has communicated to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture cases of torture due to late abortion. Appointed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Torture can examine questions relevant to torture in all countries. He transmits urgent appeals to States, undertakes fact-finding country visits and submits annual reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.


Scientific evidence proves that foetuses and premature babies can feel pain at least as much as adults. Foetuses are responsive to touch at 8 weeks and have the physical structure to experience pain at 20 weeks.

As early as 16 weeks, an infant can survive for a while out of the womb, and it is considered viable at 22 weeks. However, in Canada, there is no legal limit for abortion, even if medical rules recommend limiting abortion on demand to 22 weeks. In the UK, abortion is legal until 24 weeks, and until the end of pregnancy in case of foetal anomaly.

British Department of Health figures show that 2860 abortions at 20 weeks or more were carried out in England and Wales in 2012. In 2012, 160 abortions were done after 24 weeks, including 38 between 28 and 31 weeks, and 28 after 32 weeks. Sixty-six babies were thus aborted after 28 weeks, which was the viability limit defined by the WHO until 1975: an infant born at that gestational age can survive without medical help.

In Canada in 2011, there were 823 abortions between 17 and 20 weeks, 549 after 21 weeks[1]. These figures are severely underestimated since they do not include Quebec (more than 26,000 abortions a year, including over 1500 after 14 weeks) nor clinics, though more than half abortions are done in clinics.

Late abortion being difficult to perform, it happens that babies are born alive after an abortion. In 2007, a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology[2] concluded that about 1 in 30 abortions after 16 weeks’ gestation result in a born-alive infant. At 23 weeks’ gestation, the number reached 9.7%. In that case, they are left to die without any care, or killed.

TheGuidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists[3]recommends killing these babies by lethal injection. When they are not killed, they are not fed, not even covered, no care is given them even if they were wounded by the attempted abortion. They are left to suffer and die alone. According to official statistics, between 2000 and 2011 in Canada, 622 babies were born alive and left to die after an abortion. They were 66 in 2005 in the United Kingdom, where no statistics were published on this issue the following years.

Concerning Syria, the Special Rapporteur recently stressed that deprival of food, water, shelter and medical care constitutes a crime against humanity. Depriving newborn babies of elementary care, whatever the conditions of their birth, constitutes torture and should also be considered a crime against humanity.

Some methods of abortion, especially dilatation and evacuation, should be banned because of the inhumane suffering they cause for the foetus. According to the statistics of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 1226 abortions in 2010 and 1341 in 2011 used the method of dilatation and evacuation in Canadian hospitals (except Quebec and not including clinics)[4], while among the 160 late abortions in England and Wales in 2012, 43% were by dilatation and evacuation.

In the case of dilatation and evacuation, the cervix is dilated, then the “content of the uterus” is pulled out with a clamp. In the end, the pieces are examined to make sure everything has been removed. This means that the body is gathered like a puzzle, because in many cases it has been dismembered during the operation. If there was no feticide injection first, or if the injection did not cause death[5], the foetus was alive while its members were being torn off one after the other. This frightfully cruel method is inhumane and constitutes torture.

--
[1] http://www.cihi.ca/cihi-ext-portal/pdf/internet/TA_11_ALLDATATABLES20130221_FR

[2] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01279.x/abstract

[3] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-512129/66-babies-year-left-die-NHS-abortions-wrong.html and http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/66-british-babies-survived-abortion-all-were-left-to-die-without-medical-ai

[4] 2010: http://www.cihi.ca/cihi-ext-portal/pdf/internet/TA_10_ALLDATATABLES20120417_FR; 2011:http://www.cihi.ca/cihi-ext-portal/pdf/internet/TA_11_ALLDATATABLES20130221_FR

[5] According to a study, the injection effectively induced fetal death in 87% of women. This means that 13 % survived. Nucatola D, Roth N, Gatter M. A randomized pilot study on the effectiveness and side-effect profiles of two doses of digoxin as fetocide when administered intraamniotically or intrafetally prior to second-trimester surgical abortion.Contraception. 2010 Jan;81(1):67-74. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2009.08.014. Epub . Available athttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20004276
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The European Centre for Law and Justice is an international, Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights in Europe and worldwide. The ECLJ holds special Consultative Status before the United Nations/ECOSOC since 2007.

The ECLJ engages legal, legislative, and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education, and litigation. The ECLJ advocates in particular the protection of religious freedoms and the dignity of the person with the European Court of Human Rights and the other mechanisms afforded by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and others.

The ECLJ bases its action on “the spiritual and moral values which are the common heritage of European peoples and the true source of individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law, principles which form the basis of all genuine democracy” (Preamble of the Statute of the Council of Europe).

Civil Rights Summit Ignored Abortion

465

This week’s 2014 Civil Rights Summit missed a historic moment to acknowledge the most important civil rights struggle of our time — securing the rights of those alive in the womb.

 

Seven men, four U.S. presidents, and three civil rights icons offered presentations at the summit. Yet when it was time to discuss civil rights in the 21st century these men made no mention of the fact that America still discriminates against the unwanted — and that today the unwanted are the unborn.

 

Ambassador Andrew Young, Past NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, and Congressman John Lewis were part of a summit panel titled “Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement: Views from the Front Line.”

 

It would be good to think that the introduction of the panel by King Center CEO Bernice King was intended to recognize women’s participation in the struggle for voting, housing, and other rights; yet where were any women on the panel? Believe me, we did march; some went to jail; and some women and children died.

 

My friend Day Gardner, founder of the National Black Pro-Life Union, said of the event, “Someone at the summit should have acknowledged that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s ‘beloved community’ is inclusive, but that American law still segregates — regarding babies in the womb as separate and unequal.”

 

Gardner added, “While there was lip service to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, four of the holders of America's highest seat of power never spoke of the sanctity of human life in the womb. While President Carter did address human trafficking from the perspective of sexual slavery, no one spoke to the truth that America can never truly be the leader of the ‘free world’ until the dignity of every man, woman, and child — born and unborn — is protected.”

 

Remarking on the progress of civil rights since the 1968 enactment of the law, and going back as far as 395 years ago when slavery came to the Americas, the Rev. Wayne Perryman remarked as follows.

 

“While there have been many some positive inroads during the past 395 years, some things have not changed. One interesting enigma is that while science and theology both point to the truth that there are not separate human races, only one human race, the lie of racism is still perpetrated in America.

 

“In addition to the 365 years of African Americans in America, 50 years have passed since the passage of the “Civil Rights Bill” in America, promising equality for black Americans. And yet, in 2014, 365 years or 50 years later, depending on the perspective, African Americans still do not comprehensively experience the liberty and freedom that other ethnic groups enjoy in America.

 

The Rev. Perryman continued: “Tragically, after 395 years of living in America, helping to build this great nation, having literally served this great nation, African Americans, in some isolated cases, and in some more blatant situations, black Americans are still often treated as second-class citizens.

 

“The significant role that blacks have played and continue to contribute in the success of America — the unique giftings and talents — their contributions in various fields are seldom ever included or valued in regular American history classes or substantial historical documentaries; all of which perpetuates negative racial stereotypes. African Americans started working and contributing the moment they stepped onto American soil in 1619 and have been doing so ever since. Unfortunately most Americans are not aware of their contributions.

 

He concluded: "Based upon the generally noted founding of America in 1776, America is 238 years old this year. Notably with the advance of the transcontinental slave trade which began in 1619, the contributions of African Americans began 157 years earlier. Together, the sum of these years brings us to this 395th anniversary of black oppression in America." 

 

Day Gardner and I are both members of the National Black Prolife Coalition. We agree with the Rev. Perryman. There is still inequity among blacks and other Americans. Day and I remain concerned about all injustice, all inhumanity among humans. That is why we are working to expose the impact of abortion on the African American community and all of America.

 

We are also working to expose the role of Planned Parenthood in the decimation of our communities. Yes, as Rev. Perryman says, we acknowledge some “inroads in race relations,” yet lament that many liberals still ignore the rights of 55+ million aborted babies since Roe vs. Wade.

 

It has been 50 years of civil rights struggles and 395 years of oppression against blacks, and still today in the 21st century the babies are not free and the wombs of women are still endangered. Let our people go!

 

Dr. Alveda C. King grew up in the civil rights movement led by her uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She is a pastoral associate and director of African-American outreach for Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries. Her family home in Birmingham, Ala., was bombed, as was her father’s church office in Louisville, Ky. Alveda herself was jailed during the open housing movement. Read more reports from Dr. Alveda C. King — Click Here Now.

 

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Morgentaler Enriched Who's Canada? | Sarnia Observer Krista MacLeod

Morgentaler Enriched Who's Canada? | Sarnia Observer   427

Morgentaler Enriched Who's Canada? 

Krista MacLeod    Monday, July 14, 2008 11:29:52 EDT

 

Months ago, The Globe & Mail hosted an online poll taken by Canadians as to whether or not they believed that Henry Morgentaler deserved the Order of Canada, and Canadians responded with a clear NO. The protocol for the nomination of the Order of Canada has always been a unanimous consent from the committee, yet in this case protocol has been overlooked.

Two committee members, Privy Council Clerk Kevin Lynch and Deputy Heritage Minister Judith Larocque are said to have opposed this nomination, but in this specific case the Chief of Justice made a decision to override this protocol and the vote was cast democratically in the committee.

I would think that on that note along, Mr. Henry Morgentaler would want to decline his nomination of the Order of Canada. However, I suppose since he didn't mind dishonouring the system in 1969, opening an abortion clinic in Montreal when abortions were still illegal, he isn't opposed to receiving this award due to broken protocol. Regardless, I mind, and I dare say many more Canadians mind as well.

On the Governor General's website, it describes recipients of the Order of Canada as a person whose contributions have "enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country." His nomination in the health sector is said to have been for his commitment to increased health care options for women.

Essentially, they are saying that they have chosen to honour Henry Morgentaler for pioneering the pro-choice movement in Canada, allowing women to have access to "safe" abortions in Canada. I put safe in quotations as every abortion performed two weeks after conception results in a heart that stops beating. Not to mention the countless studies, stories, articles and resources that highlight the mental and physical health problems that are linked to women post-abortion. I can't help but wonder whose life was enriched by the outcome of this pro-choice movement.

Was it the life of the unborn child that never saw the light of day, the many women who suffer from that decision or the men that never got to father a child? I suppose they are correct though in saying that he made a difference in Canada, after all it's estimated that a third of my generation never made it out of the womb. I don't think we can even begin to fathom the difference and the effect that has made in our nation.

I guess I assumed wrong when I thought they referred to a positive difference in our nation. For an award that is supposed to unite a nation in honouring an individual for their contributions, it sure is causing a lot of division. This division and uproar alone should cause the committee and the Governor General's office to rethink this nomination. I am a very proud Canadian but if this nomination carries through, I wonder what legs we will have to stand on to promote social justice and human rights internationally.

ONE DOWN more to go Morgentaler abortion clinic (abortuaries) in Fredericton to close

Paul s Note: Since 1969 (Trudeau Omnibus bill) over 4 million children have been exterminated by abortion in Canada...

Predictiction # 2, I predict that by the 150th anniversary of Canada July 2017 Abortion will be so repugnant to the majority on Canadians and Parliament will take action to greatly eliminate or abolish this insane practice ...

I predicted upon the death of abortion provider Morgentaler the beginning of the end of abortion was near in Canada and that his abortuaries would follow him to the grave one by one.
           
  www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/morgentaler-abortion-clinic-in-fredericton-to-close-1.2604535

ARTICLE

The Morgentaler abortion clinic in Fredericton will close the end of July following a 20-year fight with the New Brunswick government over funding for the procedure.

The clinic held a news conference on Thursday to explain the decision. The province's Department of Health has always refused to cover abortions performed at the clinic.

“Regulation 84-20 remains on the books and New Brunswick women will now have no option to access abortions in the province except by meeting its discriminatory and medically unjustifiable requirements,” according to a statement issued by the clinic.

Fredericton clinic says it cannot afford to continue performing abortions without provincial funding

“Had the province provided funding for clinic abortions, or paid for abortions for women without ability to pay, the clinic would not be closing. To make matters worse, Regulation 84-20 makes it impossible for the majority of New Brunswick women to access an abortion in one of the two hospitals where the service is provided.”

The Morgentaler clinic is the only private abortion facility in New Brunswick.
The province pays for abortions at two hospitals, but only if a woman gets approval from two doctors who certify the procedure is “medically necessary.”

The Morgentaler clinic opened in June 1994 and has provided abortion services to more than 10,000 women.

The current fee for the procedure is $700 before 14 weeks of pregnancy, and $850 between 14 and 16 weeks.

The clinic says it has never been able to meet its expenses and financial shortfalls were covered by Dr. Henry Morgentaler, who died nearly a year ago.
“In the past 10 years, the clinic has contributed over $105,400 to subsidize abortions for women unable to pay the full amount,” the clinic said.

There have been other financial headaches for the facility.
The clinic sustained more than $100,000 in flood damages in 2008. While other downtown Fredericton businesses were given financial compensation, the clinic did not receive any government cash because the building was owned by Morgentaler, who was not a New Brunswick citizen.

The clinic would have closed in 2008 if Morgentaler hadn’t paid for the repairs himself, according to the statement.

Planned closing a 'sad and dark day'

Joyce Arthur, executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, called the announcement a "very sad and dark day for New Brunswick women.

"The province created this crisis and showed callous disregard for women’s health needs. As we’ve seen in P.E.I. where there’s no access, some women will harm themselves in attempts to induce an abortion," Arthur said in a statement.

"If N.B. does not improve access quickly, women’s health and safety is at risk, especially young women and disadvantaged women."

The Morgentaler clinic was also used by women from Prince Edward Island.

P.E.I. women whose abortions were covered by medicare generally travelled to Halifax. But if the procedures weren't being covered, they would often visit the Fredericton clinic.

Medicare has no reciprocal funding agreements on abortion with other provinces. So, an Ontario student at the University of New Brunswick would have to pay $1,800 at hospital or go to the Morgentaler clinic.

Morgentaler sued the N.B. government

 

Morgentaler opened his first abortion clinic in Montreal in 1969, when attempting to induce an abortion was a crime punishable by life imprisonment and the woman faced imprisonment of two years.
Anti-abortion activists targeted the clinics, and rallies, protests and many legal battles followed. On Jan. 28, 1988, the Supreme Court struck down Canada's abortion law as unconstitutional.
That did not end Morgentaler's legal battles.

He launched a lawsuit against the New Brunswick government in 2002, demanding the government pay for procedures at his clinic.
The lawsuit has been in limbo since the death of the abortion rights activist last May.

New Brunswick's Department of Health said little in a statement on Thursday morning to comment on the Morgentaler clinic's impending closure.

"Women will continue to have access to medically-necessary abortions in the province with the approval of two physicians," according to the statement.

"As this matter is still before the courts, the department has no further comment."

Sarah Leblanc, of the Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick, a Moncton-based group that supports abortion rights, says if there's any change in the service the Morgentaler clinic offers, the provincial government must improve access in hospitals, because abortions are legal.

"The bottom line is women have to be able to access that service of their own choice. It's the woman's decision. We have the right to decide what happens with our lives and our bodies," she said.
The Alward government has been content with the status quo of requiring two doctors to sign off on an abortion.

Liberal Leader Brian Gallant has called himself pro-choice, but has not said whether he would change the two-doctor policy.

Lia Mills

True Choice -- Video Update

A quick video update from Lia Mills,
founder and director of True Choice. Find out more information about
the stories that inspired the creation of True Choice, which is an
international strategy to help protect and empower women in crisis
pregnancies  www.true-choice.com

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