China Aid Ends?
While PRI was presenting information on UNFPA’s involvement in China’s coercive one-child policy to the US House of Representatives, members of the UK’s House of Lords were using the same information to try to cut British funding for UNFPA. Baroness Cox and four other members of the House of Lords presented an amendment to the International Development bill to stop funding UNFPA and other organizations supporting China’s one-child policy. In her speech, Baroness Cox quoted the testimonies PRI presented to Congress and argued, “The evidence shows that in China today, British taxpayers may be being used to promote forced abortion and sterilization.” Although the amendment was defeated, the battle to stop funding of China’s policy is far from over.
(SPUC International News Digest, 23 October 2001)
Nepal & Abortion
Nepal has caved into UN demands that they legalize abortion. On October 9, the House of Representatives of Nepal voted 112–92 to legalize abortion for rape or incest up to ten weeks after conception, and at any time “where pregnancy poses any danger to the physical or mental health of the mother or if the child will be disabled.”
In August, the UN’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued a document calling for Nepal to “take remedial action to address the problems of clandestine abortions … and to allow abortion when pregnancies are life threatening or a result of rape or incest.” To become law, the bill must still pass the Upper House and be signed by King Gyanendra.
(Obeying United Nations Nepal Legalizes Abortion,” LSN.ca, 17 October 2001)
Japan
In order to encourage increased condom use among teenagers, a Japanese doctor has decided to offer free abortions to young women who become pregnant when a condom breaks. Dr. Tsuneo Akaeda claims he was motivated by the large number of young people who won’t use condoms because they aren’t “cool.” As a result, many of them are infected with sexually transmitted diseases.
The program, called Girl’s Guard, requires that the busted condom be mailed in with a picture of the woman. If she then becomes pregnant, Girl’s Guard will pay for a pregnancy test or an abortion, provided they can verify that conception matches the time the condom broke.
The Mainchi Daily News reports that there is opposition to the idea. A Japan Family Planning Association representative said that “emergency contraception” should be promoted as the solution to condom breakage. An OB/GYN at the East Kanto Medical Center stated that promotion of the pill would be a more effective solution to preventing pregnancy.
The Mainchi Daily News offers a better solution. They point out, “There is, of course, another option that is the ultimate in low-tech. Abstinence.”
(Asuna Kojima and Mainichi Shimbun, “‘Guaranteed’ Condoms — Busting Unsafe Sex Trends?” Mainichi Daily News, 27 October 2001)
US Poor Targeted
Taking a lesson from the tactics of population controllers around the world, Planned Parenthood (PP) of Akron, Ohio, has begun a program bringing population control literally to the doors of poor women. The program, called Reaching Out, began with a $100,000 grant from the government. The government set aside $550 million in taxpayer dollars to “help clients become self-sufficient.” Under the program, a PP yellow Volkswagen Beetle visits poor areas, including day cares, recreation centers and housing projects, bringing birth control pills, condoms, and morning-after pills. The Akron Beacon Journal reports that “enticing women to walk in has been tough. Many women shy away from government-sponsored programs like these.”
Program directors define success by “how many babies weren’t born,” admitting it is hard to quantify. Joel Potts of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said, “We’ve done a lot of talking about it. How do you know if you’ve had a successful program? You don’t.” Their uncertainty hasn’t led to any scruples about using taxpayers money to target poor women for population control.
(Carol Biliczky, “Birth control brought to door,” Akron Beacon Journal, 29 October 2001, quoted in LSN.ca, 30 October 2001)
RU-486 Forbidden in China
The People’s Republic of China, which manufactures RU-486, has banned the abortion drug in their own country. The State Drug Administration issued a notice to pharmacies, stating, “In order to guarantee patients’ safety and protect their health, it is decided that no matter whether patients have a doctor’s prescription or not, retail drug stores are forbidden to sell mifepristone tablets.” Evidently, they have no such concerns about the safety and health of patients in the US and elsewhere who receive Chinese-manufactured RU-486.
(“China Bans RU 486 Abortion Drug,” Beijing Morning Post, 9 October 2001)
