A new abortion study, “Induced Abortion Rates and Trends Worldwide,” was published in The Lancet recently. The study was a collaborative effort between the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization. It was completed with the intention of documenting trends worldwide.
Researchers found that between the years 1995 and 2003, abortion rates declined by 15 percent, from about 46 million to 42 million. Worldwide, there were an estimated 205 million pregnancies; about 20 percent of those pregnancies ending in abortion in 2003, according to the study.
World abortion rates today are highest in Eastern Europe, where a little over half of pregnancies are aborted. Although still high, the rates are half of what they were in the 1990s with 44 abortions per 1,000 women. Rates are lower in Western European countries like Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, where there are 10 abortions for every 1,000 women. North America, according to the study, reported 21 abortions pet 1,000 women.
The fact that “induced abortion is one of the greatest human rights dilemmas of our time,” as the study states in its introduction, is clearly shown again and again in the media throughout the world, although often with a pro-choice bias.
In the U.S., abortion is again in the forefront when discussing issues in the upcoming presidential race. The daily news brings reports of both Republican and Democrat candidates wrestling over their positions on the issue as the fight for the presidential candidacy of their respective political parties continues.
On a local level, in Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt recently formed a 14-member task force on the Impact of Abortion on Women. The mission statement states the task force “seeks to understand and highlight the impact of abortion on women: physiologically, psychologically and socially….The Task Force will recommend policies and actions to the Governor.” Gov. Blunt initiated the study as he says he realizes “abortion has a negative impact on Missouri children, Missouri women, Missouri men.” Co-chairman of the task force, John McCastle, said the group intends to look at the “psychological, emotional, physical side effects” of abortion, including reports of “coercion” of pregnant women and girls. McCastle acknowledges the lack of anti-lifers on the panel. “If the governor wants information on how to reduce abortions in Missouri, he certainly wouldn’t go to Planned Parenthood.” Task force member Connie Eller of St. Louis, Missouri, coordinator of Missouri Blacks for Life, said she hopes “to have women to be so much more informed, protected.”
In 2008, South Korea’s government will reportedly hold hearings to address their Mother and Child Health Law which allows legal abortion up to the eighth week of gestation in the case of transmitted or genetic diseases, incest, rape or when the health of the mother is at great risk.
As in many African and Latin American nations, a Nigerian bishop reports his country is under intense international pressure to legalize abortion.
In Nicaragua, six women were brought to court for securing an abortion for a young girl.
See the Source: Ann Marie McQueen, “Study shows abortion rates on decline,” Winnipeg Sun, 15 December 2007, http://winnipegsun.com/News/2007/12/12/4723047.html;
Jo Mannies, “Blunt’s anti-abortion task force prompts debate over his intent,” STLtoday.com, 15 November 2007, http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/jomannies/story/A5F5FE8D0758F6FA86257394001AC03B?OpenDocument;
Aurelie Placais, “Sexual and reproductive rights in South Korea,” Open Summit Women Talk to the G8, 1 June 2007, http://opensummit.opendemocracy.net/2007/06/01/sexual-and-reproductive-rights-in-south-korea/
Henry Hyde Honored
The House and Senate both passed resolutions honoring former Congressman Henry J. Hyde who recently passed away. Both S. Res 405 offered by Senator Grassley and H. Res 483 offered by Congressman Pete Roskam, who represents Congressman Hyde’s former district, passed by voice vote.
The two resolutions contain praise for his dedication to unborn children and specifically reference the “Hyde Amendment” on the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill that prohibits taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions.
See the Source: ‘110th Congress, 1st Session, S. Res. 405,” http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:sr405ats.txt.pdf;
“110th Congress, 1st Session, H. Res. 843,” http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:hr843ih.txt.pdf
Fewer Bangladeshis
Bangladesh is joining the ranks of nations eager to die as the government recently unveiled plans to encourage couples to have only one child.
Abdul Mannan, Director General of Population Planning Directorate of Bangladesh told China’s Xinhua, that under this plan, the government would provide couples who have only one child advantages, such as free tuition, free books and admission into government schools.
Bangladesh is the home of 140 million people with a population growth of 14 percent. Bangladesh is considered one of the most densely populated countries in the world with 913 people inhabited on one square kilometer.
See the Source: “Bangladesh to encourage ‘one couple one child’ to tackle population explosion,” China View, 18 December 2007, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/18/content_7273093.htm
