A Recommendation for Reform of New Zealand's Abortion
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Rt I Are Sex Selective Abortions Wrong? J.M.Johnston Masters Student, Bioethics Centre, University of Otago
rt I Are Sex Selective Abortions Wrong? J.M.Johnston Masters Student, Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, 'THIRD WORLD GIRL ABORTIONS HERE-DOCTORS'. 8 weeks by chorionic villus sampling - a test checking chromosomal abnormalities that, like amniocentesis, is also 'WARNING OVER FOETAL SEX TESTS'. able to accurately identify the sex of the fetus (Morgan, 'FAMILY PLANNING WARNS OF SEX TEST'. 1988, p355). There seem to be two main reasons why a 'EXPERT URGES FEWER FOETUS SEX TESTS'. woman or a couple would want to use prenatal diagnosis and abortion to select the sex of their child. The first, and less controversial, reason may be to avoid the birth So read the headlines of The Dominion and The New of a child with sex linked diseases such as haemophilia or Zealand Herald in early April 2000. Identification of the sex Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Morgan, 1988, p356). The of a fetus is possible as early as six weeks into a second reason for sex selective abortion is to eliminate a pregnancy and based on anecdotal evidence from the Family fetus of the 'wrong' sex - for instance the abortion of a Planning Association, the New Zealand Medical Association male fetus by a woman who wants to have a daughter. It is believes that '[a] third world practice of couples aborting with this second use ofsex identification and abortion that I baby girls has spread to New Zealand' (The Dominion, 6 am concerned, although I do note that abortions performed April 2000, p.1). New Zealand Medical Association for the first mentioned 'therapeutic' reason are not without Chairwoman Pippa MacKay has said that although it is their critics ( see for instance Harris, 1985). -
Amicus Brief
AMICUS BRIEF PREPARED BY THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS THE LOWENSTEIN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC YALE LAW SCHOOL RED ALAS (R ED DE ACADÉMICAS DEL DERECHO ) AND GÓMEZ -PINZÓN , LINARES , SAMPER , SÚAREZ , VILLAMIL ABOGADOS S.A. PRESENTED BEFORE THE COLOMBIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT (C ASE NO . D 5764) PRESIDING JUDGE DR. ALVARO TAFFUR EDIFICIO DEL PALACIO DE JUSTICIA DE BOGOTÁ , D.C. CALLE 12 NO. 7–65 BOGOTÁ COLOMBIA MAY 2005 I. Introduction The issue presented before the honorable Constitutional Court of Colombia in this case – whether the categorical ban on abortion in Article 122 of the Colombian Penal Code is constitutional – raises a question of first impression for this Court that involves the most fundamental rights of life, health and dignity. Constitutional courts and legislatures of many countries around the world have considered this important question on numerous occasions over the last several decades. Amici in this case respectfully submit that these countries’ consistent practices treating the rights of women in the context of abortion provides a useful guide for this Court’s analysis of this important issue. Amici respectfully submit this brief to provide this Court with an overview of the constitutional decisions on abortion by courts of several civil law and common law countries. These countries, with their different legal systems and socio-political histories, differ in how they analyze the issue of abortion, the kinds of safeguards they have instituted to protect the women’s rights and the state’s interest in protecting potential life, and the extent to which they have found abortions to be permissible. -
Fighting to Choose: the Abortion Rights Struggle in New Zealand. by Alison Mcculloch
REVIEWS (BOOKS) 165 Fighting to Choose: The Abortion Rights Struggle in New Zealand. By Alison McCulloch. Victoria University Press, Wellington, 2013. 339pp. NZ price: $50.00. ISBN: 9780864738868. This is a partisan and passionate account of abortion politics in New Zealand, but it is also a scholarly, extensively footnoted, well-researched and fascinating history of pro- choice struggles, anti-abortion politics and the ongoing anomalies in this country’s abortion laws and regulatory processes. Acknowledgements start with McCulloch’s account of her need to present herself as ‘mentally unstable’ in order to secure her access to an abortion in her twenties and her anger at having to run the gauntlet of anti- abortion protesters as she entered Wellington’s Parkview Clinic for the procedure. Her research on the project was initiated in 2007 with a grant from the Women’s National Abortion Action Campaign (WONAAC). The book is illustrated by a range of photos assembled from the archives of the Alexander Turnbull Library and various activist organizations. McCulloch’s pro-choice position is articulated in the opening pages of the introduction. The first question that the book addresses is why the women’s movement in New Zealand failed to achieve control by women over their fertility – in particular, the right to abortion. Conservative thinking and the power of the Catholic Church, combined with what McCulloch identifies as the problematic reformist strategies of the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRANZ), are identified as the reasons for New Zealand’s relatively restrictive abortion legislation, which nevertheless provides the framework within which 15,000 abortions are approved each year. -
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HOW THE CRIMINAL LAW IN AUSTRALIA HAS FAILED TO PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO LIFE FOR UNBORN CHILDREN: A NEED FOR UNIFORM CRIMINAL LAWS ON ABORTION ACROSS AUSTRALIA ∗ PATRICK FERDINANDS This article contends that human life has an intrinsic value from the moment of its conception based on its potential use to the community. This value to the community demands protection from the state. However, there is also a need to balance this aim against the legitimate health interests of pregnant women. Abortions should be permitted only in circumstances where the abortion is necessary to preserve the pregnant woman from any serious danger to her physical or mental health. This article shows that the lack of uniformity in Australia’s criminal law in the area of abortion plays a part in unduly undermining the right to life of unborn children. Accordingly, there is a need for effective uniform criminal laws throughout Australia that properly protect the right to life of unborn children and are duly sensitive to the valid health interests of pregnant women that give rise to circumstances justifying abortion. I INTRODUCTION This article seeks to discover whether or not the criminal law in Australia has failed to promote the right to life for unborn children, and if so, how. It will also examine closely the lack of uniformity in Australia’s criminal law in the 1 area of abortion to see if it plays a part in undermining the rights of unborn ∗ BA (Deakin University), LLB (Hons) (Charles Darwin University), Grad.Dip.Leg.Prac (Australian National University), Public Servant, Victoria. -
Induced Abortion in Australia: 2000-2020 Published by Family Planning NSW 328-336 Liverpool Road, Ashfield NSW 2131, Australia Ph
Publication Information Induced abortion in Australia: 2000-2020 Published by Family Planning NSW 328-336 Liverpool Road, Ashfield NSW 2131, Australia Ph. (02) 8752 4300 www.fpnsw.org.au ABN: 75 000 026 335 © Family Planning NSW 2021 Suggested citation: Wright, S. M., Bateson, D., & McGeechan, K. (2021). Induced abortion in Australia: 2000-2020. Family Planning NSW: Ashfield, Australia. Acknowledgements: Authors: Sarah M. Wright, Research Officer, Family Planning NSW Deborah Bateson, Medical Director, Family Planning NSW Kevin McGeechan, Consultant Biostatistician, Family Planning NSW Internal review: The production of this document would not have been possible without the contributions of the following members of Family Planning NSW staff: Dr Yan Cheng, Senior Research Officer, Family Planning NSW Dr Clare Boerma, Associate Medical Director, Family Planning NSW 1 Contents Data used in this report ____________________________________________________ 3 Key indicators ________________________________________________________________ 3 Primary data sources ___________________________________________________________ 3 Purpose of this report __________________________________________________________ 4 Terms and definitions __________________________________________________________ 4 Data sources and limitations ____________________________________________________ 5 State government abortion notification ______________________________________________________ 5 Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data ___________________________ -
Abortion MARCH 2016
MORAL, SOCIAL and ETHICAL issues for today’s SALVATION ARMY Published by the Moral and Social Issues (Ethics) Council New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory Issued by authority of the Territorial Commander Abortion MARCH 2016 Is abortion an issue in New Zealand society today? Your response matters Abortion is on the decline overall in New Zealand. We have The Salvation Army believes life is a gift from God and that we achieved a 20-year low in the number of pregnancies terminated are answerable to God for the taking of life. We, like many other by choice. Nevertheless, more than13,000 abortions were Christian churches, accept the moment of fertilisation as the performed in this country in 2014. And more than a third of those start of human life and, in most instances would not accept were repeat occurrences where at least one abortion had been abortion as a justifiable choice. performed previously and, in some cases, as many as eight. There are exceptions where The Salvation Army accepts (as Abortion appears to be readily obtained in New Zealand. Despite noted in our International Positional Statement2), that a legislation requiring various checks and balances on decisions termination is appropriate. These are when: that an abortion is permitted, 98–99% of all abortions are • carrying the pregnancy further seriously threatens the life of granted on the basis of the mother’s medical health. Some the mother; or would say this is virtually ‘abortion on demand’. • reliable diagnostic procedures have identified a foetal Abortion is a polarising issue. Political debate on abnormality considered incompatible with survival for more decriminalisation has surfaced repeatedly in New Zealand over than a very brief post-natal period. -
Abortion Law Reform)
Health (Abortion Law Reform) Amendment Bill 2016 Report No. 33, 55th Parliament Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee February 2017 Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee Chair Ms Leanne Linard MP, Member for Nudgee Deputy Chair Mr Mark McArdle MP, Member for Caloundra Members Mr Aaron Harper MP, Member for Thuringowa Mr Sidney (Sid) Cramp MP, Member for Gaven Ms Leanne Donaldson MP, Member for Bundaberg Dr Mark Robinson MP, Member for Cleveland Committee Staff Ms Sue Cawcutt, Inquiry Secretary Ms Trudy Struber, Inquiry Secretary Ms Julie Fidler, Committee Support Officer Ms Mishelle Young, Committee Support Officer Technical Scrutiny Ms Renee Easten, Research Director Secretariat Ms Marissa Ker, Principal Research Officer Ms Lorraine Bowden, Senior Committee Support Officer Contact Details Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee Parliament House George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Telephone +61 7 3553 6626 Fax +67 7 3553 6639 Email [email protected] Web www.parliament.qld.gov.au/hcdsdfvpc Health (Abortion Law Reform) Amendment Bill 2016 Contents Abbreviations and glossary 4 Chair’s foreword 5 1. Introduction 7 1.1 Role of the committee 7 1.2 Referral and committee’s process 7 1.3 Outcome of committee considerations 7 2. Policy context for the Bill 9 2.1 Committee consideration of Abortion (Woman’s Right to Choose) Amendment Bill 2016 9 2.2 Resolution of the Legislative -
Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), Ss 65 & 66; Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), Ss 82-84; and Crimes Act 1900 (ACT), Ss 42-44
Contemporary Australian Abortion Law: The Description of a Crime and the Negation of a Woman's Right to Abortion MARK J RANKIN* This article provides an up-to-date statement of the law with regard to abortion in Australia. The law in each jurisdiction is canvassed and discussed, with particular emphasis upon the most recent developments in the law. In doing so, two aspects of Australian abortion law are highlighted: first, that abortion is a criminal offence; and second, that therefore Australian law denies women a right to abortion. The article dispels the myth that there exists 'abortion-on-demand' in Australia, and argues that any 'rights' that exist with respect to the practice of abortion are possessed and exercised by the medical profession, and not by pregnant women. INTRODUCTION Abortion is a subject which elicits diverse responses. The myriad legal, political, social, religious, economic, and moral issues that abortion raises are well known to all those who seriously contemplate the subject. This article will, however, concentrate on the legal regulation of abortion. It aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date statement of the law with regard to abortion in every jurisdiction in Australia. In doing so, the article will highlight two aspects, or consequences, of the law with regard to abortion: first, that abortion is a criminal offence; and second, that therefore Australian law denies women a right to abortion. The fact that abortions in Australia are widespread and Medicare funded' suggests that there exists a substantial gap between abortion practice and the letter of the law.' This is clearly an issue of concern, but it will not be dealt with in this work. -
Housewives' Depression
Housewives' Depression THE DEBATE OVER ABORTION AND BIRTH CONTROL IN THE 1930s* NEW ZEALAND has received acclaim for its ready recognition of women's rights. Women had, in the public sphere, less difficulty in breaking down the barriers to their participation than their sisters in England or America.' But, in the central areas of private morality, birth control and abortion, New Zealand women have not been granted such ready recog- nition of their autonomy. The first birth control clinic was established in New Zealand in 1953, 37 years after Margaret Sanger's first attempt to open a clinic in New York City, and 32 years after the opening of Marie Stopes's Marlborough Road clinic.2 While in England and America the government eventually took some responsibility for ensuring access to legal abortion, in New Zealand abortion remains limited to certain health grounds.3 Control of fertility raises questions of social, religious, and psycho- logical importance. Women's demands for birth control challenge the 'basic moral assumptions of a male dominated society' and threaten to overturn accepted social roles.4 This was particularly true in New Zealand. The nineteenth-century ideal of woman as the 'colonial help- * I am indebted to Erik Olssen who directed the original research for this paper. Thanks also to Lynne Milne for her comments, and Andree Levesque for her encouragement. 1 Raewyn Dalziel has persuasively argued that the vote was granted precisely because it did not threaten a change in women's prescribed sphere. R. Dalziel, 'The Colonial Helpmeet: Women's Role and the Vote in Nineteenth-Century New Zealand', New Zealand Journal of History, II (1977), 112-23. -
R V. DAVIDSON Victorian Supreme Court [1969] Vicrp 85 Menhennitt, J
R v. DAVIDSON Victorian Supreme Court [1969] VicRp 85 Menhennitt, J.: The accused is charged on four counts of unlawfully using an instrument or other means with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman and one court of conspiring unlawfully to procure the miscarriage of a woman. The trial is in its eighth day. The Crown is about to call medical witnesses to give expert evidence. In order to determine questions of admissibility of evidence which may well arise, it is necessary that an aspect of the relevant law relating to the charges be stated. Accordingly, I invited counsel to make submissions so that I could then make appropriate rulings. The particular matter as to which I have heard submissions and on which I make this rulings is as to the element of unlawfulness in the charges. The relevant portion of s65 of the Crimes Act 1958, under which the first four counts are laid and which is the basis of the conspiracy charge in the fifth count, is as follows: "Whosoever...with intent to procure the miscarriage of any woman whether she is or is not with child unlawfully administers to her or causes to be taken by her any poison or other noxious thing, or unlawfully uses any instrument or other means with the like intent, shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than fifteen years." The use of the word "unlawfully" in the section implies that in certain circumstances the use of an instrument or other means to procure a miscarriage may be lawful. -
Access to Abortion Reports
ACCESS TO ABORTION: An Annotated Bibliography of Reports and Scholarship Second edition (as of April 1, 2020) prepared by The International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Canada, 2020 http://www.law.utoronto.ca/documents/reprohealth/abortionbib.pdf Online Publication History: This edition: Access to Abortion: An Annotated Bibliography of Reports and Scholarship. “Second edition,” current to April 1 2020, published online August 31, 2020 at: http://www.law.utoronto.ca/documents/reprohealth/abortionbib.pdf Original edition: “Access to Abortion Reports: An Annotated Bibliography” (published online January 2008, slightly updated January 2009) has been moved to: http://www.law.utoronto.ca/documents/reprohealth/abortionbib2009.pdf Publisher: The International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, 78 Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto Canada M5S 2A5 Website Reprohealthlaw Blog Contact: reprohealth.law{at}utoronto.ca Acknowledgements: We are most grateful to Professor Joanna Erdman for founding this bibliography in 2008-9. We are also indebted to Katelyn Sheehan (LL.M.) and Sierra Farr (J.D. candidate) for expertly collecting and analyzing new resources up to April 1, 2020, and to Sierra Farr for updating the introduction to this second edition. Updates: Kindly send suggestions for the next edition of this bibliography to: Professor Joanna Erdman, MacBain Chair in Health Law and Policy, Health Law Institute, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Email: joanna.erdman{at}dal.ca ACCESS TO ABORTION: An Annotated Bibliography of Reports and Scholarship, 2020 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: Widespread evidence indicates that abortion services remain inaccessible and inequitably available for many people despite legal entitlement.1 This is true in jurisdictions that permit abortion for specific indications (e.g. -
Submission of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner on Abortion Law Reform
Submission of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner on Abortion Law Reform 1 June 2018 Contact Person: Jackie Blue Equal Opportunities Commissioner New Zealand human Rights Commission [email protected] 1 Submission of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner on Abortion Law Reform Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 I. Current Law ..................................................................................................................................... 4 What makes abortion a crime? ........................................................................................................... 4 Regulation of abortions ...................................................................................................................... 5 II. Human Rights Law and Abortion .................................................................................................... 6 New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 ................................................................................................... 6 International Human Rights Framework ............................................................................................ 6 CEDAW Committee Comments to New Zealand .............................................................................. 10 III. Specific Issues ..........................................................................................................................