Zimbabwe: Legalize Abortion: Doctors

Legalize Abortion: Doctors

June 30, 2017
Bridget Mananavire

Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights are calling for the total repeal of the country's 1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act, which bans abortion and is responsible for a high rate of unsafe abortion. One-third of maternal deaths are due to unsafe abortion and considerable resources are spent treating post-abortion complications.

Continued at source: Daily News: https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2017/06/30/legalise-abortion-doctors


Simone Veil, first European Parliament President, dies at 89

Simone Veil, first European Parliament President, dies at 89

Holocaust survivor and women’s rights advocate, she became the elected president of the European Parliament in 1979.

By Connor Murphy
6/30/17

Former European Parliament President Simone Veil died on Friday at the age of 89.

A Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, Veil was a strong advocate for European unity and became the first directly elected president of the European Parliament in 1979.

She was also a champion for women’s rights in France and across Europe. As health minister under President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1974, Veil legalized abortion in France, making it the first mainly Roman Catholic country to do so.

Continued at source: Politico: http://www.politico.eu/article/simone-veil-first-european-parliament-president-dies-at-89/


French Politician Simone Veil, Holocaust Survivor And Abortion Pioneer, Dies At 89

French Politician Simone Veil, Holocaust Survivor And Abortion Pioneer, Dies At 89

June 30, 2017
Merrit Kennedy

Simone Veil, a Holocaust survivor and women's rights advocate who was instrumental in legalizing abortion in France, has died at age 89.

Veil was among France's most popular politicians and was revered across the political spectrum. In 1979, she became the first directly elected president of the European Parliament.

Continued at source: National Public Radio: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/30/534974403/french-politician-simone-veil-holocaust-survivor-and-abortion-pioneer-dies-at-89


Northern Irish appeal court refuses limited lifting of abortion ban

Northern Irish appeal court refuses limited lifting of abortion ban

Henry McDonald, Ireland correspondent
Thursday 29 June 2017

Three appeal court judges have refused to legalise abortions in Northern Ireland’s hospitals in cases where women are made pregnant through rape or where pregnancies are doomed due to fatal foetal abnormality.

The ruling in the court of appeal in Belfast also passed on responsibility for any changes to the region’s strict anti-abortion regime to a Stormont assembly that may not exist after Thursday’s devolution deadline.

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/northern-irish-appeal-court-refuses-limited-lifting-of-abortion-ban


Greater Investments Needed to Meet Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs in Developing Regions

Greater Investments Needed to Meet Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs in Developing Regions
214 Million Women Have an Unmet Need for Modern Contraception

June 29, 2017
News Release

A new study published today by the Guttmacher Institute finds that contraceptive services and maternal and newborn health (MNH) services fall far short of needs in developing regions. The study, Adding It Up: Investing in Contraception and Maternal and Newborn Health, 2017, finds that 214 million women in developing countries want to avoid pregnancy but—for a variety of reasons—are not using a modern method of contraception. In addition, tens of millions of women do not receive the basic pregnancy and delivery care they need to protect their health and that of their newborns: An estimated 50 million women giving birth this year will receive fewer than four antenatal care visits, and 35 million women giving birth will not deliver in a health facility.

Continued at link: Guttmacher Institute: https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2017/greater-investments-needed-meet-womens-sexual-and-reproductive-health-needs


UK: Government U-turns on NHS abortions for Northern Ireland women

Government U-turns on NHS abortions for Northern Ireland women

The Government is heading off a possible defeat on the issue at the hands of Labour

Jon Stone, Rob Merrick
Thursday 29 June 2017

The English NHS will provide free abortions for women visiting from Northern Ireland, the Government has announced.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the policy change in the House of Commons after Labour proposed an amendment to the Queen's Speech that would have forced the change.

The amendment, proposed by MP Stella Creasy, was picked for a vote later today – and was expected to be backed by some Tory backbenchers.

Continued at source: The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/northern-ireland-nhs-abortions-uk-pay-terminations-pregnancy-philip-hammond-dup-a7814606.html


Ireland: Citizens’ Assembly members warn politicians over ‘delaying tactic’

Citizens’ Assembly members warn politicians over ‘delaying tactic’

Members who voted in favour of more liberal abortion regime want issue put to a vote
June 29, 2017
Ronan McGreevy

Members of the Citizens’ Assembly have called for better sex education in schools and for more support for pregnant women in Ireland.

The report of Ms Justice Mary Laffoy into the outcome of the assembly on abortion contained a series of recommendations agreed by the members by consensus.

Continued at link: Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/citizens-assembly-members-warn-politicians-over-delaying-tactic-1.3137774


Northern Ireland women to get free abortions in England

Northern Ireland women to get free abortions in England

29 June 2017
Women from Northern Ireland will be able to get free abortions in England, the government has said.

More than 50 MPs from the major parties had backed a Labour-led call for the women to have access to NHS abortions in England. They currently have to pay.

The BBC's political editor said ministers made the concession because it appeared some Tory MPs might back the call, risking a possible defeat.

Continued at link: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-40438390


UK: The government’s abortion commitment is good news. But it’s not enough

The government’s abortion commitment is good news. But it’s not enough

As long as women from Northern Ireland have to travel for terminations they are still hugely disadvantaged. We need the law at home to change too

Elizabeth Nelson
Thursday 29 June 2017

Abortion for women in Northern Ireland has become a high stakes issue in British politics for perhaps the first time ever, potentially exposing the first faultlines in the young Tory-DUP agreement to maintain a weakened Conservative government. Following Stella Creasy’s attempt to amend the Queen’s speech, the government has offered a new commitment to fund abortions for Northern Irish women on the NHS in England and Wales. It’s a welcome step and will potentially have an immediate impact on widening access to basic healthcare for UK citizens who have long been denied this right.

Continued at source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/29/northern-ireland-women-abortion-amendment-access


Ireland: Amnesty International welcomes Citizens’ Assembly report as road map for abortion reform

Amnesty International welcomes Citizens’ Assembly report as road map for abortion reform
29th June 2017

Amnesty International reiterates need for access on request at least in early pregnancy to ensure a human rights compliant abortion framework

Amnesty International today welcomed the recommendations put forward by the Citizens’ Assembly in the report written by its Chair, Justice Mary Laffoy. In April, members of the Citizens’ Assembly called for expansive reform of Ireland’s abortion laws. In addition to overwhelming backing for the removal of the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution, they voted by a two-thirds majority for access to abortion on request at least in early pregnancy, and by even greater majorities for later gestational limits in specific circumstances.

Continued at source: Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.ie/amnesty-international-welcomes-citizens-assembly-report-road-map-abortion-reform/