Allowing adoption of embryos 'would attack Italy’s abortion rights’
by Lillo Montalto Monella & Alice Tide
28/03/2019
A bid by one of Italy's ruling populist parties to recognise the legal rights of embryos and allow unborn children to be adopted has been denounced by critics who say it is an assault on the country's decades-old abortion law.
The proposal is back in the spotlight ahead of a global conference in Verona that seeks to defend the concept of family in society.
Dozens of Hollywood celebrities oppose 'heartbeat' abortion bill, vow to abandon Georgia if it becomes law
The Associated Press
March 28, 2019
ATLANTA — More than 40 Hollywood celebrities have signed a letter sent to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and House Speaker David Ralston saying they will urge TV and film production companies to abandon the state if a "heartbeat" abortion bill becomes law.
The bill prohibits most abortions after six weeks from conception and could come to a House vote as early as Thursday. If approved, it will go to Kemp, who's expected to sign it.
Legal, but... abortion access under threat in Catholic Croatia
March 28, 2019
On paper, abortion has been legal in Croatia for decades. But in practice, it is becoming less available in the largely Catholic country where religious pressure is pushing doctors increasingly to refuse abortions on moral grounds.
"Why are gynaecologists obliged to do abortions? I don't really see a connection," said Boris Ujevic, a doctor at Zagreb's public Holy Spirit Hospital, when asked why he does not offer the procedure.
Continued: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-03-legal-abortion-access-threat-catholic.html
'Dire consequences' as Trump extends aid ban for organisations engaging in abortion-related care
There is concern the Trump administration’s expansion of a ban on US aid to groups promoting access to abortion-related services will harm women in developing nations.
Mar 28, 2019
By Evan Young
Reproductive rights advocates are concerned the “unprecedented” expansion of a US ban on foreign aid to groups encouraging abortion-related services will cause a “chilling effect” in developing nations.
The latest iteration of the Mexico City Policy (MCP) extends to groups that already comply with the ban but give money to other organisations which do not.
Abortions rise worldwide when US cuts funding to women’s health clinics, study finds
Yana Rodgers
March 27, 2019
Advancing Republican efforts to reduce access to abortion, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on March 26 that the Trump administration will further restrict federal funding to health providers abroad that perform, promote or even talk about abortions.
The move expands the “global gag rule” Trump imposed in 2017. It substantially expands the number of groups affected by cutting funding to any organization with a foreign partner that provides abortions – even if those overseas groups are not, themselves, U.S. government-funded.
Italy’s Right Links Low Birthrate to Fight Against Abortion and Migration
By Jason Horowitz
March 27, 2019
VERONA — In a City Hall office decorated with ultrasound images of his children, a Crucifix and nesting dolls of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, Mayor Federico Sboarina explained why he had sought to make Verona the first “Pro-Life City” in Italy.
“This is the city of love, the city of Romeo and Juliet,” he said, “and the fruit of love is life.”
Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/world/europe/italy-verona-salvini-world-congress-of-families.html
Mexican president considers abortion referendum
López Obrador is unlikely to push for legalization now, as he needs Catholic Church to help fight violence.
John Burger
Mar 27, 2019
Andres Manuel López Obrador did a good job keeping the abortion issue out of his campaign for president of Mexico last year. But he might be confronting it now.
At a recent celebration for International Women’s Day, the Mexican President had to deflect charges that he wants a referendum on abortion.
Continued: https://aleteia.org/2019/03/27/mexican-president-considers-abortion-referendum/
Pompeo expands US ban on funding for abortion services
Posted: Mar 26, 2019
By: CNN Newsource
The US will dramatically expand its efforts to enforce a rule that denies funding to overseas aid groups and health organizations that provide or promote abortion services, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday.
The move will undermine a broad array of health programs focused on HIV, malaria, maternal and child health, and likely result in more unsafe abortions, aid groups said.
Continued: https://www.wcpo.com/news/national/pompeo-expands-us-ban-on-funding-for-abortion-services
Trump Is Doubling Down On His Already Expansive Anti-Abortion Foreign Policy
Trump’s rule banning US funding from groups that “provide or promote” abortion was already further-reaching than any previous Republican president’s.
Ema O'Connor BuzzFeed News Reporter
Posted on March 26, 2019
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will expand its anti-abortion rules abroad, a move that many international health organizations say worsens an already devastating policy for women’s health.
The State Department announced Tuesday the administration will expand a rule that blocks US funding from any international nongovernmental organization that “provides or promotes abortion as a method of birth control.” The rule, called the Mexico City Policy, will now not only apply to organizations receiving US funding, but any local organizations those organizations support. Many groups that rely on US funding stopped doing international aid work related to abortion in order to keep those funds. The expanded rule will mean that they will have to stop giving financial support to other groups doing that work as well, even if they were using non-US or private funds to provide that support.
Continued: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emaoconnor/trump-double-down-anti-abortion-gag-rule
I Decide: Celebrating the safe abortion champions
26 March 2019
In September 2018, people all over the world joined together to demand safe abortion access to all after we launched our international movement: I Decide What Happens To My Body.
It has been truly phenomenal. From handing in petitions to governments, to activists taking to the streets, WhatsApp and Facebook to pursue rights for themselves and others, dozens of IPPF Member Associations (MAs) have made incredible steps forward – sometimes in challenging circumstances – making them true safe abortion champions.
Continued: https://www.ippf.org/blogs/i-decide-celebrating-safe-abortion-champions
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