Canada – No, For Real: Is Abortion Actually An Election Issue?

Courtney Shea
Sept 17, 2021

If you caught any of the leaders debates, you may have seen Justin Trudeau call out Erin O’Toole for his lack of support for abortion. The Libs, along with numerous reproductive rights organizations, have questioned whether the Conservative Party of Canada leader’s recent “pro-choice” proclamations are legit. On the flip side, critics of the current PM say this particular abortion conversation is a giant nothing burger, and wonder why Trudeau only wants to talk about the right to choose during election cycles. Given everything going on in Texas (where they effectively banned abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy), it’s no wonder that Canadian voters are feeling anxious (and confused) in the lead up to the election.

Continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2021/09/10660266/why-is-abortion-a-federal-election-debate

Canada – Nope, Erin O’Toole is still not pro-choice

Joyce Arthur
September 14, 2021

The abortion issue is still the "stinking albatross" around the neck of the Conservative Party leader, because about 81 per cent of Conservative incumbents running in the federal election have been designated as anti-choice by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada. That includes the party leader himself, Erin O'Toole.

As I wrote one year ago, Erin O'Toole is not pro-choice. In 2016, he voted in favour of private member Bill C-225 that would have given legal personhood to fetuses, in the context of pregnant people being attacked.

Continued: https://rabble.ca/columnists/2021/09/nope-erin-otoole-still-not-pro-choice

Kenya – Implement Constitution to end preventable maternal deaths

By Evelyne Opondo
September 6th 2021

On August 27, the country marked 11 years since the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, a supreme order that ushered the promise of reproductive rights autonomy, including abortion care. Unfortunately, women and girls of reproductive age continue to grapple with challenges when accessing essential health services. They face harassment, arbitrary arrests, prosecution and even encounter healthcare providers reluctant to offer services.

These challenges are exacerbated by the government’s lackadaisical approach to bringing sections of the Penal Code, such as the blanket ban on abortion services, into alignment with the Constitution. The ambiguity has compelled licensed healthcare practitioners to shy away from providing abortion and post-abortion care to women and girls, even in emergency situations, for fear of criminal sanctions, despite being allowed by the law.

Continued: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/opinion/article/2001422768/implement-constitution-to-end-preventable-maternal-deaths

As Texas abortion battle rages, Liberals take aim at access issues — a move that’s left New Brunswick advocates confused

By Steve McKinley, Halifax Bureau
Thu., Sept. 2, 2021

When the Liberal Party of Canada released its platform on Wednesday, one paragraph might have seemed particularly pointed to New Brunswickers.

“A re-elected Liberal government will: Establish
regulations under the Canada Health Act governing accessibility for sexual and
reproductive health services so there is no question, that no matter where
someone lives, that they have access to publicly available sexual and
reproductive health services,” reads the Liberal platform.

Continued: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/09/02/as-texas-abortion-battle-rages-liberals-take-aim-at-access-issues-here-a-move-thats-left-new-brunswick-advocates-confused.html

Canada – Liberals look to push abortion as election wedge issue despite O’Toole’s pro-choice stance

Abortion is one of the key political issues where the Liberals want to distinguish themselves from the Conservatives

Anja Karadeglija
Sep 01, 2021

The Liberals are pledging to update the Canada Health Act to regulate access to abortion services across the country and to use federal health transfers as leverage to ensure provinces abide by the new rules.

The new regulations would mean “there is no question, that no matter where someone lives, that they have access to publicly available sexual and reproductive health services,” states the party’s election platform, released Wednesday.

Continued: https://www.northernnews.ca/news/politics/liberals-attempt-to-push-abortion-as-election-wedge-issue-despite-otooles-pro-choice-stance

01.09.2021

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Blaine Higgs

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Canada – Erin O’Toole’s abortion stance serves neither physicians nor women

August 30, 2021
the Conversation

Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole recently found himself at the centre of the abortion debate as he hit the campaign trail in advance of the federal election on Sept. 20.

The controversy arose when he stated he was pro-choice while simultaneously claiming that he supported the rights of physicians to deny abortions on the basis of conscience.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/erin-otooles-abortion-stance-serves-neither-physicians-nor-women-166728

30.08.2021

Commentary

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Conservative Party of Canada

referral requirement for abortion

Texas poised to ban most abortions as court denies emergency motion

Law letting individuals sue those helping women access service will go into effect on 1 September unless federal court intervenes

Jessica Glenza
Mon 30 Aug 2021

Texas could become the first state in decades to ban most abortions, if a federal court allows a law called SB8 to take effect on 1 September.

A hearing was originally scheduled on Monday on whether the court should block the law. But the fifth circuit court of appeals cancelled the hearing late on Friday, and denied reproductive rights group an emergency motion on Sunday.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/30/abortion-law-federal-court-decision-texas

The mental health cost of Poland’s abortion ban

Seven months after severe restrictions against abortion came into effect, women are struggling with the emotional toll of the near-total ban.

by Ylenia Gostoli
22 Aug 2021

When Dominika Biernat took to the streets last October, joining the huge public protests against Poland’s near-total ban on abortion, little did she know that in a few months she would become one of its victims.

A single woman and a successful actress with
one of Warsaw’s most renowned theatre companies, her pregnancy was not planned.
But the father was a good friend and when she found out, the 39-year-old
thought it could be one of her last chances to become a mother.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/8/22/the-mental-health-costs-of-polands-abortion-ban

22.08.2021

Commentary

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Abortion Network Amsterdam

All-Poland Women's Strike

anti-choice misogyny

Catholic Church

conscientious objection

Dominika Biernat

Dr Maciej Socha

European Court of Human Rights

European Parliament

European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights

FEDERA

Federation of Women and Family Planning

Law and Justice party

Milena Kwiatkowska

Neil Datta

omphalocele

Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture

Ordo Iuris International Law Center

Poland Constitutional Tribunal

severe fetal abnormality

travelling for abortion

Canada – I’m pro-choice,’ O’Toole says as abortion issue emerges on the campaign trail

The Liberals are raising questions about 'conscience rights' in the Conservative platform

John Paul Tasker · CBC News
Posted: Aug 19, 2021

Pushing back against Liberal claims that he's just "pretending" to support a woman's right to choose, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said today he's pro-choice and a government led by him would make sure abortion services are available nationwide.

O'Toole has been clear that women should be allowed to safely end pregnancies — a position that has drawn the ire of some socially conservative members of his party. His predecessor, Andrew Scheer, described himself as "pro life."

Continued: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/erin-otoole-pro-choice-conscience-rights-1.6146200

Malta – Zammit Marmarà calls on Labour to take stand on abortion

By Jurgen Balzan
August 15, 2021

Calling on the Labour Party to take a clear stand on abortion, Desmond Zammit Marmarà warned the party to ward off the temptation to play the populist card.

While making his anti-abortion stance clear,
Zammit Marmarà said “I expect parties to have a clear position.”

Continued: https://newsbook.com.mt/en/zammit-marmara-calls-on-labour-to-take-stand-on-abortion/

15.08.2021