Groups on both sides of abortion debate bring their messages to Parliament
TVNZ One News 23 July 2019
Family First Comment: “The whole nation needs to be doing some soul searching, MPs need to be doing some soul searching because it’s here they have the power to change things. We don’t want to see it changed, we don’t want to see it liberalised because women already have access to abortion up to 20 weeks.” – Gina Sunderland
#PushBack
#ChooseLife
Group on both sides of the abortion issue brought their message to Parliament today, as the proposed law around abortion law reform makes progress.
This morning, a petition was presented with 13,000 signatures against the Government’s proposed relaxation of abortion laws. This afternoon, about 200 protesters marched to Parliament calling for abortion to be removed from the Crimes Act and treated as a health issue.
Today the Prime Minister said options for reform were still under discussion with the Government, after the draft of the abortion law went to Cabinet committee.
“They’ll want to see the final legislation once that process is complete, this is a matter for them though, I hope it’s given due consideration but I don’t know how people will choose to vote,” Jacinda Ardern said.
National MP Agnes Loheni accepted the petition from Gina Sunderland of March for Life NZ.
“I want people to do a little bit of soul searching about this,” Ms Sunderland said.
“The whole nation needs to be doing some soul searching, MPs need to be doing some soul searching because it’s here they have the power to change things. We don’t want to see it changed, we don’t want to see it liberalised because women already have access to abortion up to 20 weeks.”
Ms Loheni said she wanted to focus on supporting mothers before and after birth, and pregnant women who did not know where to turn. She was joined by National MPs Simeon Brown, Melissa Lee, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Alfred Ngaro, Paula Garcia and Chris Penk and Labour MP Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki.
READ MORE: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/groups-both-sides-abortion-debate-bring-their-messages-parliament
Protesters call for abortion to be removed from Crimes Act
Radio NZ News 23 July 2019
Hundreds of people marched to Parliament today calling for reform of New Zealand’s abortion laws, as Cabinet prepares to consider a bill that would remove abortion from the Crimes Act.
Currently, the law allows for abortion to be performed only to save the life of the mother, or to preserve her physical or mental health – and only if the procedure is approved by two doctors or consultants.
While the pro-choice march was underway, a petition against the proposed law change with 13,000 signatures was presented to MPs.
Michelle Kaufman from Family Life International, a pro-life lobby group, said she was disappointed the government was even considering decriminalising abortion.
All unborn children need to be protected from the first moment of their existence, she said.
“They’re deserving of life, they have a right to life. Without the right to life we have no other rights. They’re as deserving of protection just as a born child is deserving of protection, and care, and support. To be honest, women and families need protecting from abortion.”
READ MORE: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395044/protesters-call-for-abortion-to-be-removed-from-crimes-act
Womens rights to an abortion
Te Ao Māori News 23 July 2019
Women’s sovereignty over their own bodies was the call today from the hundreds who showed up at parliament grounds in support of women’s reproductive rights.
The protesters gathered today want to see significant changes to laws pertaining to abortion. However, some disagree.
Brian Whitaker of Kāpiti Voice of Life says, “We’re opposed to it just being a health issue because killing a baby is not the same as having an appendix or a tonsil [removed] or any other of those health issues.”
Whitaker is adamant that the issue is the health of the foetus.
“We live in a society which always regards the killing of children as a crime. That’s why its in the Crimes Act,” he says.
READ MORE: https://teaomaori.news/womens-rights-abortion
