Media Release:

Australian Government’s policy change essential to achievement of Millennium Development Goal 5: Universal access to reproductive health by 2015

Australia is the only country in the world that still has a ban on family planning advice being part of its overseas aid program says Jane Sloane, Executive Director, International Women’s Development Agency. The so-called “Mexico City Policy”, was announced during the United Nations International Conference on Population held in Mexico City in 1984. It restricted information about abortion for those agencies receiving US funding. Australian policy was changed to reflect this policy under the previous Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard.

Commenting today, Ms Sloane said

‘Australia’s policy is now out of step even with the United States as the only other country which upheld the ban, with President Barack Obama’s lifting of this ban last week.’

‘Some members of the current Australian Rudd Government are strongly in favour of the ban being lifted. Others are responding to a minority of the community who subscribe to the myth that if you deny women information and access to reproductive choice, there will be fewer abortions. The evidence shows that many women in developing countries who have no access to reproductive health information and services resort to backyard operations.’

‘In reality over 500,000 women die from pregnancy related causes each year. Of these, at least 70,000 women die from complications arising from unsafe abortion. It is estimated that 200 million women who need family planning are not provided with information and services. The lack of access to family planning results in 80 million unintended pregnancies each year’, Ms Sloane said.

‘Given that two-thirds of the world’s poor, some 800 million people, reside in the Asia-Pacific, and the Australian Government’s international aid program is focused on that region, Australia’s capacity to contribute to the prevention of unwanted and unsafe abortions is critical. Australia has recently acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) Optional Protocol. Gender equality is an overarching principle of Australia’s aid program, and is also a critical development goal in its own right.’, Ms Sloane emphasised.

‘An essential quality of gender equality is women’s control over their reproductive lives. The MDG 5 provides for universal access to reproductive health by 2015. The latest World Bank report on the MDGs indicates that that target is unlikely to be met. A basic contradiction exists between Australia’s support of CEDAW and continuing support for a policy which prevents women from exercising their right to control when and whether they have children.’

‘The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Rudd, apologised to Indigenous peoples for past wrongs. He ratified the Kyoto Protocol. I urge him to assume similar leadership in restoring development assistance to women in developing countries who are at risk of disease and death in the absence of assistance with reproductive health’, Ms Sloane said.

For interviews contact Jane Sloane at IWDA on 03 9650 5574
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This entry was posted on Monday, February 2nd, 2009 under Advocacy, Media, Recent.