PUSH
JOURNAL MEDIA SUMMARY
October 16-31, 2008
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS
Proposed
Amendment Gives Fertilized Eggs Constitutional Rights: On October 29, U.S.
News and World Report and NPR described the state constitutional amendment before
Colorado voters that could give fertilized eggs constitutional rights. Gov. Bill
Ritter and the Colorado Bar Association oppose the amendment, saying it threatens
reproductive health services including birth control, in vitro fertilization and
abortion. "[The amendment] is a blatant attempt to interfere into personal,
private, family health decisions," said Fofi Mendez, campaign manager for
the Vote NO on 48 coalition. Read: U.S. News and World Report, NPR
Abortion
Ban Proposed Again in South Dakota: On October 27 and 29, The Los Angeles
Times and NPR reported on a referendum in South Dakota that would ban all abortions
except in cases of rape, incest and danger to the life and health of the mother.
Proponents probably aim to challenge the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade. Sarah
Stoesz, CEO of Planned Parenthood South Dakota, said the measure “would not
only force an end to elective abortions, but the exceptions in the proposed ban
are so narrow that no abortions would be performed for any other reason either.”
Read: The Los Angeles Times, NPR
Pharmacy Won’t Sell Contraceptives:
On October 21, The Associated Press reported that the owners of Divine Care pharmacy
in Chantilly, VA are refusing to sell contraceptives of any kind or fill birth
control prescriptions on grounds doing so would violate their religious beliefs.
"If this emboldens other pharmacies in other parts of the state, it could
really affect low-income and rural women in terms of access," said Tarina
Keene, executive director of the Virginia chapter of the National Abortion Rights
Action League. Read: The Associated Press
Anti-Choice Congressional
Candidates Get National Campaign Funding: On October 26, The New York Times
reported that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) financed
12 anti-choice congressional candidates so that more Democrats can be elected
in historically Republican districts. The DCCC said the tactic keeps abortion
from being a wedge issue. But Kelli Conlin, president of the National Institute
for Reproductive Health, said it “ignores the larger reality that this is
a pro-choice nation.” Read: The New York Times
Filipinos
Support Family Planning Bill: On October 16-29, Business World and the Manila
Standard reported that recent polls in the Philippines show the majority of Filipinos
support a proposed national family planning bill, despite the Catholic church’s
opposition. "It's a great affirmation that Filipinos are saying ... we want
a reproductive health bill and it's a secular matter," said Rep. Ana Theresia
Hontiveros-Baraquel, one of the bill’s authors. Read: Business World, Manila
Standard, Manila Standard
Abortion Still Illegal in Northern
Ireland: On October 23, The Economist reported that a bill to extend Britain’s
abortion rights to Northern Ireland has been struck down, leaving intact current
laws that criminalize abortion in nearly all circumstances. As a result, many
women will continue to undergo unsafe abortions or travel abroad to undergo the
procedure. Read: The Economist
New Program Teaches Comprehensive
Sex Ed: On October 23, The Guardian (U.K) reported that a new government-sponsored
program will provide age-appropriate comprehensive sex education to all British
schoolchildren. The aim is to reduce teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infections and educate children about healthy relationships. "This move will
dramatically improve the long-term health and well-being of our children and young
people,” said Julie Bentley, chief executive of the Family Planning Association.
Read: The Guardian
Bill Expands Abortion Rights: On October
19, The Sunday Times (London) reported on a measure before Parliament that would
increase Englishwomen’s access to reproductive health services. The bill
would reduce the number of doctors required to sign abortion papers from two to
one, allow women to take early termination pills at home rather than in a hospital,
and allow nurses and midwives to perform abortions. Read: The Guardian
Church Against Abortion Rights in East Timor: On October 22, Agence
France Presse reported that the Catholic church remains opposed to a proposed
bill that would decriminalize abortions in East Timor when a woman’s life
is in danger. The current law prohibits all abortions, and women who undergo the
procedure face imprisonment of two to eight years. Read: Agence France Presse
SAVING WOMEN’S LIVES
WHO Pleads to Reduce
Maternal Death: On October 24, BBC News reported that the World Health Organization
urgently called for action on reducing maternal death around the world, the Millennium
Development Goal that has made the least progress. Rates have remained high largely
because of inadequate access to skilled birth attendants and many unsafe abortions.
"Urgent global action is needed to increase investment and political commitment
to scale up life-saving services for mothers and their children," said Dr.
Francisco Songanem, director of the WHO's Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and
Child Health. Read: BBC News
Fistula Afflicts 75,000 Women a
Year: On October 30, Media Global reported that obstetric fistula, a preventable
and treatable condition, afflicts some 75,000 women around the world every year.
It results from tissue damage during obstructed labor, causing death or incontinence
and social ostracism. “Women told of living on the margins of society due
to their own self-imposed isolation because of the smell [of urine], embarrassment
and fear of ostracism from the community. Women also spoke of their inability
to practice any type of economic activity and hence their financial dependence
on others,” said Christina Vrachnos of the United Nations Population Fund.
Read: Media Global
Millennium Development Goals Unfulfilled:
On October 28, IPS reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) fears no
West African countries will fulfill the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) because
of lack of progress in reducing maternal and child deaths. WHO officials have
said that governments must improve health care systems in order to achieve the
MDGs and save lives. Read: IPS
UNFPA Assists Women in Myanmar:
On October 16, IRIN reported that UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is
setting up mobile reproductive health care units in Myanmar to address a shortage
of trained birth attendants. "Because of difficult access and the need to
travel so far, it is very difficult for these women to attain health services,"
said Dan Baker of UNFPA in Myanmar. Read: IRIN
Safe Motherhood
Program Begins in Rwanda: On October 21, Focus Media (Rwanda) reported that
the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood has launched a Rwanda chapter in
an effort to reduce pregnancy complications and maternal death in Rwanda, which
has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world. "Safe motherhood
should not be an option but a responsibility of all people," said Rwandan
first lady Jeanette Kagame. Read: Focus Media
Female Genital
Mutilation Banned: On October 15, Agence France Presse reported that a Ugandan
community has banned female genital mutilation (FGM). A United Nations resolution
passed last year called female genital cutting an "irreparable, irreversible
abuse" that increases risk of HIV infection and maternal death. Read: Agence
France Presse
UNFPA Provides Fistula Treatment: On October
21, IPS reported that many women in Malawi suffering from obstetric fistula received
free repair operations in a joint effort by UNFPA and Malawi’s Ministry of
Health. The condition results from severe tissue damage during childbirth and
can result in death or incontinence, inability to walk and social ostracism. Read:
IPS
Regional Ban Needed to Stop FGM: On October 17, IRIN
reported that in west Africa, girls living where FGM is banned are being forced
to cross borders to undergo it in countries with weaker restrictions. UNIFEM called
for a regional ban. "If all countries legislate or review their laws to cover
cross-border practices, I am sure it will eventually eliminate FGM," said
Marian Tackie of Ghana's Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. Read: IRIN
HIV & AIDS
Reducing Sexual Violence Key to
Stopping HIV Pandemic: On October 15 and 20, IPS and Public Agenda (Ghana)
reported that at a recent conference in Nairobi, Kenya, public health experts
agreed that sexual violence must be reduced in order to reduce HIV infection in
Africa. "Sexual violence is fundamentally a public health problem that often
times results in HIV/AIDS. We know that due to violence, many women are prone
to the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. For this reason, we must start to look at
sexual and gender-based violence as a key intervention when addressing HIV/AIDS,"
said Nduku Kilonzo, the director of Liverpool VCT, a Kenyan NGO. Read: Agence
France Presse, Public Agenda
WOMEN’S EQUALITY
Women Seek Job Equality in Germany: On October 26, The Washington
Post reported that despite national law prohibiting gender discrimination in employment,
many German women are being passed up for promotions because of their gender and
are not receiving equal pay for equal work. Women at one warehouse formed a worker’s
council that could legally review all salaries. They successfully sued their company
for lost wages and now make the same salaries as their male counterparts. “"I
am very happy, not just for myself but also for other women in Germany,"
said Margaret Jonik, one of those involved in the lawsuit. Read: The Washington
Post
EDITORIALS and COLUMNS:
On October 22
and 31, Women’s eNews published an op-ed by Planned Parenthood attorney Roberta
Riley, and RH Reality Check published a blog by managing editor Amie Newman, discussing
differences on reproductive health issues between the Democratic and Republican
presidential nominees. Riley said Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain
and his running mate Gov. Sarah Palin both have anti-choice, anti-contraception
track records, but Riley wrote, “Democratic hopeful Sen. Barack Obama and
running mate Sen. Joe Biden are strong supporters of women's health, sex education
and preventing unintended pregnancy.” Read: Women’s eNews, RH Reality
Check
On October 24 and 29, RH Reality Check published a blog by
author Cristina Page and former U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder condemning the proposed
Colorado constitutional amendment that would give fertilized eggs full legal rights.
“The state, under this proposal, could intervene in a woman's life, even
a woman with cancer, and deny her life-saving medical treatment if it could endanger
a fertilized egg. This constitutional amendment is not about protecting life.
Amendment 48 does nothing less than rob us of the ability to make many of life's
most important decisions,” said Page. Read: RH Reality Check, RH Reality
Check
On October 18, Newsweek published an op-ed by reporter Laura
Beil saying that proponents of abstinence-only sex education face increasing criticism
because of research that shows the practice to be ineffective, the pregnancy of
Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter,
and President Bush’s imminent departure from the White House. “Comprehensive
education is attached to a larger body of research, including studies finding
that these programs may not only improve contraceptive use among teens but lead
to some of the same goals sought by abstinence advocates: delay of sexual initiation
and a reduction of partners.” Read: Newsweek
On October 28,
The New Times (Rwanda) published a column by Pauline Wamulume, information education
and communication specialist at the Zambian National Malaria Control Centre, that
drew attention to the importance of training birth attendants in Zambia in reducing
maternal mortality. Wamulume lauded a new national program that provides some
birth attendants with supplies and training, but noted that maternal death rates
are still high and much work needs be done. Read: The New Times
On
October 21 The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by law professor Catherine
MacKinnon that said the fate of women’s equality hinges on the election of
Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, because of his track record
supporting women’s rights. “Women are at a crossroads in our struggle
for legal equality as a means to social equality. Having women in politics matters,
but it is crucial to have the policies women need. At this moment we risk losing
ground gained, but we also have the opportunity to advance.” Read: The Wall
Street Journal
On October 22, the PNG Post-Courier (Australia) published
an op-ed by Esther Lavu, senior research fellow at the National Research Institute,
calling for including men in family planning programs so the programs will be
more widely accepted. “Educating the masses about family planning will enhance
the use and acceptance of these services. The main reasons for family planning
should be for couples to space their children and limit family sizes.” Read:
PNG Post-Courier
On October 16, Newsweek published a column by reporter
Sarah Kliff critiquing Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain’s
use of air quotes when referring to “health” exceptions to late-term
abortion bans. "When McCain had the audacity to do that, it wasn't just about
the health exception, it was attacking a woman's ability to make private decisions
with her doctor," said Kliff, quoting NARAL communications director Ted Miller.
Read: Newsweek
On October 17, The Christian Science Monitor published
an op-ed by Christine Grumm, president and CEO of the Women's Funding Network,
saying the key to eliminating world poverty is investing in women’s education
and leadership, as demonstrated by women’s success in job training and micro-credit
programs. “When a woman prospers, a family prospers. When families prosper,
communities prosper,” she wrote. Read: The Christian Science Monitor
On October 28, Public Agenda (Ghana) published an op-ed by journalist Juliet
Toromeis condemning female genital mutilation (FGM). Toromeis, a native of Kenya,
said the practice is so entrenched in African culture that only African activists
will be able to stop it. Read: Public Agenda
On October 17, The
Christian Science Monitor published an op-ed by reporter Amanda Paulson drawing
attention to anti-choice voter referendums in Colorado, South Dakota and California
that would restrict women’s access to abortion services. Paulson noted that
if the referenda are approved, the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade could soon
be challenged. Read: The Christian Science Monitor
On October 31,
the Hindustan Times (India) published an editorial calling for India to fulfill
the mandates of U.N. Resolution 1325 when resolving conflict in the northeast.
The resolution says conflict resolution must address the unique ways in which
women are affected by war and the contributions women make toward peace. “Denial
of security to women is undoubtedly one of the worst forms of human rights violation.
In any situation of conflict and violence, women's human rights are the most forsaken,
leading to a situation where peace becomes the rarest commodity.” Read: Hindustan
Times
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The
above summary is produced by the Communications Consortium Media Center, 401 Ninth
Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20004, 202.326.8700. Redistribution is encouraged
with credit to CCMC.
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