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UNITED NATIONS' CEDAW PUSHES PERU TO ALLOW MORE ABORTION

Meanwhile in Washington UN Reps Argue CEDAW Does Not Support Abortion

NEW YORK, August 16, 2002 (LSN.ca) - While United Nations representatives are arguing in Washington that the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) should be ratified since it does not promote abortion, the CEDAW Committee at UN headquarters is promoting abortion in Peru. The committee of UN 'experts' met yesterday to consider Peru's compliance with the feminist convention. Silvia Loli Espinoza, Adviser on Gender Issues and Human Rights in Peru's Ministry of Women and Social Development represented her country before the committee.

Aida Gonzalez Martinez, a UN 'expert' from Mexico, said it was "important to promote sexual and reproductive health as well as the dissemination of information on family planning methods and condom use throughout society, not just among sex workers." She also expressed concern about the perception of abortions, noting that it was considered taboo in Peru. Much remained to be done in changing cultural attitudes, she said.

Ms. Livingston Raday, an 'expert' from Israel pushed Peru to accept abortifacient morning after pills. "Priority should be given to emergency contraception," she said. Moreover, Charlotte Abaka, an 'expert' from Ghana and the Committee Chairperson was offended that unborn children of adolescents were recognized and thus were granted the right to life. According to a UN report she noted that "under the law, 14-year-olds and even girls younger than 14 could have their children recognized, she said those provisions contributed to the maternal mortality rate, already high in Peru, as adolescent pregnancies had high rates of medical complications."

See related story on Peru forced sterilization tied to UN:
MASSIVE COERCIVE STERILIZATION IN PERU DONE UNDER UNITED NATIONS SUPERVISION
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/jul/02072403.html

See the full report from the United Nations:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/wom1359.doc.htm

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