Congratulations to the Greens for taking a stand on abortion

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pro-choice

A massive congratulations and thanks to the Green Party for being the first Party to have a formal position on abortion reform in New Zealand.

Abortion is a hot potato, it take guts to take a stand on it. But it’s also well overdue.

Most people are shocked to find that abortion is still technically a crime in New Zealand. It seems the stuff of a different time.

I hope to see other parties having the courage to take a stand as well.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/246466/greens-want-to-decriminalise-abortion

14 COMMENTS

  1. Indeed! This is a brave move on the part of the Greens, and certainly long overdue. I haven’t yet read the substance of their policy, but I hope that it involves repeal of the abortion law. The desired legal position here is that the law is silent on abortion – as it is on other medical procedures – except with regard to related issues of privacy, medical competence and so on.

    Perhaps IMP will take a similar stance, given that Laila Harre’s involved? And wouldn’t it be good to see Labour show a bit of courage on this issue. But fat chance there, I suspect…

  2. 20 weeks is far too old and some level of supervision should be mandatory. I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t able to get an abortion on demand in NZ so am astounded to see this raised as an election issue. I suspect the Greens just lost a huge chunk of votes.

    • Hi Sarah, supervision would be included – how could it not be? It’s not going to turn abortion into a backyard chop shop – it just means that the current practice of accessing abortion on demand doesn’t require medical professionals to stretch the truth when certifying under the current law, nor does it require the woman to present herself as mentally unfit when she might have her own personal reasons which are perfectly valid – relationship failure. lack of support, financial or life-stage reasons for example. Really all this policy would do is to bring the legislation in line with the reality of how abortions are practised today.

    • @ Sarah: “20 weeks is far too old and some level of supervision should be mandatory. I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t able to get an abortion on demand in NZ so am astounded to see this raised as an election issue.”

      Abortion is a medical procedure; it doesn’t belong in the Crimes Act. The law needs to be silent on it. Women are quite capable of making their own decisions about their fertility; they don’t need the rest of us telling them what they ought and ought not to do.

    • Yeah, I’m sure they’d tell you if they couldn’t get an abortion …you seem so understanding.

  3. So congrats on the Greens for taking a stand on abortion. I suspect this us a little disingenuous and what is actually meant is good on them for being ‘pro-choice’. I doubt you’d be saying this if they were opposed or if Labour or any Party came out against it. So frobt up and say what you mean

  4. I agree with Sarah twenty weeks is far too advanced. Twenty three weeks and a baby can survive in an incubator. To be frank Jan Logies recent actions have firmed up my vote and several other left voters i know against the Greens. That’s ok good to know what the differences are as there Is lots of choice on the left. Having a confessional on Backbenchers was also pretty loose of Jan Logie. I didnt need to know personal details about her past. I prefer to respect MPs privacy. Contraception is so effective and there are many options, why anyone would need an abortion at 20 weeks is beyond me. If women want control of their bodies then be responsible and do be in control. Just do it in a humane and less distressing manner. PS I am not anti abortion in general, it it sometimes the best option in a difficult situation.

    • You assume that you yourself have perfect vision and can predict situations beyond the 20 week mark. Who knows why they elect to do it? Perhaps they were held against their will for 20 weeks just to force them to carry to full term? Medical complications and not knowing you were pregnant would also seem obvious reasons for needing an abortion beyond 20 weeks.

      From RadioNZ link above, “The Green Party’s policy would allow terminations after 20 weeks gestation only when the woman would otherwise face serious permanent injury to her health or in the case of severe fetal abnormalities.”

    • @JRobin:”If women want control of their bodies then be responsible and do be in control. Just do it in a humane and less distressing manner.”

      So: we should use methods which don’t make you feel icky, is that it? I do hope that you don’t think too much about the mechanics of IUDs and the oral contraceptive. Or of the “morning after” pill, come to that…

      “PS I am not anti abortion in general….” It doesn’t sound like it, to be honest.

      Really folks, all this fuss about one form of contraception! Do people get equally hot and bothered over other gynaecological procedures, such as hysterectomy, cone biopsy, or tubal ligation? Leave women alone to make their own decisions, and clear the legal minefield to enable them to do it safely, say I.

      • “Really folks, all this fuss about one form of contraception!”

        Abortion is not contraception. Contraceptives stop conception, abortion is the termination of an embryo or fetus that has already been conceived.

        As someone who disagrees with abortion AND contraception, I would not want women to be unable to access contraception (I personally don’t have to use it). A woman’s fertility is her business because it is her body.

        Abortion OTOH directly takes a human life that is not the mother’s body. I believe it is a matter of social justice that we protect the unborn.

        • @ Muerk: “Abortion is not contraception. Contraceptives stop conception, abortion is the termination of an embryo or fetus that has already been conceived.”

          Nope. Neither the biology nor the philosophy is on your side in this matter. I recommend that you do some reading on the mechanics of the various contraceptive methods.

          “As someone who disagrees with abortion AND contraception,…..”

          This view is essentially religious. I have no objection to your holding such a view, and I expect you to apply it to your own engagement with these areas.

          However, I’m not at all religious; the same is true of many women in New Zealand. Moreover, we live in a secular society. Religious views such as yours, regarding contraception and abortion, cannot be allowed to influence the legal status of either method.

  5. I doubt many ‘christians’ vote greens as christians dont like environmentalists/greenies.

    I think they are pretty relaxed over losing the exclusive brethren vote

    Anyway good on the greens …… fuck the god botherer’s 😉

    • As a Catholic I think it’s a matter of social justice that humanity take care of our environment. Not just so that we can be happy and healthy, but so that all the earth’s flora and fauna can do their thing.

      The Greens try hard at balancing the needs of the environment with the needs of people; too often development and money take a front seat and the damage is ignored. Look at our tragic lack of response to climate change.

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