Report calls for funds to reduce unsafe abortions

Date: 04/07/02

By David Cronin

EU FUNDS should be used to reduce unsafe abortions in poor countries, according to a new European Parliament report.

Drafted by Danish EU-critic Ulla Sandbæk, the paper states that around 20 million unsafe abortions are performed throughout the world each year, resulting in the deaths of 78,000 women.

The MEP wants greater resources allocated to cutting the number of unwanted pregnancies by providing more contraceptives and information on their use.

Her report - due to be considered by the assembly's development committee next week (10-11 July) - does not actually call for Union money to be used for terminating pregnancies. But it does state that where abortion is legal, it 'should be safe and accessible'.

And it calls for investment in 'the training and equipping of medical service personnel to manage the complications resulting from unsafe abortion'.

Sandbæk's comments relate to a new European Commission proposal about aid for activities aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health in less-developed nations. She feels that the main text of this plan does not adequately deal with the problems posed by clandestine or poorly regulated abortion.

Her initiative will follow a debate in Strasbourg this week about reproductive health within Europe.

The Parliament yesterday (3 July) adopted a report by Belgian Socialist MEP Anne Van Lancker urging Ireland and Poland to lift their bans on abortion. The call, however, encountered stiff resistance from many deputies, including members of the assembly's biggest political group, the European People's Party.

But Sandbæk believes Ireland, the EU country with the most restrictive abortion laws, should not have 'huge difficulties' with supporting her suggested amendments to the Commission proposal.

Her recommendations, she added, are in line with those included in the programme of action agreed at the 1994 UN conference on population and development in Cairo. All EU member states have endorsed that programme.

'In no way am I saying we should be using abortion as a form of contraception,' Sandbæk said. 'On the contrary, the figures show that if you have proper reproductive health services, the number of abortions come down. Holland is a good example of that.'

At seven per 1,000 women, Dutch abortion rates are the lowest in the Union.

Sandbæk also wants the amount earmarked for EU efforts to promote improved reproductive health in developing countries to be increased to €20 million - €7 million more than the sum advocated by the Commission.

It is vital, she contends, that the EU takes the lead international role on these issues as a counterbalance to the so-called Bush gag rule - Washington's decision to freeze funding to groups which provide information on abortion services.

During a conference in Brussels last week, the family planning agency Marie Stopes International (MSI) highlighted the need for more contraception and counselling services. 'Supplies security is not just about more condoms,' said Patricia Hindmarsh, MSI's director of external relations. 'It is about saving lives.'

EU funds should be used to reduce unsafe abortions in poor countries, according to a new European Parliament report drafted by Danish MEP Ulla Sandbaek.