Abortion Stats, ALRANZ Calls for Fresh Dialogue

28 October 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Release of Abortion Stats, ALRANZ Calls for Fresh Dialogue

With new figures showing a continued decline in New Zealand’s abortion rate, the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand (ALRANZ) is calling for a new debate this election season on the impact our out-dated abortion laws are having on New Zealand women.

Data released Friday by Statistics New Zealand shows a decline in both the rate and overall numbers of abortions, with 16,630 terminations in 2010, down from 17,550 in 2009.

“But rather than have the same old discussion about whether or not the numbers are ‘too high’, ALRANZ sees this as an opportunity to learn more about the current laws and consider the impact these have on women’s reproductive experiences,” the association’s president, Dr. Morgan Healey, said today.

Dr. Healey said ALRANZ hoped the decline reflected a drop in the rate of unintended or unwanted pregnancies, rather than barriers to access. “We’re pleased to see the rate of abortion for 15-19 year olds has dropped, and that a higher percentage of abortions are taking place earlier in pregnancy (56% at under 10 weeks compared with just over 50% the previous year),” she said.

Dr. Healey said that while comprehensive sexuality education and easy access and availability of contraception are paramount to reducing the number of women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy, abortion services would always be needed.

“I don’t think any woman should apologise or feel ashamed as a result of treating abortion as a necessary medical service,” she said.

“With the release of these statistics, let’s shift the focus away from reading the numbers as some failure on the part of women for not avoiding an unwanted or unintended pregnancy. Instead we could ask ourselves why abortion is not a viable and reasonable decision for a woman to make,” Dr. Healey said.

ALRANZ would like to use the release of these annual statistics to begin to discuss the topic of abortion in New Zealand, and in particular during this election season.

“In raw form, these statistics are nothing more than mere numbers. I would be delighted if people took the release of the 2010 figures to reflect upon the law as it currently stands and whether or not the continued criminalisation of women is acceptable. The law was flawed when it was instituted 34 years ago and it has only become more and more medically outdated over the years. Women deserve better”, said Dr Healey.

Is it acceptable that nearly all of the 16,630 women who took responsibility for their own reproductive health had to claim mental health issues in order to access abortion services, Dr. Healey asked. And that they had to cede their decision-making ability to certifying consultants, in order to meet the grounds set out in the Crimes Act?

Dr. Healey urged New Zealanders to use these annual figures as a platform for considering how reproductive rights and services should be dealt with in this country.

ENDS

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