30 March 2011
Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand

Longtime ALRANZ President, Dame Margaret Sparrow, last night handed leadership of New Zealand’s oldest pro-choice organisation to a new president, Dr. Morgan Healey.

In her report to ALRANZ’s Annual General Meeting, held Tuesday night in Wellington, Dame Margaret noted that abortion was surfacing again “not only as a public health issue but also as a human rights issue and a woman’s rights issue”.

“Now is the time to strengthen support for decriminalisation and reform of our antiquated laws,” her report said.

Dame Margaret has been president of ALRANZ for a total of 32 years – from 1975-1980 and from 1984-2011.

“I’m pleased and proud to hand the presidency over to Dr. Healey,” she said today. “ALRANZ’s membership is growing as more and more younger women and men join the struggle for reproductive rights. Morgan’s leadership, along with a new and rejuvenated National Committee, will only strengthen that growth.”

Dr. Healey, previously ALRANZ National Secretary, said today that the pro-choice movement owed a huge debt of gratitude to Dame Margaret for her wise and unwavering leadership.

“Together with ALRANZ members and everyone who sees reproductive rights as human rights, I aim to pay tribute to that leadership by continuing to build the movement for change,” she said.

ENDS

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