United Nations International Women’s Day 2016

Media Release March 8 2016

The United Nations is celebrating the International Women’s Day on 8th March, The theme for this year is ”Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality” The government is supporting this campaign for gender equality with a breakfast at Parliament hosted by the Hon Louise Upston, Minister of Women’s Affairs. The keynote speaker is Dame Sylvia Cartwright.

UN Women works to prevent discrimination and violence against women in 96 countries. It is commendable that UN Women are opposed to sex selection abortions that have left Asia with an estimated 37 million missing women. This is the ultimate in gender discrimination.

Right to Life supports the elimination of violence and discrimination against women. International and regional legal instruments have clarified obligations of states to prevent, eradicate and punish violence against women. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women [CEDAW] requires that countries party to the Convention take all appropriate steps to end violence.

UN Women Aotearoa are focusing their attention on the Pacific nations and are to be commended for seeking to eliminate violence against women.

Right to Life asks them why they are focusing their attention on the Pacific island nations to combat violence against women, when there is far more violence committed against women in New Zealand? The Pacific nations can give us a valuable lesson in protecting women and their unborn. The Pacific island nations prohibit the killing of the child in the womb except to save the life of the mother, with few exceptions. Why does UN Women Aotearoa not recognise as the Pacific nations do, that abortion is violence against women and their precious unborn? It is time for UN Women Aotearoa to champion our women and children and campaign for an end to abortion in New Zealand.

Every year in New Zealand more than 12,000 women and their unborn child are victims to the violence of abortions. The violence inflicted on these women under the guise of “a health service”, is authorised and funded by the state. This is the ultimate violence against women. Why does our government not comply with CEDAW and eliminate the horrific violence inflicted on our women by abortion?

Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life

ENDS

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