Calls for Australia to lift ban on aid
Updated
The Australian government has again been urged to lift the ban on Australian foreign aid being spent on abortion and related services.
The issue was revived after US President Barack Obama scrapped a similar policy, shortly after his inauguration. Ari Laufer is executive officer and regional director of Marie Stopes International Australia, an NGO in sexual reproductive health and education.
He told me why it's time the Australian aid policy was changed.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Ari Laufer, executive officer and regional director of Marie Stopes International Australia
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LAUFER; We're asking for the Rudd Government to repeal the Family Planning guidelines that were set up by the Howard Government. Unsafe abortion is the highest reason of maternal mortality in the Asia-Pacific region, and it accounts for 13 per cent of all maternal deaths in the region. And with one stroke of the pen from (foreign minister) Mr. Smith or (prime minister) Mr. Rudd that can change and we can improve the quality of services in the Asia-Pacific region, and reduce unnecessary deaths in the region.
LAM: So what is the issue that bothers you most about tying aid to non-abortion services?
LAUFER: Well, in terms of the aid budget, we do believe that unsafe abortions and it's statistically shown that it's the highest reason of maternal mortality. The Australian aid budget could go about reducing this mortality by providing further education, further training and further access to critical abortion services throughout the region. They are real women, they are not statistics and the impact on the children and the rest of the family when these women die of unsafe abortion, it goes through the generations.
LAM: Which other countries we're talking about here? Can you give us a few examples?
LAUFER: Well, for example, in Vietnam, abortion services is legal. You can provide abortion services under the Vietnamese law and if the Australian Aid Program untied its Family Planning guidelines and got rid of them, we would be able to improve the quality of services, we'd be able to improve access to services, we would provide more up to date training in areas of abortion services and provide choices to women. This is about choices. Marie Stopes International Australia doesn't believe that abortion is a family planning option. What it is, it is a choice where there is no access to family planning or where family planning fails.
LAM: Some people in Australia say Australian aid should not go to what's killing unborn babies in developing countries. What's your response to that?
LAUFER: Well, our response is it's a choice and it's the right of every individual and every women to make their own choices. Those choices will be made by the individual and the circumstances. And at the moment, there is a lack of choice and 13 per cent of the maternal mortality is caused by unsafe abortion, which are women who haven't had the right choices and are seeking illegal options that are basically killing them.
LAM: Have you had any response yet or any indication from the Australian Government which way they will go? How much political support is there?
LAUFER: I'm not in a position to comment about that. I just hope that when they do discuss these issues, that they do think about the high numbers of women in the Asia-Pacific region who are dying everyday, because of unsafe abortion issues and that they think with their conscience about that and they basically sign the repeal.
LAM: So is Australia the only country in the world now, developed country that does this?
LAUFER: It's an interesting scenario and I have to say it's one of those issues where Australia could take the lead in the region and reduce the unsafe abortion numbers. I mean, the notion of 13 per cent of maternal deaths is too high in the region, particularly for a region that is growing, where Australia has a lot of influence. Basically, it should be every women's right to choose and particularly in a country like Australia, where abortion is legal.
LAM: Are there other developed countries, apart from Australia, that tie aid to non-abortion services?
LAUFER: Well, at this point of time, other countries tie aid in all sorts of ways. In terms of abortion services, erm, there are other countries that do tie their aid to abortion services.
LAM: Do you have an idea of what the attitude of recipient countries are?
LAUFER: It's an excellent question and I must say I've discussed these with various ministries and unfortunately for commercial confidence I can't discuss it with you on the radio at the moment. But, yes I have discussed this with liaison's Ministry of Health in a number of countries and they would gladly see the repeal of the Family Planning guidelines. They would be happy to work with Australia about reducing unsafe abortions in their countries.
