Abortion organizations in Perú demand Health Minister suspend “defense of life”

Lima, Peru, Feb 9, 2004 / 22:00 pm

In a revealing letter addressed to Peru’s Health Minister, Alvaro Vida Rivadeneyra, a group of feminist and abortion organizations have demanded the suspension of a norm based on the Peruvian Constitution that requires the defense of the life of the unborn in the country’s health facilities.

The letter was signed not only by Peruvian feminists but also by representatives of foreign organizations that are also demanding changes in the country’s health policy, despite being having no authority to intervene in Peru’s domestic affairs.

Those who signed the letter include Susana Chávez of the feminist organization “Flora Tristán,” Anna-Britt Coe of the group “CHANGE”, Milka Diney of “Pathfinder International,” and Julio Zavala of the “Peruvian Association for the Prevention of Un-wanted Pregnancies,” an “ONG” completely unknown in the country.

The letter thanks Rivadeneyra for meeting with the group and demands that he implement “the main subjects of our discussion.”

The list of demands of the pro-abortion organizations include, among other things, the availability of “Oral Emergency Contraception to the public” and its inclusion “in Family Planning policies.”  The distribution of oral emergency contraception was suspended in the country after it became clear that because of its abortifacient nature, it was a violation of the Constitution and the country’s laws.

The letter specifically demanded the repealing of a Peruvian norm that requires all health institutions “to protect the life and health of the unborn from the moment of conception and to officially register them as conceived and subject to constitutional rights.”  The norm is based on the country’s Constitution, which explicitly states that the well-being of the unborn be protected.

The group also demanded that concepts such as “reproductive health” and “sexual and reproductive rights” be incorporated into health policy, despite that fact they are contrary to the Peru’s Constitution.