|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
SEDEC espouses rights of unborn by Rashomi Silva and Thava Sajitharan Social and Economic Development Centre (SEDEC) yesterday voiced its opposition over the proposed Bill on Women's Rights alleging that the Bill would pave the way for legalising abortion and called on all sectors of society to stand up for the rights of the unborn child. The Bill on Women's Rights has defined the term "Women's Rights" based on the International Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) but we in a society like Sri Lanka with it's rich religious and cultural background, need not borrow Conventions from international experts. A Bill of this nature has to be based on experiences of local experts, said Dr. E. Dias the convener of the meeting that discussed the impact the proposed Bill would have in Sri Lankan society. He frowned on the CEDAW Bill saying 'the Bill terms abortion as a reproductive right of women'. In his sound opposition to legalizing abortion Dr.Dias urged people to "protest in the strongest terms against the enactment of the Bill" requesting the media and other institutions to lobby the parliamentarians on this regard. "We see discrimination against women in our society. That has to be stopped. Women should enjoy equal rights as men do and be given the respect she deserves, but we do not need foreign experts to give us lessons on that. We have our own religions and culture to guide us, Dr. Dias said. According to the available statistics there are over 1800 abortions carried out per week in Colombo and most of the abortions are carried out on married women to limit the family and to have a gap between the children. When asked about the claim that preventing legalization of abortion leads to increasing illegal abortions Dr. Dias said "Both legal and illegal abortions are dangerous. You can't justify the killing of an unborn child by anything". The abortion harms the mother both physically and mentally regardless of
the legality of the process. "By showing more respect to women and being
more considerate and compassionate towards her we can achieve what we are
striving for, than legalising a process that violates the right to life of
an unborn child. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
