OTTAWA – The G8 should ensure that women have access to safe abortions in developing countries where the procedure is allowed, the United Nations Secretary General said.
That was the closest that Ban Ki-Moon came Wednesday to crossing swords with Prime Minister Stephen Harper over what he called a vital plan to cut maternal and child mortality in the third world when Canada hosts the G8 and G20 summits next month.
Critics say the Conservative edict that no Canadian aid money go to funding abortions effectively rubs out a portion of the good work that industrialized nations can do for desperate, and desperately poor, mothers.
But Ban played the sphynx on a day-long visit to Ottawa.
He urged Canada as host of the summits to propel the world toward meeting one of the eight Millenium Development Goals – improving maternal health – that come due in 2015 but declined to cite the UN’s own studies, which show that access to safe abortions in the developing world would cut the number of women who need care from the complications of the procedure from 8.5 million to 2 million.
In fact, a spokesperson for Harper, Dimitri Soudas, said the issue of abortion never even came up in a 45-minute discussion that focused in part on Canada’s signature initiative for the G8.
Behind the scenes, though, it may be a different story.
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said after meeting Ban that the seasoned South Korean diplomat was on the Liberal side of what has become a political football match.
“I made it very clear to the secretary general that we support initiatives on maternal and child health but that they must guarantee full reproductive rights for women,” he said. “He made it pretty clear to me that if we’re going to maintain those Millenium Development Goals, we have to offer the full range of reproductive health services for women.”
Ban committed just one diplomatic breach in a day spent avoiding thorny matters such as abortion, a proposed global bank tax, disorganized rebuilding efforts in Haiti and the U.S. military tribunal of Omar Khadr at Guantanamo Bay.
Just before meeting with a government that has condemned the 1997 Kyoto climate change deal and refused to meet with its emission reduction targets, he urged Canada to change course and “comply fully with … the Kyoto Protocol.”
And he said he wants the G20 meetings in Toronto, where the global economy is the primary agenda item, to keep in mind the dangers posed by climate change and “push for a green recovery for the global economic crisis.”
Climate change has come up at previous G20 meetings and Harper said he anticipated “a range of subject matters will be talked about, including climate change.”
But the economy is at the top of the list of the G20, he said.
“That is its mission.”
Bank taxes, bailouts and bloated deficits around the world will be top of mind, but Ban urged Canada not to lose site of the billions of people living in poverty, and of outstanding commitments by the developed world to raise the global standard of living
The sharp decrease in the rate of malaria infection, improvement in child health, school enrollment and food production show that success is possible, but only if accompanied by political will, he said.
And the need for that will is urgent.
“You simply do not have any idea how many poor people … are starving to death,” he said.
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- Srijoni
- Hello readers and bloggers! My name is Srijoni(hence the blog title) and this blog is created as an assignment. Hmm, let's see..I am the type of person that believes in equality, equity, rights and justice. I am extremely interested in the external affairs of Canada because it is so fascinating how the whole world has the ability to work as one. As a result of my passion and interest, most of the articles on this blog will probably be related to international relations or social justice. Hope you enjoy it! :)
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4 comments:
When it comes to this issue, I do not completely agree with the government of Canada. I feel that Canada being a country with a strong Charter of Rights, maternal rights should be supported and funded for. It is also significant to assist women in developing countries that cannot bear to financially support children.
I do not see a reason behind Harper’s lack of support for abortion funding. It is a significant issue that in fact affects many women globally. It is understandable that the Harper’s government wants to focus on improving the current economy right now. Nonetheless, it is necessary for them to comprehend that every year numerous numbers of women die during pregnancy and the children suffer greatly as well. With the ability and money to abort the child, this will significantly go down.
Experts agree that billions of dollars in aid are necessary in order to meet the United Nations target to significantly reduce maternal mortality rates by 2015 and the best way to this is to give women in developing countries the choice about when to have children and how many. Other than this, I also feel that the funding should also be put forth in educationg girls about contraception and reproductive health services.
The truth it, maternal health and choices would be an excellent way for Canada to promote women’s rights internationally. It is, after all their right to make the decision about having children and it is unfair and unjust that due to money crisis, they will be unable to carry it on. Our nation, especially should support this cause completely and wholly since our country has a strong constitution for women’s rights. I also find it hypocritical that while Canada is trying to promote democracy, human rights and equality in other parts of the world such as Afghanistan and will not become a natural ally of one of the richest countries in the world, China for the same reasons, the government is not willing to pay to promote human rights when it comes to this cause. I feel that Canada should not forget about the global issues affecting our world today and step up to improve the global standard of living.
I chose this article because this article shows that we are lucky to have the privileges and rights that Canada provides us with; however, it is also vital to not forget that while we are fortunate enough to have these rights and are using them, across the globe, many people, especially women are not allowed to speak their mind or even make decisions for themselves. We need to know about these issues affecting our world today because we are all in this together.
I feel that the topic of abortion is a sensitive one which has many perspectives. But I also feel that an abortion should be accessible for any one who desires one. This is because their can be a various reasons why one would feel the need to have an abortion and it is not the responsibility of the government to tell them it they can or can not have one. Unfortunately, time and time again we hear of governments trying to impose their will on issues that should not concern them. The only role the government should have on the topic of abortion is providing the funds needed so every citizen has access to abortion clinics.
By: Eyoel
This issue of abortion is very difficult and contentious at times. I completely understand both sides of the argument. However, I myself do support abortion rights and disagree with the position of the Canadian government. I believe that women should be in complete control of their reproductive organs.
Accessibility, to safe and affordable abortions is necessary to maternal health in the developing world.
Often these mothers are young and poor and cannot afford to take care of their infants. Should these be born they would live in poverty and most would not survive infancy.
Therefore, I believe that abortions should be funded by G20 countries to improve the health of the world.
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