It is the opinion of this Society that the government is guilty of genocide, a crime against humanity which is a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. New Zealand is a signatory to the Convention that was passed by the General Assembly on 9 December 1948.
Relevant section of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
Article II: In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
Our complaint is that in February 2010 the government of New Zealand instituted the “Antenatal Screening for Down Syndrome and other conditions – Quality Improvements” programme. This programme was introduced by the Ministry of Health following advice from the Ministry’s National Screening Unit [NSU] without public consultation. Cabinet papers obtained under the Official Information Act state that the outcomes of the programme will be a reduction in the number of births of people with Down syndrome, with around 90% of unborn children diagnosed with the condition being aborted.
The programme is funded by the state and targets all pregnant women in New Zealand in their first trimester on the basis of providing information to women to make decisions about their pregnancies, including abortion. People with disabilities are the only group of people in New Zealand targeted for selective abortion. Down syndrome, and other conditions that are targeted, are genetic conditions that have no cure. The basis of first trimester screening is to enable woman to have an abortion within the 20 week timeframe if an abnormality is detected. Other reasons for prenatal diagnosis, such as parent education, hospital selection and delivery management, do not require testing during the first trimester and can be safely left until the later stages of pregnancy. The preventing of birth of a group of people falls within the definition of genocide under international law.
This Programme was introduced by the Ministry of Health following advice from the Ministry’s National Screening Unit [NSU]. Documentation obtained under the Official Information Act from the Ministry of Health included the document Summary of Key Informant Interviews Antenatal Down Syndrome Screening Final Report which states that, “The programme will be cost beneficial for the population and the health system. The scan highlighted literature that supported the premise that the economic costs of screening outweigh the high costs associated with the long term care needs of an individual with Down syndrome.”
This is eugenics which proclaims that only the perfect have a right to be born. The screening programme is a search and destroy mission and is a further major step on the slippery slope. The government seeks to conceal the true purpose of the programme by calling it a “quality improvement” rather than national screening programme. The government states that it is providing a service to families by giving them a choice whether to terminate the life of the child with Down syndrome or to allow the child to be born. We should be aware that this is part of a strategy of social conditioning. Right to Life contends that the government has decided that children with Down syndrome are not valued or wanted in our community. Its intention then is to encourage families to abort children with Down syndrome. The insidious option to terminate the life of the child will ultimately become a duty to kill the child before birth. With the acceptance of eugenics ultimately it may be expected that with the rationing of diminishing health resources the health care for the disabled will be restricted.
It is the opinion of this Society that the screening programme is in violation of Article II [d] of the Convention, Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. People with Down syndrome fall within the definition of “disabled persons” and are recognized under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons as a group which forms part of a nation. Under that Declaration disabled persons “have the same civil and political rights as other human beings” and must be protected, against all exploitation, all regulations and all treatment of a discriminatory, abusive or degrading nature.” These rights are further reinforced under Article 10 of the Convention on the Rights of Disabled, which states “State Parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.”
We request that the government cease this screening programme. In the event that the screening programme is not terminated Right to Life New Zealand will lay a formal complaint with the United Nations [The Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide] against the government of New Zealand for genocide by imposing measures to prevent births of children with Down syndrome.
The World Health Organisation [WHO], states that the classification for Down syndrome is a “mild to moderate disability.” Most children with Down syndrome participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome. Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, social and recreational activities of their community. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways. Women who have an unborn child diagnosed with Down syndrome or any other disability need and deserve the support and compassion of the community to accept their child as a valued and loved member of the family and community.
The government should promote a culture of life by ensuring that families who have unborn children with Down syndrome receive compassion and are given all the encouragement and support needed to bring their child to birth. After the birth of their child they should be provided with the services necessary to assist them in providing for the special needs of their child.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life New Zealand Inc.
Fabulous! I have experienced first hand the effects of pre-natal screening while living in the UK with my child who has Down syndrome-I was the only one in the District with a baby with DS-the others that had also been detected the year my son was born had been terminated-this is most definitely genocide and aginst UN convention. A heartfelt thanks to you Ken and others for addressing this anti-human practice.
Since leaving New Zealand just over 3 years ago, and now living in Queensland, I have had my 7th child, who happens to have Down Syndrome. I have been amazed how many other parents of kids with DS are pro-abortion, yet are vehemently against it for DS pregnancies. Their reasoning being, how can a child be wanted one minute, then rejected for not measuring up the next minute. If you choose to be a parent, then you choose to love the child you are given.
A lot of people are confused by this stand, but while I am pro-life all the way, I do understand their horror at the thought of people killing their children just because they aren’t ‘good enough’ for them.
I was very upset when I first heard that NZ was bringing in this screening. I know it has been there all along, but to push for it is just disgusting, and gives the message that they don’t want these kids.
Here in Queensland, I had to sign a waiver saying I didn’t want the NT test because I was over 35. How dumb is that? I always thought you had to sign to have a proceedure done, not to NOT have a proceedure done!
From those I know who had a prenatal diagnosis, most of them were told all the bad things that ‘could’ happen, and there was a push towards abortion. Yet, when my daughter was diagnosed at 4 weeks of age (she was 9 weeks premature) we were given all the positives. Amazing how much more worthy her life was when we could see her!
I was deeply saddened when I learnt of a Christian lady who aborted her son who was diagnosed with DS. A CHRISTIAN! I cried. She had come onto a forum I was on asking for advice before she went for the abortion. I think maybe she was hoping for justification. I really don’t know. But my heart is really breaking for that little boy, and for whatever happened to make his mother think that was the best option.
Here in Australia, the statistic is that 95% of prenatally diagnosed children with DS are aborted. The world is really missing out on a major blessing. These kids are great. My daughter is the absolute joy of our lives. She is the blessing I never knew I wanted so much!!
Thank you so much for fighting for our children. I am sorry for rambling. But the tears are starting to flow, and it’s just my way of coping.
God bless you all and thanks from the bottom of my heart.
This makes my heart break. Those people will never know how wonderful our kids are……:(
When I heard obama say that the republicans would cause harm to seniors and children as such,DON’T BE FOOLED, this administration is the one to be wary of, obamacare cannot afford to keep seniors and children with special needs alive,IT WON’T BE COST EFFECTIVE!!! why do you think that fool said and I quote “If an older person needs an expensive procedure done,they should take a pain pill!!! now you tell me if he isn’t a real piece of work!!!