Media Release August 20th 2015
Justice Denied
Right to Life believes that the community should be aware that there is a price to pay for defending human rights. Right to Life has recently forwarded the sum of $72,500.43 to the Crown Law office in full and final settlement of court costs awarded by the Supreme Court for previous hearings in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
We find it difficult to understand that although no costs (or any other payment) was sought in the Waihopai case, where very much greater sums were in issue. The Crown at the bequest of the Abortion Supervisory Committee, has now decided to pursue costs. Right to Life believes this was a case in which there was significant public interest and it is clear from the Supreme Court’s judgment that our action brought needed clarity into the law. The message is that if you dare to seek justice for the unborn then be prepared to face the full force of the State.
It should not have been necessary for Right to Life, with the generous financial support of its members, to have to proceed to the Courts to plead for justice for our unborn with legal recognition of the unborn child as a human being endowed with an inalienable right to life. It was a great injustice to witness the learned Crown counsel, who should have been advocates for the unborn, eloquently make their case in the Courts that the unborn child was not a human being until it was born. This denial of rights is a legal fiction that has allowed the war on women and the murder of the unborn to continue unabated for decades. How long is our nation going to remain silent in the face of this monumental injustice? When is the government going to recognise the unborn as members of our community and provide legal protection for their right to life?
The Abortion Supervisory Committee, the defendant in the proceedings instituted by Right to Life had instructed the Crown Law Office to pursue these costs. Right to Life asks, was the Committee wishing to give a strong message to discourage any other group of citizens from challenging the system for the legal murder of the unborn? The proceedings commenced in the High Court in June 2008, proceeded on appeal to the Court of Appeal in October 2010 and culminated with an appeal to the Supreme Court in March 2012.
The unborn child is the weakest and most defenceless member of the human family. Human life begins at conception and at that moment the unborn child is endowed with human rights by its Creator; their foundational right is an inalienable right to life. It is a great injustice that the unborn child is not recognised as a human being until it is born. Today, the unborn child is a victim of a holocaust that is funded and authorised by the State as a core health service with unlimited funding. When is the State going to protect mothers and their unborn?
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life.
Phone 03 3856111.
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