Media Release 17 July 2021

The government of Jacinda Ardern, in passing the Abortion Legislation Act, designed by the Prime Minister, have legalised the killing of female children because they are not male, effectively up to birth. It is appalling that a child should be murdered not because it exists but because it is female. This is a diabolical act of violence and discrimination. Right to Life will not rest until this anti-life and anti-feminist Act is repealed.

 Prior to the passing of this Act on 18th March 2020, a sex selection abortion was a crime. Melissa Lee, a National MP, presented a Supplementary Order Paper 478 to amend the bill to make sex selection abortions unlawful and to impose a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment for doctors found guilty of knowingly performing a sex selection abortion. This protection was shamefully opposed and defeated by the government 70 votes to 50. How can the government claim to represent women?

The government’s support for allowing sex selection abortions up to birth, is opposed by our community. A poll conducted by Curia Marketing on behalf of Family First in April, 2019 revealed that of the 1,013 persons polled 90% opposed sex selection abortions with only 4% in support.

According to the European Parliament, there are 200 million women missing in the world. The major reason for this is sex selection, abortions which happen in every nation but predominately in Asian countries, China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In China, 113 boys are born for every 100 girls. The social effects on a nation of such a serious gender imbalance is catastrophic.

How can the government and the NZFPA claim to represent women when they support violence and discrimination against women? A sex selection abortion is a double betrayal of women for it victimises two women, the mother and her daughter in the womb. This is the ultimate in discrimination against women. The discrimination is compounded by the fact that in spite of the mother desperately wanting to protect the life of her precious daughter, she is often the subject of abuse and coercion by the father of the child who for cultural and social reasons or personal reasons, wants only a male child.

“We wish to ensure that all New Zealand women can enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination on the basis of sex.”

The government should be aware that sex selection abortions are a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United Nations Committees appointed to review compliance with these conventions by member nations have “recommended that state parties monitor implementation of national legislation prohibiting sex selection abortions.”

Right to Life fully supports women being valued and respected because of their intrinsic dignity and their children in the womb, both male and female being afforded effective legal protection for their inalienable right to life. The Society fully supports CEDAW [Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the CRC [Convention on the Rights of the Child]

Ken Orr

Spokesperson,

Right to Life.