abortion supervisory committee – NZ Catholic Newspaper

What is really at stake in the abortion debate

Michael Otto — Fri, 05 May 2017 01:39:26 +0000

There has been much clamour recently over the call from the Abortion Supervisory Committee to review the law about abortions in New Zealand. Activists have been forthright in demands to remove abortion from the Crimes Act and to make abortion merely a medical matter between a woman and a doctor. Political parties have variously reacted

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Complaints cut little ice

NZ Catholic Staff — Thu, 07 May 2015 01:19:30 +0000

by NZ CATHOLIC staff

Voice for Life and Right to Life has formally asked the Ombudsman to investigate and seek evidence that people going to abortions clinics are being verbally abused and harassed.
In its 2014 annual report, the Abortion Supervisory Committee again complained of “harassment”, such as verbal abuse and offensive material given to people entering clinics and hospitals.
At four places, vigils are held outside hospitals on the day abortions are performed — Thames, Hastings, Dunedin and Invercargill.the committee for evidence but were declined on privacy grounds.
The organisations asked the committee for evidence but were declined on privacy grounds. The organisations said they then asked the Ombudsman to investigate and seek evidence.
“It turned out that the ‘harassment’ was verbally reported by clinic staff, sothere was no documented evidence. The presence of a peaceful prayer group was deemed to be harassment,”
they stated.
All prayer groups denied engaging in verbal abuse, saying it was often the other way, from pro-abortion activists.
In Hastings, the vigil consists of three people.
That group said 29 women on their way to have abortions had stopped to talk and, as a result, kept their babies.

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Abortion committee stretching the truth?

Michael Otto — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 21:52:18 +0000

by PETER GRACE
WELLINGTON — Prolife supporters are harassing people seeking or providing abortion services, claims the Abortion Supervisory Committee in its latest annual report.
However, specific information provided after persistent inquiry does not seem to support the
committee’s claims.
In its 2013 annual report, as it did in its 2012 report, the committee said harassment of
people seeking or providing abortion services is a significant concern to the committee.
“We have continued to work proactively with the police in response to reports of protests near licensed institutions and harassment of abortion clinic staff, other hospital staff and patients. While we recognise the right to peaceful protest, we will take all practicable steps to address any perceived harassment, either separate from or as part of any protest activity,” the committee said in the 2013 report.
The committee added that it is considering what support and preventative measures can be put in place to prevent further harassment.
A press release from pro-life group Right to Life said that, in 2012, it had lodged an Official Information Act request with the committee asking for information on the alleged harassment.
“The committee refused to provide any information.”
A complaint was then laid with the Ombudsman. A further complaint was made following the
2013 report.
“The committee, in response to a request from the Ombudsman, provided Right to Life with
a list on July 11 of the incidents of the alleged harassment, including:
1. “Small groups of people protesting silently with banners on a weekly basis [nationwide at
facilities, reported to committee on numerous occasions].”
2. “The handing out of objects such as rosaries, white crosses, rubber foetuses to women
entering clinics, including women not entering [nationwide, reported to committee sporadically].”
3. “Articles, letters and copies of images sent to cert consultants and clinics through the mail nationwide [reported to committee sporadically].”
Right to Life denied accusations of harassment.
“The presence of people peacefully praying outside abortion facilities is protected by
the New Zealand Bill of Rights, which guarantees freedom of speech and assembly,” its statement said.

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Right to Life struggle after losing court case

Rowena Orejana — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 20:08:17 +0000

by ROWENA OREJANA
CHRISTCHURCH — Right to Life may be wound up, after losing a
long-running court battle and facing huge costs that is it is struggling to pay.
The Abortion Supervisory Committee, which Right to Life took
a case against, starting about nine years ago, insists they be paid the full amount of their costs, amounting to
$77,575.13.
Right to Life struggle after losing court case Right to Life spokesperson Ken Orr said his group has proposed the payment of $50,000 upfront and for the balance to be paid in instalments,
but this offer was rejected.
“Our counsel said they could petition the court to have us wound
up. They haven’t actually made that threat, but he believes that’s what is on their minds,” he said.
Mr Orr explained that they would have to sell all their assets to cover the remaining amount.The proceeds will go to the ASC.
“It’s a very real threat. They don’t like us because we are always writing to them and . . . bringing information to
them about the damage done to women’s health through abortion,” he said.
The cost stemmed from the legal case filed by the group against
the ASC which argued that many abortions were wrongly approved,
based on mental health grounds.
The group asked for a judicial review of the committee’s assertion that it has no oversight of the individual decisions
made by certifying consultants who approve abortions.
Although the High Court ruled in favour of Right to Life in 2008, the Court of Appeal overturned this in 2010, and awarded costs to the committee.
In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s
ruling.
Mr Orr said their organisation needs the support of those who believe in their cause.
“We’ve spent $120,000 on going to courts for eight years from 2005 to 2012. We’ve only been able to do this because of the generous support of our members and the Catholic community,” he
said.
“We can’t take these actions unless we have support,” he said.

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Omission of abortion stats questioned

Michael Otto — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

WELLINGTON Statistical information used to obtain a High Court ruling doubting the lawfulness of many abortions is missing from the Abortion Supervisory Committees latest report to Parliament. Right to Life said the ASCs 2008 report, released in December, shows only 10 tables of statistics, whereas it had shown 16 in previous years. One table omitted

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