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HOUSE OF COMMONS
CANADA

Maurice Vellacott, MP
Saskatoon-Wanuskewin


Maurice Vellacott would like to draw your attention to this press release issued by the MELISA
Institute:

http://www.melisainstitute.com/pr-03082013-english.html

FOR RELEASE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 8TH 2013 @ 9am EST

Scientists discuss relationship between abortion and violence against women

New York, March 8th 2013 Scientists of the United States of America, Ireland, and Chile met this
week in New York to discuss recent scientific evidence regarding abortion as a form of growing
violence against women and girls. Indiscriminate practice of abortion is significantly correlated with
coercion, a history of sexual abuse, violence during pregnancy, intimate partner violence, and with
psychological consequences that may lead to suicide.

The scientific evidence was discussed by Doctors Monique Chireau (North Carolina, USA), Donna
Harrison (Illinois, USA), Eoghan de Faoite (Dublin, Ireland), and Elard Koch (Concepcin, Chile).
The meeting Public Policies to reduce maternal mortality, a holistic focus on maternal health took
place in parallel to the 57th Session of the Commission of Women Status of the United Nations,
whose priority theme is the elimination and prevention of all types of violence against women and
girls, activity that will go on until March 15th.

The scientists discussed different epidemiological studies, showing that:

- A significant and growing proportion of induced abortions occur due to coercion by the intimate
partner of the pregnant woman.
- A history of sexual abuse and violence is a risk factor for abortion and subsequent mental health
problems.
- There is a significant correlation between the increase in the number of abortions and an increase
in the rate of homicides against women versus those against men.
- There is an important correlation between the increase of abortions and the suicide rate of women
of childbearing age.
- Countries with abortion laws that are less permissive, such as Ireland and Chile, display lower
abortion rates than countries with more permissive abortion laws.

Dr. Koch, director of the MELISA Institute, presented international collaborative studies that have
been recently published, which place Chile a country with one of the least permissive abortion laws
in the world with the lowest maternal mortality rate in Latin America. Public policies ensuring
more education for women, childbirth by skilled professionals universally available, and a timely
access to emergency obstetric units would be key factors improving maternal health, and not the
legal status of abortion. This evidence was in agreement with data presented by Dr. De Faoite, who
showed evidence placing Ireland among the countries with the lowest maternal mortality in Europe,
without having to modify their current abortion legislation. On the other hand, Dr. Chireau presented
robust evidence regarding novel treatments for pregnant women with cancer, which are successful in
safeguarding the life of the mother and her gestating child. Finally, Dr. Harrison discussed the risks
related to complications following medical abortion with chemicals such as misoprostol, which are
exacerbated in developing countries due the their lack of sufficient coverage of emergency facilities.

During the opening of these UN Sessions and commemorating the International Womens Day, the
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon remarked There is one universal truth, applicable to all
countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable,
never tolerable. In this context, the scientists assembled in New York voiced their concern in
regards to the alarming expansion of abortion as a form of violence against women in the world,
something that should not be dismissed by any nation that respects fundamental human rights.

###
* For more information on this subject or to arrange an interview with doctors Monique Chireau,
Donna Harrison, Eoghan De Faoite, and/or Elard Koch, please contact Lea Parks, Officer of Public
Relations of the MELISA Institute, to lea.parks@melisainstitute.com or to +56 41 234 5814