AT the risk of being repetitive, I am once again writing regarding the issue of the Federal Government ratifying the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
I believe Catholics in Australia have to begin to be more outspoken about this issue.
Not all anti-abortionists are Catholic so there is no united voice from that section of the community. It is up to us to take a stand.
In December, 2006, I wrote a letter to The Catholic Leader (which was published) regarding a new threat to pro-life issues warning all to be aware of the ramifications of the Federal Government ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
On August 26 this year the Government tabled a National Interest Analysis in Parliament recommending that Australia become a party to the Optional Protocol so I sent a letter to the Prime Minister expressing concerns about this action.
My letter was passed on the Attorney-General Robert McClelland who responded as follows:
“The Convention, to which Australia has been a party for 25 years, provides a right for women to equality in society, including in relation to education, marriage, social security, health and employment. It does not provide a right to abortion. Rather it provides for women to have ‘access to adequate health care facilities, including information, counselling and services in family planning’.”
The latter statement is generally recognised as a euphemism for abortion on demand.
Countries which have signed the protocol are now finding pressure being brought to bear on them to adopt implementing regulations for existing laws on women’s rights to therapeutic abortion.
I believe the Attorney-General is naïve in the extreme in responding as he has.
As I wrote before: Signing this protocol provides for complaints to be taken directly to the UN.
A further letter has been sent to Mr McClelland asking if he really wants Australia to sign a document that hands over our rights (without reservations) to a “committee” which could be made up from representatives of countries from anywhere in the world.
The question has also been put to him: “Do you really believe that Australian women cannot get justice in Australia to pursue their rights? If you do you are condemning the justice system here making you a lame-duck Attorney-General.”
PAT CANNARD
Murrumba Downs, Qld
