TEXT : My apologies if you have already received this e-mail including the earlier communication from Prof Gian Luigi but it is urgent and important.
John Lee
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 7:34 PM
Subject: URGENT REQUEST
Dear Friends,
I have been told this morning that Matercare, which wanted to apply for an NGO status in the EU, is discriminated against due to the fact that they do not comply with IPPF, (another NGO) criteria, e.g. abortion.
I need urgently official written evidence of this fact, in some formal letters sent to me in Brussels: Dana Scallon, MEP. office 08F265, European Parliament, B-1047 Brussels, Belgium, with CC by email: dscallon@europarl.eu.int, and by Fax: +32 2 284 9570. I also need the link with the website which reveals this criteria.
As the next Development committee meeting in the House is taking place on Monday 2nd December, and as I will need to speak next week with like minded colleagues from this committee, this should be done at your earliest convenience, before this date.
This is an outrageous and illegal discrimination: no NGO should fulfill to another NGO's criteria. In the european context, this has also to be dealt with as a monopoly situation, which is illegal: it has to be tackled immediately.
Following to our conversation, please find enclosed some relevant informations on the sandbaek report.
I have been informed today that the Council position is such that even if the report is sent back to committee, the Council is determined it will be pushed through and agreed.
Also be aware that I have received a letter from members of the US Congress, which states that the US has "publicly announced that it will not reaffirm its commitment to the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) Program of Action, and that this position was non-negotiable".
First of all, please find enclosed the EU Commission's answer to my question: Il is clrealy statede that :
"in line with present policies, it (The Commission) will not provide incentives to encourage (...) abortion in developing countries."
Nevertheless, also find enclosed the document re: the public partnership signed by Com. Nielson with IPPF on the 13 sept. 2002:
In its statment on the first page of its website: http://www.ippfen.org/site.html?page=26&lang=en, it is clearly stated that: the IPPF European Network's Mission Statement is : "To advance and defend the basic human right of all people to make free and informed choices in their emotional, sexual and reproductive lives; to strive for the development and provision within Europe of high quality, accessible information, education and health services regarding sexuality and sexual identities, conception, contraception and safe abortion.".
Please also find enclosed a letter I received from your dear colleague Dr. A. T. Lassey, on behalf of the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians Of Ghana (SOGOG): this type of letter is very powerful, and I would encourage anyone to send me similar official letter, in order to reinforce and support like minded colleagues.
Kind regards
Dana
p.o. Dr Catherine Vierling, M.D.
Assistant to Dana
>>> "dott. Gigli Gianluigi" 19/11/2002 20:10:54 >>>
Dear Friends of FEAMC,
Please have a look to the following press release.
I think FEAMC should act soon at the level of Members of Parliament of the
different Countries and at the level of Governments and European Commission
to prevent this new major disaster.
I would like anyone make aware the Members of Parliament of respective
countries on the importance of their vote.
Please contact also Simon Castelli in Spain who is active with a network of
the Members of the European Parliament.
Greetings
Gian Luigi Gigli
President of FIAMC
BRUSSELS, Nov 18, 02 (LSN.ca/CWNews.com) - The European
Union will soon vote on a major reversal of current EU
regulations on aid to developing nations which would force
member countries to fund abortions and strip them of the
right to act according to their religious and ethical
principles. The new regulation, related to the Plan of
Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population
and Development, is to take effect January 1, 2003 if
passed.
The new requirement would replace an existing rule which
states: "The implementation of the recommendations
contained in the Program of Action is the sovereign right
of each country, consistent with national laws and
development priorities, with full respect for the various
religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of
its people, and in conformity with universally recognized
international human rights."
The proposed revision removes the previous sovereign rights
and even disregards national laws which may prohibit support
for abortion. The new regulation reads: "It is to reinforce
the Cairo Plan of Action by giving all couples and
individuals the basic right and opportunity to fully
protect their reproductive and sexual health, in particular
against unsafe abortion and other existing harmful
practices. It is to provide universal equal access to care,
services, and products."
Euro-Fam, a pro-life group which devotes its resources to
European Union and Parliament matters, is urging all
European pro-lifers and pro-life EU member states to
urgently voice their opposition to the proposed new
regulation. It notes that EU funding for these activities
has increased 72 percent and may go to 300 percent beyond
its current 8.07 million euros expense.
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