MELBOURNE: Australian government on Tuesday lifted a 13-year-old ban on abortion services and counselling which will pave way for foreign aid.
Foreign minister Stephen Smith has effectively followed the path of US President Barack Obama who has scrapped the policy preventing non-government organisations using official funds overseas to advise about abortions or provide services.
The current guidelines, which have been in place since 1996, prohibit any overseas development funding from being used for activities that involve the termination of a pregnancy.
"This is a difficult issue and the government recognises that there are strong views, firmly held, on all sides," Smith said.
"The government has now completed its review and I have decided to change the family planning guidelines for Australia's overseas development assistance programme," he said.
The development assistance programme is aimed at supporting the same range of family planning services for women in developing countries as are supported for women in Australia, subject to the national laws of the relevant nation concerned, he added.
He also said "avoiding terminations through family planning services and advice" will continue to be the focus of Australian-funded activities.
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Australia-allows-abortion-services/articleshow/4250097.cms
Foreign minister Stephen Smith has effectively followed the path of US President Barack Obama who has scrapped the policy preventing non-government organisations using official funds overseas to advise about abortions or provide services.
The current guidelines, which have been in place since 1996, prohibit any overseas development funding from being used for activities that involve the termination of a pregnancy.
"This is a difficult issue and the government recognises that there are strong views, firmly held, on all sides," Smith said.
"The government has now completed its review and I have decided to change the family planning guidelines for Australia's overseas development assistance programme," he said.
The development assistance programme is aimed at supporting the same range of family planning services for women in developing countries as are supported for women in Australia, subject to the national laws of the relevant nation concerned, he added.
He also said "avoiding terminations through family planning services and advice" will continue to be the focus of Australian-funded activities.
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Australia-allows-abortion-services/articleshow/4250097.cms
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