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August 14, 2007
Amnesty International stands up for choice
Despite threats from the Vatican, Amnesty International is set to take a stand on abortion access for victims of rape.
The decision, which will also cover women whose health is at risk from giving birth, follows the use of mass rape as a political weapon in the conflict in Darfur. But Amnesty has infuriated the Vatican by expanding its definition of human rights to include access to abortion, prompting leading Catholics to accuse the organisation of having "betrayed its mission". Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has threatened that unless Amnesty's policy is reversed, the Vatican will call upon Catholics worldwide to boycott the organisation.
Amnesty's deputy general secretary, Kate Gilmore, says "Amnesty International's position is not for abortion as a right but for women's human rights to be free of fear, threat and coercion as they manage all consequences of rape and other grave human rights violations."
Posted by Jessica at August 14, 2007 9:09 AM