The New Zealand Government have announced the details of its new abortion bill which, if it becomes law, will introduce abortion right through to birth for babies with disabilities.
You can read more details about the new abortion bill in our press release here.
In 2017 Saving Down’s highlighted their concerns around Jacinda Ardern’s pledge to change abortion laws and that this would introduce abortion through to birth for babies with disabilities. In response Jacinda Ardern made a commitment to not increase the time limit for disability-selective abortion.
In response to the concerns raised by Saving Downs, Jacinda Ardern said:
“They have said till 40 weeks, which is wrong, which is wrong. We have time periods already set out in law, I’m not proposing changes to that. I’m proposing it comes out of the Crimes Act.”
Sadly it appears that Jacinda has broken her promise to the Down’s syndrome community and her Government have brought forward a bill which, if it becomes law, will introduce disability-selective abortion through to birth.
Already the majority of babies in New Zealand diagnosed with Down syndrome are screened out by termination and if this proposed policy became law it could put us on the path towards the situation in Iceland where close to 100% of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted.
We know that there are many people within our community who are very concerned about the impact the Government’s bill will have and that Jacinda Ardern has broken her promise to our community.
If you are concerned, this is your opportunity to have your voice heard. Please add your name to the letter by clicking the button below. The letter asks the Prime Minister to make a commitment to ensure that she does not break her promise, and that the Government either withdraws the Bill or urgently introduces a specific provision to the Bill that will ensure that abortion for disabilities will not be allowed from right up to birth.
