Abortion Statistics – 2010 The Nation’s Loss

Media Release

Abortion Statistics – 2010 The Nation’s Loss

The abortion statistics for 2010 reflect the continuing saga of the exploitation and abandonment of women and the destruction of innocent human life. There were 16,630 abortions in 2010, 920 fewer than the 17,550 abortions in 2009. Right to Life is pleased that there is probably nearly 1000 babies alive today who would have been killed if there had been no reduction in the number of abortions. The continued reduction in the abortion rate gives hope that New Zealand is rejecting a culture of death.

Abortion violates the right to life of the child. It not only destroys the life of an innocent and defenceless child, but it may cause grief, sorrow and serious psychological damage to the mother the second victim of abortion. It is always wrong to kill the innocent. The loss of 16,630 children is a tragic loss for our nation, as one that kills its own children does not have a future.

Right to Life applauds those courageous and heroic women who chose life for their. These women deserve the loving support of the community. Right to Life has compassion for the estimated 10,000 women who were coerced into having an abortion against their will, by family and friends and frequently by the father of the child, who refuse to accept any responsibility for the child or the mother.

Right to Life questions the lawfulness of the 98 per cent of abortions that are authorised on the grounds of mental health. In 2010, 16,295 abortions were authorised on the grounds of mental health. Dr Christine Forster, a previous chairperson of the Abortion Supervisory Committee stated publicly in November 2002 referring to the 98 per cent of abortions authorised on mental health grounds, that she “did not believe that all these women were in serious danger and that doctors were using mental health to provide abortion on demand.” A total of 206 abortions were authorised on the grounds of the child being handicapped.

The total of repeat abortions was 6407, which was 39 per cent of the total. The number of women having a second abortion was 4427 women, while 1332 had their third, 446 their fourth, 136 their fifth, 47 their sixth, 10 their seventh and nine their eighth or more.

There were 65 abortions after 20 weeks gestation of the child and 20 of these abortions were on unborn children of 25 weeks or more gestation. It is presumed that these abortions were for fetal abnormality such as Down syndrome and Spina Bifida, authorised on the grounds of mental health. Right to Life believes that these abortions discriminate against those babies believed to have a disability. This is eugenics where only the healthy are allowed to be born.

It is a national tragedy that many of the 16,630 unborn babies destroyed in 2010 were not made available for adoption. In 1969 there were 2500 adoptions in New Zealand, in 2010 there were only 40 babies adopted. There are thousands of families that would love to adopt a baby and provide a loving home. Why is the government actively promoting abortion over adoption? Why are abortion counsellors not promoting adoption. Is it because adoption is not politically correct and if so this policy is totally anti-life and absolutely indefensible and abhorrent.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life,

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