ABORTION LAW REFORM ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND
14 October 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALRANZ Calls on Deputy PM to Denounce Anti-Abortion Threats
The Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand (ALRANZ) today called on Deputy Prime Minister and Clutha-Southland
MP Bill English to denounce plans by anti-abortionists in Southland to “name and shame” medical professionals working in
abortion care, ALRANZ spokeswoman Alison McCulloch said today.
According to a report in today’s Sunday Star Times, Mr. English supports the anti-abortionists who have been campaigning
against Southland’s newly opened abortion service.
“We want to know if he also supports the menacing tactics this group is apparently planning, including harassing women
outside the clinic and a ‘name and shame’ campaign against medical staff,” Ms. McCulloch said.
“Mr. English, along with the religious leaders backing this campaign, must denounce these dangerous threatening
tactics,” she said. “It is outrageous that MPs and religious leaders have stood by as the rhetoric and attacks against
healthcare professionals performing a legal medical procedure have continued to escalate. It is time to stop this before
it leads to violence.”
Anti-choice activists claim local staff won’t take part in abortion care because they oppose abortion, Ms. McCulloch
said. “That’s simply not true. Some staff may well be anti-choice, but ALRANZ has been told by the Southern District
Health Board that those opting out do not necessarily personally object, but they do fear backlash from anti-abortion
activists.”
“We can certainly understand why they have those fears when they face these kinds of bully tactics,” Ms. McCulloch said.
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