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Nicaragua: UN committee complains about influence of Catholic church

Submitted by wluml on Fri, 11/17/2006 - 00:00
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In a letter to the Nicaraguan National Assembly, Silvia Pimentel, vice chairman of CEDAW, criticized the influence of “the hierarchies of the Catholic Church and some Evangelical Churches” in the draft reforms of Nicaragua’s penal code.
Pimentel asserted that by consulting with Nicaraguan religious leaders, Nicaragua had violated its own constitution as “an independent, free, sovereign, unitary, and indivisible State,” that “does not have an official religion.”
Written on behalf of the entire CEDAW committee, the letter said, “We call upon the Honorable Nicaraguan deputies to postpone the current discussion of the Penal Code and adopt a consultation process to allow for decisions to be based on the defense of the Secular State.”

Pimentel, a Brazilian jurist and coordinator for the Latin American pro-abortion lobby, CLADEM, is a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her CEDAW job has just been extended two years. Her letter asserts that “the right to a therapeutic abortion is inherent in human rights, like the right to life and the right to health… protected by international treaties and conventions signed by Nicaragua.” When abortion was mentioned in a non-binding resolution, Nicaragua and other nations made reservations excluding any right to abortion.
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Nicaragua outlaws abortion even to save a woman's life

October 26, 2006 – With a vote of 59-0, members of the Nicaraguan National Assembly voted to outlaw abortion under any circumstance by repealing Article 165 of the Penal Code. Article 165 allowed for “therapeutic abortions” if a woman’s life was in danger. Nicaragua becomes only the third nation in the Western Hemisphere to outlaw abortion entirely, joining Chile and El Salvador.

Twenty-nine members of the 90-seat National Assembly were not present for the vote, and two members abstained.

“I am appalled by this action,” said Elizabeth Maguire, president of Ipas. “But this vote will not be the end of the story — the battle has just begun.”

Today’s vote came at the behest of Catholic and evangelical church leaders who pushed for the legislation in advance of the Nov. 5 presidential and National Assembly elections, holding legislators hostage to their vote on the bill. Representatives of the Catholic Church were permitted to observe the proceedings, while members of the Women’s Autonomous Movement were physically barred from the assembly.

“We are outraged that leaders who claim to stand for the poor and marginalized would vote in favor of a law that condemns women to die like this,” said Marta María Blandón, Director of Ipas Central America and member of the Women’s Autonomous Movement. “Women’s lives are worth more.”

The Nicaraguan Women’s Autonomous Movement led the significant opposition to the bill and has vowed to continue fighting. They plan to file a suit before the Nicaraguan Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the legislation.

The women’s movement received support from Nicaragua’s health and human rights communities. The Minister of Health issued a statement objecting to the legislation, noting the absence of any consultation with medical experts.

Source: IPAS