BURNING ISSUE

Vatican’s position on the use of condoms: Is it going to be revised? Recently, the Pope Benedict XVI commissioned a report on moral and scientific aspects of the use of condoms in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Although this report will remain confidential, public opinion and key stakeholders speculate a lot about the possible shift in the Vatican’s policy. At present, the encyclical "Humanae Vitae" from 1968 is in force – unambiguously and definitely banning condoms. The amendment of the existing encyclical is very much awaited, especially in the context of the growing global AIDS epidemic.
Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care compiled a requested study on ethical and scientific aspects of the use of condoms and their role in HIV prevention. A report was then passed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and was discussed at the Vatican Conference on combatting HIV/AIDS. The contingent approval of the use of condoms as a lesser evil will be limited only to married couples when one partner is HIV – positive. Beyond any shadow of a doubt, marital faithfulness and sexual abstinence will remain the main HIV prevention “means” in Vatican’s perspective.
The discussion on the use of condoms in the Vatican and the possible revision of Vatican’s position in the expected papal document is revolutionary. Especially if we take into account that just one year ago the Pope assured the upholding of the total ban on condoms at the meeting with African bishops.
Catholics for Free Choice strongly advocates on behalf of lifting the ban on condoms. If you would like to support them, please sign the letter to Pope Benedict XVI urging him to approve the use of condoms:
http://www.actionstudio.org/public/page_view_all.cfm?option=begin&pageid=7258

WHO: First women at the position of Director General concerned about women’s health. Executive board nominee, Dr Margaret Chan from Hong Kong has been appointed for Director General of the World Health Organization. Not only is she the first Chinese elected for such sa ignificant UN post, but also the first women in the history of this agency at this position. Her term of office will last until 2012 and it is expected that it will lead to a stronger commitment of WHO to improve family planning and reproductive health. Experts believe that Chan’s guidance creates a unique opportunity to prioritize sexual and reproductive health and rights. Dr Chan has already declared that she will address specifically women’s health problems and that efforts to combat HIV/AIDS are of high priority to her. – Improvements in the health of the people of Africa and the health of women are key indicators of the performance of WHO – claims newly elected Director General.
Margaret Chan is a former Director of Health in Hong Kong. She has worked for WHO since 2003. She had earlier been the top communicable disease official and the Representative of the Director General for the Pandemic Influenza. Her appointment results from the sudden death of the previous DG Lee Jong-wook in May, which happened two years before his term formally ended.
More information available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr66/en/index.html

EU: Germany’s presidency might revive the debate on Christian Values. German chancellor, Angela Merkel, leader of the religious CDU political party declares that she would like to reopen the discussion on the EU constitution which brings us back to the debate on what constitutes European values. Merkel is overtly in support of the Constitution and the incorporation of Christian values into it, as she affirmed in August after the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. This standpoint receives considerable support from some prominent MEP’s. The special committee has been already established to examine Christian values and the role they play in European integration.
Germany will take over the EU’s presidency in January 2007. During its presidency, the European Union will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in Rome. This exceptional event sets up a perfect opportunity to revive the issue of the European Constitution – opportunity that will most likely be explored. It is anticipated that the special paper on European Christian values, namely “Berlin Declaration” will be presented.
EP Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics strongly opposes the enshrinement of Christian values into the core European values. France with its struggle to separate religion from state might back up this position. Contingent inclusion of Christian values into EU framework will affect all the legislation and policies; and in that sense jeopardize sexual and reproductive rights. Thus the efforts undertaken by Merkel and her supporters concern SRHR advocates, whose agenda is failed to be adequately recognized by Vatican as a fundamental human rights issue.

FEMM pronounces its opinion on the Commission Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on combating HIV/AIDS within the European Union and in the neighbouring countries, 2006 – 2009. Parliamentary Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) reviews European policy towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS from gender perspective. In the opinion submitted by the Vice - Chairwomen of FEMM, Zita Gurmai from the Socialist Group (PSE), the Committee urges to recognize that women and girls are becoming a particularly vulnerable group, as according to UNAIDS. Thus every policy to combat HIV/AIDS has to take girls and women into account and special measures targeted at women have to be developed. FEMM’s opinion identifies discrimination against women, feminization of poverty, violence including rape and trafficking as factors affecting susceptibility to become infected with HIV. The opinion pronounces the importance of comprehensive and compulsory sexuality education in the fight against HIV/AIDS. FEMM also urges to guarantee women’s participation in developing policy towards HIV/AIDS.
Full text of the opinion available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/pa/631/631323/631323en.pdf

EU: European Parliament’s Resolution on AIDS. On 30^th of November, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on HIV/AIDS with regard to, among others, the Commission Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on combating HIV/AIDS within the European Union and in the neighbouring countries 2006 – 2009 of 15^th December 2005, the United Nations’ commitment to provide universal access to prevention treatment and care by 2010, as well as the theme of the World Aids Day 2006 Accountability: stop AIDS, Keep the promise. The resolution examines the issue extensively and links to sexual and reproductive health comprehensively. In point 6, it states that eradication of all forms of violence against women that favors the spread of AIDS is of great importance. The resolution urges also for the increased funding of condom supplies. Finally, it appeals to the newly elected US Congress to give up the ‘global gag rule’ introduced by president Bush that cuts all the US funding to NGOs that advocate for the access to legal and safe abortion.

Full text of the resolution available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?language=EN&pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+MOTION+B6-2006-0623+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN

United Nations: Joint Statement on the protection of migrant women. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25^th November) United Nations released a statement that urges States to protect migrant women, regardless of their immigrant legal status, from violence and other forms of exploitation, including trafficking. Data indicates that migrant women, who often leave their home countries to improve the quality of their lives, are especially vulnerable to experience violence. According to the CEDAW Committee, violence is strongly linked to discrimination and migrant women experience double discrimination: on the basis of sex and origin. The UN appeals to State Parties to recognize this specific status of migrant women and guarantee the protection of their women’s human rights. The migration of women grows in numbers and importance and the challenges have to be immediately addressed. For instance, countries of destination do not protect women from certain traditional practices recognized as violating human rights such as female genital mutilation, forced marriages or honour crimes. Moreover, the statement pinpoints particular legal provisions that should be identified as discriminatory to migrant women. For example, there are instances of woman’s fertility being controlled by forcing her to terminate a pregnancy.
The joint statement has been issued by Ms. Louise Arbour (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights), Ms. Yakin Ertürk (Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Violence against Women) and Mr. Jorge Bustamante (Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the Human Rights of Migrants).

Nicaragua: Total ban on abortion. A law which bans abortion even when the pregnancy inevitably threatens a woman’s life has been passed in the Nicaraguan Congress and signed by the president Enrique Bolanos. No one voted against the new law, although one third of parliamentarians were not present during the voting.
Beforehand, it was admissible to terminate pregnancy if at least three doctors certified independently that it would save the woman’s life. In Nicaragua, women undergoing abortion and those who enabled them access to illegal service are penalized for, on average, 6 years of imprisonment. The president proposed to increase the prison sentence to at least 10 up to 30 years.
Latin America in general remains one of the most restrictive regions regarding access to legal and safe abortion. Cuba is the only exception. Abortion is available here on demand in first trimester. Nicaragua is the third country in the region with a total ban on abortion – next to Chile and El Salvador.