World Family Policy Center Newsletter

Rebecca E. Billings

G/TIP programs coordinator, Asia and Pacific Region, U.S. Department of State

Rebecca Billings of the U.S. Department of State addresses the BYU community regarding the international problem in the trafficking of persons, including children, between countries in support of sex and illegal labor markets. In underdeveloped countries, parents sometimes send their children abroad for work or education in hopes of improving their lives, only to have the children become enmeshed in the dark, hidden side of the economy in a country where they do not speak the language and do not understand the culture or the police and political systems. This form of modern slavery is unfortunately widespread and illustrates the respective ties between family, economy, and the wider society.

To view the video of the presentation, visit http://kennedy.byu.edu/events/archive.php#351

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FEATURED NEWS ARTICLES

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1. A record 3,000 late abortions in Britain

Telegraph.co.uk

March 8, 2008

The number of late abortions in Britain has reached a record level, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

Almost 3,000 were carried out on women who were at least 20 weeks pregnant, according to the latest annual figures in England and Wales, representing a 44 per cent increase in less than a decade.

The vast majority were for "lifestyle" reasons; less than a quarter were because of a risk that the child would be born handicapped.

The figures come amid rising concern over the current 24-week time limit for legal abortions. Campaigners who cite research showing improved survival rates for very premature babies, combined with evidence suggesting young fetuses can feel pain, are putting pressure on MPs ahead of a crucial debate on the issue next month.

MPs are planning to add amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to reduce the limit to 20 or 21 weeks. David Cameron, the Tory leader, has said he would back such a change.

Doctors yesterday blamed failings in sex education for the rise in late abortions. Dr Trevor Stammers, a practicing GP from the charity Family Youth Concern, said the Government's approach had left the present generation of young women with the impression that abortions were "like having an appendix out".

He blamed "a very casual attitude towards sex, which is aided and abetted by the medical profession." He said: "Women get the idea it's a trivial matter and as a result they are much more cavalier about presenting to their GP late."

To view the entire article, visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/09/nabort109.xml

British Psychiatrists: Abortion May Lead to Mental Illness

CitizenLink

March 17, 2008

The United Kingdom’s Royal College of Psychiatrists is warning women that abortion may lead to mental-health problems. The college says women should not be allowed to have an abortion until they receive counseling about the risks involved.

The Royal College is advising that post-abortive information be updated to include the risks of mental-health problems.

“For doctors to process a woman’s request for an abortion without providing the support, information and help women need at this time of crisis, I regard almost as a form of abuse,” said Nadine Dorries, a conservative member of Parliament.

To view the entire article, visit http://www.citizenlink.org/CLBriefs/A000006823.cfm

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2. Spain's Socialist Government Now Concerned About Country's Dismal Birth Rate

LifeSiteNews.com

March 17, 2008

The socialist government of Spain has surprised everyone by adopting a pro-natal policy. Each newborn will receive a check for Euro 2,500 (about 3,938 dollars). If the newborn is born into a family with three or more children, the amount is increased to Euro 3,500.

In announcing the policy, President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said to the Parliament that "In order to continue progressing Spain needs more families with more children. And families need more aid to have more babies and more resources for their upbringing".

Even a blind man could see that this is so. In only 30 years, the average size of the Spanish family has dropped from 3.8 members to 2.9. Today, two and a half million Spanish people live alone. There are now only about 1.7 million large Spanish families--that is, families with three or more children--and the number is steadily falling.

Along with Italy and Greece, Spain has one of the lowest fertility rates in the EU. Spain's population is aging rapidly, and is on the cusp of absolute population decline. In 1996 Spain added only 11,177 people to its population. Since that year, the numbers have gone up, but only because immigrants from Latin America and North Africa are having children. Even with these births, however, in 2005 births only exceeded deaths by 78,597. Experts calls this the "desnatalidad," which translated means the "un-birth rate".

To view the entire article, visit http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08031714.html

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3. Romanian pro-family forces fight for traditional marriage

OneNewsNow

February 29, 2008

Pro-family activists in Romania are petitioning the government to add the protection of marriage to that country's constitution.

The Alliance of Romania's Families was launched last year, and since then the group has collected more than 650,000 signatures for an amendment to the country's constitution. That amendment states that polygamy would be prohibited, and marriage allowed between only one man and one woman.

Only 500,000 signatures were required for a national referendum, but the petition drive did not meet the required geographical distribution. Nevertheless, says Larry Jacobs, global coordinator for the World Congress of Families, pro-family supporters in Romania realize the importance of protecting marriage and will continue their efforts.

"It's really our only hope [that] some of these Eastern European former Soviet countries ... recognize the truth, recognize God's truth around family and marriage. Latvia being another one, Estonia, some of the Baltic States," explains Jacobs. "And if we don't come to their support, they're going to succumb to the same thing that's happened in the Netherlands and Luxembourg and Belgium ...."

To view the entire article, visit http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=68563

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4. "Homosexualism does not Correspond to Moral Principles of Society": Ukraine Parliamentary Committee

LifeSiteNews.com

March 7, 2008

A committee of the Ukrainian Parliament is calling for a halt to the popularization of homosexuality that has become such a prominent feature of life in western European and North American societies. The Committee on the Issues of Freedom of Speech says the state must oppose the increasing promotion of "homosexualism, lesbianism, other sexual perversions, which do not correspond to moral principles of the society".

The Committee's report said, "Propaganda and expansion of homosexuality in the country form a threat to national security, contradict national interests and undermine the authority of rights and freedoms of human beings and family".

Ukraine is seeking membership in the European Union, the founding documents of which require the repeal of member country's anti-homosexuality legislation. The Treaty of Amsterdam requires anti-discrimination legislation to be enacted by its member states.

To view the entire article, visit http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08030703.html

Canadian TV Station Yanks Ex-homosexual Ad for "Discrimination"

LifeSiteNews

March 10, 2008

Canadian Television (CTV) has pulled an ad that claims it is possible to leave the homosexual lifestyle, sponsored by a Christian advocacy group, Life Productions, after the station received numerous complaints from pro-homosexual activists.

The 30-second spot is narrated by John Westcott, the founder of Exchange ministries, an organization that seeks to help practicing homosexuals who wish to leave the lifestyle. Westcott is himself a former homosexual, as is his wife Dena.

"You hear a lot about gay rights, gay marriage and the gay lifestyle being taught in our public schools for children," says Westcott in the ad, "but what many people don't realize, and seldom hear, is that many homosexuals don't want to be homosexual. What many who are struggling with homosexuality don't realize, and seldom hear, is that they can change. I should know - for 13 years, I used to be one." Wescott then walks off the camera and an announcer says, "This message has been brought to you by Life Productions." (To see the ad, called "Exchanged Life", go to: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/%3ca href=http:/www.lifeproductions.ca/%3ehttp:/www.lifeproductions.ca/%3c/a%3e http://www.lifeproductions.ca)

The ad ran for three days on a local CTV station in Sudbury Ontario, before it was pulled on March 3. Life Productions had intended to run the ad locally for an entire year.

To view the entire article, visit http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08031002.html

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5. Druggists ask to stop forced 'morning-after' pill sales

USAToday

March 19, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A group of pharmacists asked the Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday to throw out a rule that forces them to dispense emergency contraception despite moral objections, claiming it amounts to illegal coercion.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued the rule in 2005, prohibiting pharmacies from turning away women seeking emergency contraception. The medicine is a higher dosage of typical hormonal contraception, and if taken within three days of having sex it greatly reduces the chance of pregnancy.

Pharmacists who do not want to dispense the drug say it is tantamount to abortion. The closely watched case mirrors concerns raised in other states.

The druggists argued that Illinois law protects them from choosing between violating their consciences and losing their licenses, and that they shouldn't have to wait until they're out of jobs to seek justice.

A lawyer for Blagojevich argued that the pharmacies in the lawsuit don't have standing to sue because they have suffered no repercussions. Laura Wunder, an assistant state attorney general, also said those pharmacies don't even stock so-called "morning-after" medication, so it's unlikely they would violate the rule.

To view the entire article, visit http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-03-18-morning-after-pill_N.htm

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6. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Faces More Backlash on Human Cloning Bill

Lifenews.com

March 17, 2008

London, England -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is facing more backlash on the embryo bill that would allow the cloning of humans with animal DNA infused. He's already faced a rebellion from Catholic MPs upset he won't allow a free vote and now MPs from Scotland have started a backlash as well.

At least half of the Labour Party MPs from Scotland plan on voting against the bill even though Brown has only allowed dissenting MPs to abstain from voting on it.

Scots Secretary Des Browne, a member of the government could also join the group of Scottish MPs who plan to vote against the measure.

The Daily record newspaper said one MP, which it did not name, indicated he had received 1,000 letters from people opposed to the cloning bill and asking him to vote against it.

To view the entire article, visit http://www.lifenews.com/bio2367.html