No abortions for illegal immigrants, group urges

Religious groups yesterday urged the Ministry of the Interior to scrap plans to give illegal Chinese immigrants voluntary abortions, despite backing for the action by women's groups.

One day after Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) announced a decision to provide medical aid to immigrants seeking to terminate their pregnancies, religious groups presented a united front and urged the ministry to take into account the rights of unborn babies.

Alongside representatives from Buddhist groups and Protestant and Catholic churches, KMT Legislator Chiang Chi-wen (江綺雯) and DPP Legislator Chou Ching-yu (周清玉) called on Yu at the ministry yesterday afternoon.

Hsieh Hwai-jean (解惠珍), a representative of the Christian Salvation Service, said, "Respecting life is the foundation stone of human-rights concerns."

"We want to protect babies no matter where their mothers are from," said Kuo Cheng-gen (郭承靜) from Taiwan Good Shepherd Sisters.

While declining to promise a stop to the new policy, Yu told the delegation he would convene a cross-ministry meeting on the issue and give religious workers a tour of the Hsinchu Detention Center -- where illegal female Chinese immigrants are held -- next week.

Under the Genetic Health Law (優生保健法), a pregnant woman is entitled to have an abortion if she thinks her pregnancy would adversely affect her mental health or family life.

National womens groups, meanwhile, supported Yu's decision.

Awakening Foundation CEO Wu Wei-ting (伍維婷) said, "As long as the women can exercise their own free will, then choosing an abortion is fine."

"The government should not force these women into having an abortion so they cannot stay in Taiwan," she said.

"But instead, the government should strive to better the living conditions in the detention center and provide suitable medical and humanitarian aid to the women there. The government should also provide them with detailed information concerning abortion so they can make the best choice," Wu said.

Taiwan Women's Link CEO Tsai Wan-fen (蔡宛芬) said, "The Genetic Health Law may have defined clear situations under which women in Taiwan are allowed to abort their babies, but the pregnant women in the detention center seeking an abortion should be treated as special cases."

"Those mothers-to-be should also be offered comprehensive details on abortion, so they can choose the best decision for themselves. If a mother-to-be decides to abort her baby without knowing all her options and alternatives beforehand, the decision could be the wrong one," she said.

Tsai also said that the Genetic Health Law already discriminates against women by not giving adequate consideration to the health of mothers.

Taiwan Women's Link and the Taipei Association for the Promotion of Women's Rights will present their own draft version of the Genetic Health Law on Monday, offering it as a basis for the amendment of the law.