AMERICA/CHILE - Distribution of the “morning after pill” is outlawed in public health centers, after a long court battle: this “reaffirms the Law in recognizing that our justice system protects life.”

Tuesday, 8 April 2008

Santiago de Chile (Agenzia Fides) - Following a long court battle, the Constitutional Tribunal of Chile has declared as public and official the court settlement that will give way to the declaration of unconstitutionality presented by representatives of the government against the Supreme Decree that approved the National Norms for Fertility Regulation. According to the settlement, distribution of the “morning after pill” will be prohibited in public health centers. The court settlement was the result of a 5-3 vote (5 in favor) and cannot be appealed, according to local communications sources. The declaration was made following a presentation made by opposing government representatives, who argued that the emergency pill violates the constitutional right to life, as it is an abortifacient. The governmental decision that has now been overturned by this court settlement had called for the distribution of the pill, free of charge, to any woman that requested it, including adolescents over 14 years of age, without parental consent.
A group of 29 associations that are members of the Network for Life and the Family made a public statement applauding the Constitutional Tribunal’s decision, saying, “this reaffirms the Law in recognizing that our justice system protects life.” The also mention the fact that, “the right to life is the first and most fundamental of all rights and it cannot be subordinated or placed at risk under the pretext of a misunderstood sense of equality, much less because of third-party decisions.” With this decision, Chile has joined the ranks of other countries who have also declared the “morning after pill” an abortifacient, among them being the United States of America, through a declaration made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May of 2004.
“We are happy about the Constitutional Tribunal’s decision and we support and congratulate the members of government and lawyers who fought for the solicitation and we encourage all members of the society to take an active part in protecting and promoting life, especially the life of the unborn,” the statement concluded.
Among the institutions that form the Network for Life and the Family, are: Family Action, Aid to the Church in Need, Asociación Familia Viva, ACONOR, Calcuta, Centro de Investigación y Estudios de la Vida Humana (CIEVH), Centro de Alumnos Derechos UC (CADE), Centro de Estudios Política y Sociedad, CIMENARF, ChileVida, Ciudadanos por la Vida, ConVida, Corporación Proyecto Esperanza, Creavida, Cristianos por la Vida, Jóvenes Chile, Jóvenes por la Vida, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Evangélicos, Fundación Gente Nueva, Fundación Hacer Familia, Fundación Sara Philippi, ISFEM, Movimiento Humanista Cristiano (MHC), Movimiento Mundial de Madres (MMM), MueveteChile.org, Persona & Vida, Red Raíces de Puente Alto, SOFAM, Viva Chile. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/4/2008; righe 36, parole 439)


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