The Lancet and Canada

From an Editorial in the Lancet: “Although the country's decision only affects a small number of developing countries where abortion is legal, bans on the procedure, which are detrimental to public health, should be challenged by the G8, not tacitly supported,” the editorial says. The 70,000 women who die annually from unsafe abortions or the consequences of unsafe abortion WILL NOT BENEFIT from any G8 initiative. They will not benefit because the the states these women live and die in DO NOT provide safe abortion and will likely NEVER support safe abortion. This means that international aid from any G8 initiative will not reach these women. Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and now the US under Obama all financially support NGOs that in turn help provide safe abortions in those African states where abortion is legal. Therefore the claim that the Canadian government is acting "hypocritical" by allowing access to abortion in Canada while not including it in the G8 proposal is plain wrong. There is no doubt that access to emergency obstetric care and and safe, legal abortions saves lives. No question. But this isn't a problem that will be solved through financial aid or new programs because the problem in Africa, like here, is social, religious and cultural. In order to save the lives of women dying from unsafe abortions there must first be social, cultural and most importantly, political reform. Abortion in Africa is more contentious than it is in Canada. Abortion is illegal in the vast majority of African states except where the mother's life is at stake. By all means, the G8 should include a rallying cry regarding the backward health policies in much of Africa that do not support legal, safe abortions in it's final statement, for as little good as it will actually do.