Abortion, drugs top human rights group’s agenda

AMNESTY International said it would debate proposals to tackle the devastating human rights consequences of misguided attempts by countries to criminalise and restrict abortion, and to punish people for using drugs.

Global delegates were to gather in Warsaw, Poland from today until Sunday to hold crucial votes on its positions on safe and legal abortion and how states control the production, sale and use of drugs.

“We want to make sure we are well placed to fight for the rights of millions of people whose lives are impacted by how governments criminalise or restrict access to abortion and by the prohibition of drugs,” said Tawanda Mutasah, the senior director for law and policy.

Representatives will be asked to vote on adopting an updated position on abortion that will call on states not just to decriminalise termination, but to guarantee “access to safe and legal abortion” in a broad way that fully respects the rights of all women and girls.

Amnesty International’s position on abortion and access in a limited set of cases was adopted in 2007.

Unsafe abortions continue to be one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide, with an estimated 25 million unsafe terminations estimated to take place each year.

Representatives will also vote on what would be the organisation’s first position on how states should address the challenges posed by drugs from a human rights perspective.

The proposed policy would call for a shift away from the current “scorched earth” approach of heavyhanded criminalisation, to an approach where protection of people’s health and rights are at the centre.

Amnesty International said it had already conducted research in many countries that have been torn apart by drug prohibition, from Brazil to the Philippines and the US, that showed the devastating human rights cost of current drug control methods.

Held annually, the meeting is an opportunity for Amnesty representatives from around the world to meet and democratically vote on the direction of the rights body’s work.

“The meeting will take place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by the Polish government to undermine the independence of the judiciary and to further restrict access to abortion.

“Both have been met with overwhelming public opposition and protest,” said Amnesty International in a statement released ahead of the poll.