So-called Abortion Reversal is Dangerous

Media Release

ALRANZ calls upon the New Zealand government to reject dangerous, unproven medical procedures purporting to reverse abortions.

In light of the new government’s uncertain approach to abortion care, ALRANZ seeks confirmation that calls from anti-abortion radicals in New Zealand for the health service to approve (and legitimise) so-called ‘abortion reversal’ will fall upon deaf ears.

ALRANZ executive committee member and board-certified Obstetrician Gynaecologist, Dr Dionne Mills-Sillik says, “There is no such thing as abortion reversal. If someone is pregnant and takes abortion inducing pills, we cannot stop the effects once it has already been ingested. Large doses of progesterone have not been proven to negate the effects of the mifepristone-misoprostol combination with enough consistency and safety to permit anyone to make such claims, and it is irresponsible, insensitive, and malicious to claim otherwise.”

Dr Helen Paterson, Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago, and Gynaecologist states, “It is dangerous and there is no evidence that it works. The data show that taking mifepristone followed by progesterone is associated with a significant increase in major bleeding requiring hospitalisation. There have been no high-quality studies showing this therapy is effective. Thus, as far as we know to date, this is high risk for no benefit. If someone does not want an abortion, they should not start an abortion process.”

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and DECIDE.org provide clear information that abortions cannot be reversed and that this practice is not supported in New Zealand Aotearoa. There are also clear guidelines that are available to any member of the public through the Ministry of Health’s website if anyone chooses to look for them: New Zealand Aotearoa Abortion Clinical Guideline

 
ALRANZ trusts medical professionals and researchers, not ideologically motivated anti-choice, anti-abortion groups who have not provided any evidence to support the ‘abortion reversal’ protocol.

ALRANZ calls on the government to follow its own rhetoric and reject policies based on ideology in favour of policies supported by evidence-based, peer-reviewed science. 

‘Don’t Say Gay’ – US Bigotry Making Its Way into New Zealand Schools

 ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa condemns the Luxon government’s plan to remove relationship and sexuality education (RSE) from school curricula.

In striking out RSE, the government ignores decades of evidence-based research carried out in Aotearoa and overseas. 

In 2020, former New Zealand First MP and minister Tracey Martin initiated RSE. Current Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has reversed this policy, ostensibly because parents oppose the RSE curriculum.

ALRANZ rejects Peters’ premise. Parents who learn firsthand about what RSE is and what it includes overwhelmingly support it. 

ALRANZ Secretary and former sexuality educator, Alma De Anda said, “I would attend parents’ nights and present the information on the curriculum in Aotearoa. I always knew parents were concerned about age/stage-appropriate information. When we had an honest discussion about the actual topics, parents never had an issue with the sexuality curriculum.” 

ALRANZ supports educators, education researchers, and professionals who work to reduce sexual violence. They are all in agreement that comprehensive sexuality education is a protective factor against child sexual violence and unplanned pregnancies, and helps build a safer, more inclusive society.

Parents have a right to know what children learn, and a right to opt out of some topics for their children. They do not have a right to dictate what public schools teach based on personal views. We are calling on the government to support evidence-based, peer-reviewed educational best practices, and the protect the RSE curriculum in Aotearoa schools.

Election 2023: How Parties Score on Issues of Reproductive Justice

On 14 October 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand will go to the polls to vote on who they want to represent them in Parliament.  ALRANZ has been consistent that reproductive rights are on the ballot this election.  From implementing safe areas, to funding contraception, to the general global rollback of women’s rights, voters should be confident they are voting for a party that can be trusted with these important issues.  ALRANZ has gathered data on five different metrics for these scorecards from publicly available sources in order to make an assessment on which parties will be good for reproductive rights, and which parties will stagnate (or even reverse) progress.

First, Act (well, David Seymour) voted in favour of abortion law reform in 2020 and has been a long-standing proponent of the idea the state should not interfere in private medical decisions.  While ultimately voting yes to safe areas in 2022, David Seymour was the reason the provision was removed from law reform in 2020.  Furthermore, both David Seymour and Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden have made public comments expressing concerns about safe areas and freedom of speech.  (You can read ALRANZ’s position on those concerns here.)  ALRANZ is therefore unconvinced ACT would actually implement safe areas if they got into power.  There is no mention of anything related to women’s health, rights, or reproductive justice in the rest of ACT’s material for this election.

The Green Party have been consistent and dedicated allies to the reproductive justice movement.  The entire caucus voted in favour of both law reform and safe areas.  The caucus has also been outspoken on issues of reproductive justice globally, issuing statements on things like the overturn of Roe v Wade in the United States.  While not specifically mentioning future issues to do with reproductive rights, the Green Party manifesto mentions involvement in 0800 DECIDE, and notes the Green Party wants to finalise and resource the women’s health strategy.  The women’s health strategy includes issues of access to contraception.  ALRANZ is confident on the Green Party’s commitment to reproductive justice.

80 per cent of the Labour Party caucus voted in favour of abortion law reform in 2020.  The top 5 on Labour’s current list (Chris Hipkins, Kelvin Davis, Carmel Sepuloni, Grant Roberston and Megan Woods) all voted in favour.   95 per cent of the Labour caucus voted in favour of safe areas, all MPs in the top 20 on Labour’s current list.  This commitment on paper has become a reality:  11 providers have had safe areas implemented under a Labour-led government and Labour introduced the 0800 DECIDE helpline.  The information about Labour’s position on issues of reproductive justice are easy to find in their “women’s health manifesto”, which shows these issues are a priority for them.  Labour have comprehensive policies on maternal health, birth injuries, cervical cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis treatment, funding period products in school, removing prescription fees for access to contraception and increasing Pharmac funding to explore birth control options.

The National Party have a chequered history with reproductive rights.  Just 35 per cent of caucus voted in favour of law reform in 2020.  In the National Party’s current list, number 4 and 5 (Shane Reti and Paul Goldsmith) both voted no.  While all of the top 5 (along with 73 per cent of the caucus) voted yes to safe areas in 2022, ALRANZ is sceptical of National’s willingness to preserve or implement safe areas given Reti and Goldsmith would be the Ministers of Health and Justice (respectively) under a National-led government.  National do not have a general women’s health policy, but have committed to expanding free breast cancer screenings.  National wish to re-introduce prescription fees for contraceptive drugs, although Deputy Leader Nicola Willis did hint National were “looking into” long acting reversal contraceptives (LARCs).  ALRANZ is concerned about a National led government in large part due to the anti-choice beliefs of leader Christopher Luxon.  This is reflected in his caucus: 50 per cent of National’s top 20 got a downwards vote from ALRANZ in our previous scorecard.

New Zealand First were the only party to get a score in the negative numbers, in large part due to their complete silence on all issues of women’s rights and reproductive justice.  Publicly, what we know is that just 22 per cent of the New Zealand First caucus (two MPs) voted for law reform in 2020.  Winston Peters, Shane Jones and Mark Patterson all voted no (numbers 1, 2 and 5 on the New Zealand First list).  Both Te Pāti Māori MPs voted yes on safe areas in 2022, but otherwise have shown little public engagement with issues of reproductive rights.  Some of this may be due to the health policy on their website being a dead link.  Finally, TOP’s website contained easy-to-find policies, including one on fully funding contraception (including LARCs), fully funding antenatal ultrasounds and prioritising women’s health.  Despite not being in Parliament during law reform or safe areas, TOP have been dedicated and consistent advocates of reproductive justice (and great friends to ALRANZ).

While who to vote for is a choice for each individual voter, ALRANZ implores everyone to decide what level of risk you comfortable with this election.  Because we only need to look overseas to see the devastating effects electing people who are not pro-choice can have.

If you believe any information on this scorecard is not an accurate reflection of a party’s policy or position, please contact ALRANZ here.  Please include in your message a reference to publicly available information that contradicts what ALRANZ has said.

ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa Welcomes First Day With Implemented Safe Areas

ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa is excited for the first day with safe areas outside abortion providers across Aotearoa New Zealand.  From today, the six providers which provide the bulk of abortions in Aotearoa will have a protected zone of 150 metres outside their clinics.

This means patients and providers at two clinics in Auckland, and one each in Wellington, Greymouth, Christchurch and Dunedin will be protected from harassment by anti-choice protestors.

ALRANZ President Ella Shepherd said “the long-awaited implementation of safe areas recognises people deserve dignity and privacy when accessing and providing abortion services.”  These are the first safe areas since the Safe Areas Amendment Bill passed its third reading in March 2022.  ALRANZ remains hopeful the process will continue to be refined and expedited during the ongoing second and third round of applications. 

However, Shepherd remains concerned a National-led government would stifle this progress on abortion access.  “Eleven of the top 20 candidates in the National Party list voted no on either law reform or safe areas, or in the case of Christopher Luxon, have made their anti-choice views publicly clear.  Progress on issues of reproductive justice such as access to abortion are definitely on the ballot this election.”

Safe areas can only be created by the Governor-General, by Order in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Health, in consultation with the Minister of Justice.  Dr Shani Reti and Paul Goldsmith (who respectively hold the Health and Justice portfolios in the National Party) both voted no to abortion law reform in 2020.

How the National Party’s 2023 List Stacks Up On Abortion Rights

The National Party released its list for the 2023 election this weekend.  ALRANZ has looked at how these candidates voted on law reform in 2020, safe areas in 2021, and their public comments on abortion to determine whether they support abortion rights or not.  Does this look like a party you would trust to advance reproductive rights in Aotearoa New Zealand?