Opposition to the Repo[unclear: rt] Grows

The report of the Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion has given the green light to the anti-abortion forces in New Zealand. That it is an attack on women's rights is made clear by the recommendation that the decision concerning abortion be denied women, and be placed with panels of two doctors plus a non voting social worker.

The response of women to this report has been immediate. Leigh Minnitt, the coordinator of the Wellington Coalition to Oppose the Report, said that reports from Auckland say that the protest has been "terrific — they've never had anything like it before."

The highlight of the reaction in Wellington has been a public meeting on April 30, organised by the Women's National Abortion Action Campaign (WONAAC.) With only four days notice over 300 people attended, and a wide range of groups had representatives. WONAAC has also called a rally at the opening of Parliament at 12 noon on May 19, and this was endorsed by the public meeting. Students can contribute a lot to the numbers on this rally, (Victoria has policy condemning the report of the Commission.)

The Coalition group established in Wellington includes representatives from many groups, including NZUSA and VUWSA Leigh Minnit says that the coalition has been "industrious and enthusiastic and very busy." Some of the suggestions for action are a conference which could publicize and co-ordinate the campaign nationally (this was supported by the April 30 public meeting), a national publicity campaign, and work in rural areas.

The rally on Parliament will be a chance to show publicly our opposition to the report. In Auckland there will also be a public demonstration — a march on May 13. The response in Auckland has been quite unprecedented — 21 groups have been involved in protest, and a page 9 coalition similar to that in Wellington regularly holds meetings of 30 to 40 people. The coalition is making full use of the Auckland University Resource Centre through the Auckland University Feminists.

Christchurch is also planning to establish a coalition on May 11 — and there will be a public meeting on June 8 to register a vote of no-confidence in the report. A leaflet has been produced in Hastings criticising the commission, and canvassing is being done throughout the Hastings/ Napier region, leading up to a conference on May 28.

In Palmerston North there was a meeting on May 4 at Massey University, with speakers from the Women's Electoral Lobby, the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand, the Labour Party and WONAAC which was attended by more than 30 people. This is all the more significant since Palmerston North is a stronghold of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child.

NZUSA is holding its May Council over the last week of the holidays — and the Royal Commission report is sure to be high on the agenda. Most students' associations have policies that oppose the existing abortion laws as being too restrictive — and so the report's recommendations to tighten up the laws are a slap in the face of student opinion, as well as the opinion of the New Zealand population as a whole. At universities we also have the facilities to help build the campaign to oppose the commission's report.

At Victoria, the Women's Choice Club will be having tables all this week, and a working bee to prepare for the Parliament rally — we will need women to help staff those tables. Students have time and again shown their readiness to march, picket and speak out against injustices. Never was such action more appropriate — and our first contribution can be to turn out in force to the rally at Parliament on May 19.

Joan Shields.