Abortion a democratic right!

In the last issue of Salient, Vic Urwin in her/ his letter displayed a basic misunderstanding of the term "a woman's democratic right to abortion." This does not mean, as Vic Urwin suggests, that everyone votes on the issue, or that there is a public opinion poll. The right to vote is only one democratic right. There are other democratic rights, such as the democratic right to criticise the present political system, to strike, to hold political meetings, freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and finally the right to control one's own reproductive life. These democratic rights ensure that the state will not interfere in the private lives of the individual.

However, these rights are gradually (or not so gradually in some cases) being eroded away. With the introduction of the Commerce Amendment Act workers theoretically can no longer strike. With the amendments to the SIS Act people can no longer organize peaceful, political opposition without fear of reprisal. With the Sterilization, Contraception and Abortion Act women can no longer control their reproductive lives.

Vic Urwin is quite correct when she states that "the law of this country denies that such a right (abortion) exists". But his/her conclusion that because the law denies its existance than this right does not exist, is fallacious.

This right exists in the USA, Sweden, Britain, China, some states of Australia and many other countries. It is a fundamental democratic right, and I will fight hard until the New Zealand government recognises that abortion is a women's democratic right.