Burning Words

The campaign to take abortion out of the Crimes Act in Victoria is reaching a crucial point, with the state Law Reform Commission’s report into decriminalisation being handed down tomorrow. This one is going to be the most important reproductive rights battle Australia’s had in years, so please help out if you can.

I just got this email from NUS National Women’s Officer Claire Tatszyo, and thought it warranted passing on:

Hi Friends,

sorry for the group email, but this campaign, in which I have been quite involved, needs your help.

On March 28, 2008 (a few weeks from now!) the Victorian Law Reform Commission will hand the state Labor government a number of options for changing the law on abortion. The government may use one of these as a basis for decriminalising abortion.

But not all decriminalisation is the same. Some ways of changing the law will enhance women’s dignity and their freedom to choose, while others will make the existing situation far, far worse. And what happens here in Victoria is likely to impact on the situation in both New South Wales and Queensland, because of similarities in the law’s foundations.

Make your voice heard! Become part of the Pro-Choice Victoria campaign to make sure that all references to abortion in the Victorian Crimes Act are removed, and that the new law enhances the freedom of women and couples to decide for themselves.

To find out more, please visit:

prochoicevic.org

By putting your email in the bright orange box to the right on the homepage, you’ll be first in line for campaign updates, and opportunities to take action to defend the right to choose.

And please, if this issue matters to you, don’t stop there. Pass this email on to a friend!