Yes, hon Minister, there's a lot that is very sad and we don't understand all these things. I myself have three white sons and a white husband. I know that two of my white sons have to leave this beautiful country to find work. It is sad, it's complex, and it's not as simple as it looks.
Let me now aggravate you more. Women's Month this year for the ACDP is under a cloud as future generations of Africans continue to be labelled as unwanted and are targeted. Unscrupulous groups, largely from the Western World, used the legitimate call for a safer birthing environment at the 15th African Union Summit in Uganda to once again push for the abortion of African babies. Despite the fact that abortion - legal or otherwise - damages women's mental and physical health, these groups continue to claim that, in sacrificing their children and their health, women will somehow gain equal opportunities and progress.
An interesting 13-year study of the entire population of women in Finland showed that deaths from suicide, accidents and homicide were almost 250% more likely in a year following an abortion. The majority of post-abortion deaths were due to suicide, a rate six times higher than that of women who had given birth to their children. This is not progress. An examination and comparison of several countries also contradicts the idea that legal abortion lowers maternal mortality rates. Instead, it confirms that countries with restrictive abortion laws are in most cases the leaders in reducing maternal mortality.
South Africa is a shocking example of the link between liberal abortion laws and skyrocketing child and maternal mortality rates. The pro-abortion NGOs' coalition, in a statement to the recent African Union assembly, said that they were ashamed of Africa's high maternal and child mortality. Yet, their statement failed to address the need for better-skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care. The impression created is that the concern about reducing maternal mortality is nothing more than a smokescreen as the abortion agenda in unscrupulously promoted.
Abortion advocates have long argued that abortion liberalisation is an unstoppable global trend. However, that is also a lie as more and more countries take a stand, and a trend toward the protection of life is taking root. Ireland, Poland, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Japan and Russia have all issued strong pro-natalist statements reflecting their concerns.
The birthing process is not an area of equality for the sexes, but is the crown of womanhood and produces the nation's hope - children, the children of tomorrow. As such, women and their babies require great respect and consideration from men and women in working together for equal opportunities and progress for all. Thank you.