News, 1 September 2003
The UK Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has begun an investigation
into discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace. According
to a recent survey, one in five pregnant women are affected, many of
whom are given unsuitable duties, face unpleasant remarks or criticism
and unfair dismissal. The EOC will present recommendations to the
government in February 2005. [
The Guardian, 1 September ]
Research into premature birth is scheduled to begin in November at the
Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, based at the site of the Edinburgh
Royal Infirmary. The laboratory was set up after finance minister
Gordon Brown and his wife launched a fund-raising campaign in memory of
their baby Jennifer and hopes to bring together some of the leading
researchers in the field. [
The Herald, 1 September]
South Korea's birth rate has fallen to a record low, according to
official figures published last week. The fertility rate is now just
1.17, well below replacement level, giving South Korea one of the
lowest fertility rates in the world. [
LifeSite, 29 August]
Arizona Right to Life is engaged in a major fundraising drive to enable
them to run pro-life television advertisements, LifeNews reports. A
similar advertising campaign four years ago reached 93% of households
in Mariscopa County, Arizona and is believed to have saved the lives of
3,300 babies. The new adverts, created by VirtueMedia, emphasise the
tragedy of those "missing" through abortion. [
LifeNews, 20 August]
A Wisconsin state senate committee has voted 4-1 in support of a bill
requiring babies born alive as a result of abortions to receive medical
care. Last week, the committee heard evidence from a nurse who had
witnessed the lingering deaths of babies who survived abortions at
Christ Hospital, Illinois. [
LifeNews.com, 28 August]
A declaration by a Houston judge that part of the Freedom of Access to
Clinic Entrances Act is unconstitutional is to be challenged by the
Justice Department, the New York Times reports. The law, supposedly in
place to prevent people using abortion clinics from being harassed, has
been criticised for allowing the intimidation of peaceful pro-life
protestors. Pro-life campaigners are particularly angered by the
support being given to the law by the pro-life attorney general John
Ashcroft. [
The New York Times, 30 August]
To subscribe to SPUC's email information services, please visit www.spuc.org.uk/em-signup. The reliability of the news herein is dependent on that of the cited sources, which are paraphrased rather than quoted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the society. © Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, 2012