Media Release 2 August 2023
Right to Life encourages the next Parliament to pass an amendment to the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 that will provide a waiting period of three days between the first consultation and the abortion.
A review of the Irish abortion laws commenced in December 2022 revealed that 3,951 women did not return for a second consultation after the three-day mandatory waiting period had passed.
Thousands of women had decided to have their babies. There are now thousands of babies who are alive today because their mother had time to reflect and seek help. This time of reflection may have saved a lifetime of regret, sorrow and pain from the loss of their child. How many thousands of New Zealanders would be alive today if our Parliament had legislated for a three-day waiting period?
There are 14 countries including Ireland in Europe and 9 other nations that have a mandatory waiting period between the first consultation and the abortion appointment. There are also 27 of the 50 States in the USA which have a mandatory waiting period before the women proceeds to the abortion appointment.