Media Release 9 March 2025
Right to life fears that failure to screen women leads to forced abortions.
Right to Life requests that the Ministry of Health protects women, by requiring that all women who seek an abortion are screened by a doctor in a face to face consultation.
In a response to an Official Information Act request from Right to Life dated 19 February, The Ministry of Health advised:-
“There is no law in New Zealand that makes the reporting of trafficking, sexual abuse, rape and statutory rape mandatory for any healthcare professional. There is no requirement for individuals seeking an abortion to report on the reason they wish to have the procedure.
Typically, in cases involving trafficking, sexual abuse, or rape of an adult, it is up to the victim whether they wish to report a crime and contact the police, with the support of healthcare professionals.”
Right to Life is aware that more than 60 per cent of abortions are early medical abortions which are performed in the women’s own home, without medical supervision. Right to Life believes that with the Decide –National Abortion Telehealth Service, which does not require a face to face consultation with a doctor, many women receive the lethal abortion drugs for an early medical abortion couriered to their homes or with a prescription from their local pharmacy.
Right to Life believes that an unknown number of these women are victims of trafficking, sexual abuse and rape.
Recently in the UK, Stuart Worby was sentenced to 17 years in prison for administering abortion drugs to a woman without her knowledge or consent. He obtained the drugs by having an associate telephone an abortion clinic, posing as a pregnant woman seeking to terminate her pregnancy.
Right to Life is concerned:-
• That it is not possible to screen women for trafficking, sexual abuse or rape who seek abortion drugs over the phone.
• There is no legal requirement for an abortion provider to refuse to perform an abortion up to 20 weeks, if they are aware that the woman is a victim of trafficking, sexual abuse or rape.
• That there is no legal requirement for an abortion provider to inform the police and the Ministry of Health when they are aware that a woman seeking an abortion may be a victim of trafficking, sexual abuse or rape.
Right to Life believes that sex trafficked victims are repeatedly victimised, dehumanised and controlled physically, mentally and emotionally through forced abortions.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life New Zealand Inc.