Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
23 November 2007
Brussels — The Irish government has voiced concerns about European Union (EU) support for an international initiative that would promote legal abortion in Africa.
At a meeting of European foreign ministers, the Irish delegation questioned an EU statement of support for the Maputo Plan, saying that it would violate an established policy against EU endorsement of abortion in other countries.
In a compromise agreement, the European leaders agreed to express support for the Maputo Plan "within the context of EU policies," Catholic World News reports.
The "Maputo Plan of Action," a non-binding resolution that was approved by the African Union in January, calls upon African countries to "enact policies and legal frameworks to reduce incidence of unsafe abortion."
It also "prepares and implements national plans of action to reduce incidence of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion." Sponsors of the plan have interpreted that language as a call for legalizing abortion, the Irish governments said.
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