Conservatives condemn sex-selection abortion
OTTAWA, ON—Conservative MP Mark Warawa (Langley) is challenging politicians of all stripes to follow the example of his party and go on record condemning the global practice of discrimination against females "through gender selection."
At their party's recent annual convention in Calgary, Conservative delegates passed overwhelmingly a resolution from the Langley Electoral District Association to denounce so-called gendercide. Its framers were careful to present the issue as solely a human rights violation and avoid any mention of abortion.
Warawa says he was not surprised that "probably 99.9 per cent" of the delegates supported the resolution, since surveys show that 92 per cent of Canadians generally "want this condemned."
And yet Warawa says he does not intend to take advantage of this victory to push for changes in the law that would stop this procedure from taking place in Canada.
"The way you make a change in the world is you change the hearts and minds," he says.
"We've seen in China and India where it is illegal that legislative change hasn't helped. It's a common practice in those countries where pregnancies are ended just because it's a girl and people have a gender preference for boys."
Warawa believes the most effective way to end gendercide is through public awareness.
"My hope," he says, "is that in schools right across Canada students will have an opportunity to discuss this as part of a curriculum on human rights, how girls are being discriminated against, that their lives are in danger before and after they're born."
Andrea Mrozek, who blogs at ProWomanProLife, supports Warawa's non-partisan approach to addressing what she calls "one of the most despicable practices we have happening on Canadian soil."
"A public statement helps to create a climate where gender selection is unacceptable," she says. "And that helps the people who are pressured to abort their baby girls to feel there is at least some solidarity on it, that it's just wrong and we don't support that."
In the last session of Parliament, Warawa tried to get MPs to approve a motion—M-408—condemning sex-selective abortion, but he withdrew it after an all-party committee deemed it "non-votable."
Meanwhile, Conservative Party delegates were much less united on the issue of euthanasia. A resolution calling for assisted suicide to remain a Criminal Code offence passed with 615 in favour and 502 opposed.
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
About the author