Family Alliance: Slovakia Shouldn't Fund Abortions in Africa

Bratislava, February 9 (TASR) – The Family Alliance (AZR) on Thursday stated that it doesn’t agree with Slovakia possibly co-funding abortions in Africa and other developing countries following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to reactivate the so-called Mexico City Policy, which was introduced for the first time by Ronald Reagan.

The policy blocks U.S. federal funding for non-governmental organisations providing abortion counselling and promoting the expansion of abortion services in other countries. In response to Trump’s move, Danish Minister for Science, Technology, Information and Higher Education Ulla Toernaes has called on the EU to “fill the gap” in the funding of these organisations.

Meanwhile, AZR urged Prime Minister Robert Fico to state publicly whether Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak has signed or will sign a joint letter called for by Toernaes.

“We also want to ask him to say whether Slovakia is really going to fund abortions in Africa and what reason we have for doing this,” said AZR chairman Anton Chromik at a press conference.

“Africa has a different culture and mentality, with the local people considering such things as offensive,” said Chromik in reference to the activities of pro-abortion organisations.

At the same time most people in Slovakia don’t view abortions as a proper solution, said Chromik, citing polls revealing that 70 percent of Slovaks admit abortions only in grave cases or don’t accept them at all. Meanwhile, the two National Marches for Life in recent years have represented the largest public gatherings since the 1989 Velvet Revolution, stated Chromik.

According to Forum of Life’s Maria Demeterova, such form of assistance by developed countries is viewed in Africa as a display of colonialism. One solution could consist in education initiatives, such as the ‘Let’s Save Lives’ project in Slovakia, which has dealt with 2,000 cases since it was set up nine years ago, while the pregnant mothers have never been forced to either decision, said Demeterova.

TASR also approached the Foreign and European Ministry for comments, learning from its press department chief Peter Susko that Lajcak hasn’t been called by the Danish minister to sign the joint letter.

“The possibility of joining the letter was proposed to the EU member states, including Slovakia, on the level of a relevant group in Brussels,” said Susko, adding that Slovakia won’t make any decision on the matter before a comprehensive debate involving all relevant Government ministries.