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Government to step up efforts to prevent child sexual abuse (Philippines)

In commemoration of this year’s Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday prodded the government to increase efforts in supporting victims and preventing more cases of child sexual abuse.

The agency said in a statement that child exploitation reflects a failure to protect the most vulnerable. The marginalised sector, now more than ever, needs the government’s utmost protection in unprecedented times like this. This warning comes at the wake of a pandemic that has led to worsening socio-economic factors, which according to the CHR, also led to an increase of child abuse and sexual exploitation. This statement is reinforced by the findings of the Department of Justice which has noted a 264% increase of online sexual exploitation of children amid the pandemic.

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Parents must protect and prepare children against online pornography (Singapore)

While parents should protect their children against online risks such as online grooming, sexting and pornography, they should also prepare the youngsters for encounters with such issues, according to Associate Professor Daniel Fung, chief executive of the Institute of Mental Health.

This comes amid a surge in the number of children exposed to inappropriate sexual content with the prevalence of digital devices to view such material.

Noting that it is almost impossible to regulate pornography on the Internet, Prof Fung said parents should help children understand that such content exists and why it is not good to watch it. Instead of treating it as a taboo topic, parents can take the opportunity to discuss with them, explain what pornography is and why it is harmful, he added.

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Psychological effects of Human Trafficking (South Africa)

Juanita van Heerden, Director of Escape (a Safe House), discussed the Psychological harms of Human Trafficking on SABC TV. She described how Human Trafficked people are more likely to be malnourished, have chronic diseases, borderline personality disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia, paranoia, depression, anxiety and insomnia. The biggest challenge is to place the victims back in society. At her Safe House they teach the victims life skills including computer courses, reading and writing. Her concern is that South Africa wants to legalise Prostitution. She pleaded for resources to be made available to prostitutes to enable them to exit this life they are trapped in.

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South Dakota lawmakers pass restrictive abortion pill laws (USA)

The South Dakota Legislature passed a proposal form that aims to make the state one of the hardest places in the U.S. to get abortion pills. The bill would require women seeking an abortion to make three separate trips to a doctor in order to take abortion pills and make it clear that women in the state cannot get them through a telemedicine consultation. But women in South Dakota are still required to make two trips to an abortion clinic to get the pills. First, for an initial screening, then they must wait 72 hours before they can return to the clinic to get both drugs in the two-dose regimen. This bill would add a third mandatory visit that would require women to wait at least a day before returning to the abortion clinic to take the second drug in the regimen.

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Bill would prohibit ‘obscene’ books from school libraries (USA)

A bill to prohibit books deemed “obscene” from Tennessee school libraries advanced through the Criminal Justice Subcommittee after hours-long discussion with celebrities, parents and education professionals alike. Former SNL member, Victoria Jackson, stated that people are stealing the innocence of children through obsene books. Supporters of the bill said some books have descriptions of excessive violence or even pornography. The bill passed with a vote of 7-3.

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Lenient law concerning sex with young teens overhauled (Denmark)

Sexual intercourse with a minor aged 12-14 will now be regarded as rape. Previously it was only classified as sex with a minor, carrying a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. But in many cases, adult perpetrators have got off with a lenient sentence if they were able to demonstrate they had a meaningful relationship with the child. The law was too lenient. The maximum sentence for such an offence is now 12 years in prison. Importantly, it makes it absolutely illegal for a child aged 12-14 to consent to having sex with an adult. Other laws were also passed. Sex dolls of children have been banned, and more powers have been granted to the police to conduct secret searches in cases of child pornography.

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Supporting KZN flood victims

A Doctors For Life team stepped in to help take care of those affected by the KwaZulu-natal floods in the Nhlungwane Extension. More than 57 families have been displaced in the Nhlungwane area and have taken refuge in the local community hall. Another 40 families are living in a large tent in a nearby area. Many are still missing.

The floods destroyed homes, roads, and other infrastructure making access to healthcare difficult. Living conditions and the lack of clean water has resulted in the outbreak of infectious diseases. In addition, patients with chronic health conditions are unable to source long term medications. The need for clean water, food and clothing continues.

Pro-life Doctor Finally Allowed To Practice After Being Barred For Almost Five Years

After almost five years of being barred to practice medicine, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) finally allowed Dr Jacques de Vos’ to continue with his career. Dr De Vos was suspended from completing the gynaecology rotation of his internship at 2 Military Hospital in the beginning of 2017. He was then charged by the HPCSA with unprofessional conduct for his views that the unborn child is a human being.

Following years of delays, the HPCSA finally withdrew the charges against Dr De Vos in September 2020. 2 Military Hospital, however, still refused to sign Dr De Vos off, citing his ‘refusal to comply with basic medical ethics’ (referring to his medical views on the humanity of the unborn child). It was only after persistent intervention of organisations such as Doctors For Life, assistance of various attorneys and advocates, as well as the perseverance of Dr De Vos that the HPCSA relented on 4 April 2022 and approved his registration as a medical practitioner for purposes of his community service.

Whilst Doctors For Life (DFL) is delighted that Dr De Vos can finally proceed to practice medicine, DFL is appalled at the unfair and discriminatory manner in which he was treated. The scientific reality of the humanity of the unborn child is generally undisputed. Nevertheless, Dr De Vos was effectively punished for his scientifically sound stance, by being barred to practice medicine for almost five years without a hearing. This was a gross and inexcusable violation of his constitutional rights. Doctors For Life calls upon the South African government to urgently enact measures to ensure protection of healthcare professionals who act conscientiously in line with sound science, and not to persecute ethical practitioners such as Dr De Vos.

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Which country in Europe ranks worst for access to abortion?

Abortion remains a crime in 14 of Europe’s 52 countries. Malta is the only country which is part of the European Union that strictly prohibits abortion. Poland has tightened its abortion laws as it is now illegal to abort a baby on the grounds of foetal defects. Abortion is also illegal in Andorra and San Marino. Twenty-six European countries give healthcare workers the right not to provide or recommend abortions based on their personal beliefs. Sweden, Iceland and the UK are the top 3 European countries which provide the easiest access to abortion services. The Netherlands, France and Denmark come next. The countries which have the most difficult access to abortion care are Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Lichtenstein, Monaco and Poland.

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