Issued by: ANC Womens League
6 June 2000
The National Executive Committee of the ANC Women's League calls on all freedom loving South Africans to support the implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act.
On this, the 5 year anniversary of the Beijing Women's Conference, the ANC joins other international organisations and women's rights groups in calling for improved access to reproductive health services for all women and the training of all health care workers in TOP service delivery.
In South Africa, more than 100 000 women have benefited from TOP services since the CTOP Act was promulgated in 1997. Although problems with implementation exist, the act has ensured that more women than ever before are accessing safe and legal abortions.
The ANC Women's League salutes the dedicated health care workers around South Africa who are committed to providing high quality TOP services and calls on those who oppose TOP to consider the health, welfare and reproductive rights of all South African women above their own individual beliefs.
We also applaud the efforts of the Department of Health to improve the access to and quality of TOP services to women across the country. The goal to provide a safe, secure and supportive environment in which women can make informed choices about their reproductive health must remain at the forefront of the struggle for gender equality in our country.