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"GET READY TO EXTEND OUR HOURS. THE SCHOOL BOARD CANCELLED ALL SEX EDUCATION CLASSES." Page 10 26 Sept, 1992 No. 28 Fage 6 26 Sept, 1992 No. 28 closure of nearly half its branches which give abortion and contraception advice.
Despite the role of the Catholic church, a public opinion poll still, found 58 per cent of the population opposed to any restriction on abortion.
East Germany The situation for women in the former East Germany has worsened. Subsidies for contraceptives, creches and kindergartens have been withdrawn or severely reduced. The question of how to unify the liberal East German laws of those with the Federal Republic has not been resolved. But the Bundes. tag decided in June to allow free abortion in the first three months if counselling from a doctor is obtained.
In the ex-Soviet Union the problem is not the lack of access to abortion, but rather the lack of an alternative. Because of the lack of contraception under the old svstem, the average woman had six terminations during her reproductive years.
In 1989 it is estimated that the contraceptive supplies produced only met 30 percent of the demand. Oral contraceptives were never produced in the ex-Soviet Union. IUDs were produced in small numbers and were of poor quality. So were domestically produced condoms, often publicly derided, with many men refusing to use them.
The countries discussed here are just the tip of the abortion struggle world-wide. In many other countries, particularly Ireland and Australia, abortion is a major political divide. Everywhere that liberal laws have been established, rightwing and reactionary religious interests are engaged in a fight to overturn them. In a world where extreme reactionary forces are getting stronger in many places, feminists and their allies face a long, hard struggle.
The National Abortion Campaign has moved. It can now be contacted at The Print House, 18 Ashwin Street, London, E8 3DL Phone: 071 923 4976 or Fax: 071 923 4979.
ENWRAC, the European network of pro-choice groups can also be contacted there.
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