I don't know about you, but more than once I have had to tell good people that organizations they support for other reasons are knee-deep in abortion advocacy. Other times, fortunately, we got wind of some proposed shift and were able to head it off.

Well, evidently Amnesty International (AI) is re-thinking its policy of neutrality on abortion. The current policy states, "Amnesty International takes no position on whether or not women have a right to choose to terminate unwanted pregnancies; there is no generally accepted right to abortion in international human rights law." According to various press accounts, last year AI began a world-wide "consultative process" of its members to test the waters.

The story was broke this week by lifesitenews.com. On Tuesday John-Henry Westen wrote, "Amnesty International (AI) has proposed actively fighting against the right to life for unborn children by using its resources to promote a so-called 'right to abortion'. In proposed changes to its Sexual and Reproductive Rights Policy, the organization has asked members to comment on proposals around AI's abortion position by May 20, 2006."

AI is, of course, known for its work to free political prisoners.

With protective abortion laws on the books in many countries, the decision to forego neutrality would put AI at loggerheads with many nations.

One activist quoted by CanWest News Service tried to turn this turnaround into a badge of honor. "We [faced opposition] on the death penalty, while some issues around imprisonment are hot potatoes, so it's not new to us," said Cheryl Hotchkiss, women's rights campaigner with AI in Ottawa. "As an organization we have increasingly expanded our work on women's human rights."

Members are asked for feedback on "three aspects of abortion," according to John-Henry Westen, editor of lifesitenews.com

* "decriminalization of abortion";
* "access to quality services for the management of complications arising from abortion";
* "legal, safe and accessible abortion in cases of rape, sexual assault, incest, and risk to a woman's life"

AI includes a "Draft Policy statement on Sexual and Reproductive Rights" in its Sexual and Reproductive Rights Consultation Kit, according to Weston. The policy includes the demand that "Governments must refrain from denying or limiting equal access to sexual and reproductive health services." In addition (Weston writes), "[Governments] must act with due diligence to punish abuses of sexual and reproductive rights by private persons, organizations and other non-state actors."

Weston told CanWest News Service, "If they include abortion as a sexual right as they've proposed and ask governments to 'punish' those who would impede those so-called rights, then Amnesty would find itself working to shut down the pro-life movement, and everyone who believes in the right to life for the unborn."

AI's web page is www.amnestyusa.org. You can send an e-mail message asking the organization to retains its neutrality on abortion to admin-us@aiusa.org.

Please send any comments or questions to Dave Andrusko at dandrusko@nrlc.org.