PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Tell Canada Family Planning Saves Lives
  1. Signatures
    130 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. Canadian Prime Minister (Stephen Harper)
  2. Created By
    A S
    Winthrop, ME
About this Petition Petition Letter

This year, Canada will be leading a G8 effort to address maternal and child health. When asked about the initiative, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said family planning would not be included because "the purpose of this is to save lives." 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has since suggested the excluding family planning is not a done deal, though his remarks do not inspire much confidence.

Tell Mr. Harper that family planning saves lives and should be part of the G8 efforts to address maternal and child health.

 

 

Recent Signatures

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Greetings,

I was disappointed to hear your Minister of Foreign Affairs say that Canada's G8 initiative to address maternal and child health would not include family planning efforts because family planning doesn't save lives.

Family planning does save lives! Since 1986, the Population Reference Bureau in Washington D.C. has published a reference manual entitled "Family Planning Saves Lives." According to the most recent edition, family planning saves women's lives by allowing them to delay motherhood, space births and avoid unintended pregnancies; family planning saves children's lives by allowing mothers to space births thus devoting more care and attention to their newborn children; family planning saves adolescents' lives by reducing teen pregnancy; and family planning saves lives by reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Indeed, a 2004 World Health Organization study found that 1/3 of maternal deaths could be prevented by family planning.

Please ensure that family planning is an important part of the G8 initiative to improve maternal and child health.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Press Inquiries