Statement of the European Society of Contraception
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Mrs Clemence Ross-van Dorp Staatssecretaris voor Ethiek, Sport, Ouderen en Gehandicapten Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport Postbus 20350 2500 EJ Den Haag The Netherlands |
| Brussels/Nijmegen, 26 May 2006 |
| STATEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF CONTRACEPTION |
| To the attention of Mrs Clemence Ross-van Dorp State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport |
| The Board of Directors of the European Society of Contraception (ESC) has been informed of the proposal put forward by Mrs Ross van Dorp, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health of The Netherlands, to require all women with a pregnancy of less than 6 weeks and two days who do not wish to continue with their pregnancy, to wait for a period of 5 days after first referral, irrespective of their personal conviction and certainty of their decision. |
| The ESC has always looked to The Netherlands as a country offering a role model for sexual health in Europe and we support the idea that every woman needs to have enough time to reach her decision but this period can vary. |
| The Board of Directors of the ESC wishes to express a serious concern that this proposal will lead to unnecessary delay, with potential psychological and medical consequences, for those women who have arrived at a clear decision to terminate their pregnancy. |
| We respectfully request that you reconsider this proposal in the interest of the health of women. |
| On behalf of the Board (representing 28 European countries) |
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Olga Loeber ESC Secretary General |
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