Click here for Ben Shapiro’s opposing
column  Mitra Ebadolahi Ebadolahi is a
fourth-year international development studies and history student
who believes that the forces of good will kiss evil on the lips.
She encourages comments at [email protected].
Click Here for more articles by Mitra Ebadolahi
U.N. manual provides needed aid for many refugee women
VATICAN: Statement by Pope subjects reproductive
health of these females to greater risk
Are you a woman? Have you ever been a refugee? Have you ever
been a pregnant refugee? Have you ever been raped as a refugee? If
you did not answer yes to all of the above questions, then you are
in no position whatsoever to condemn the Inter-Agency Field Manual
on Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations. Too bad the Vatican
failed to ponder these points before it went ahead and did just
that. The field manual is really the United Nations’ attempt
to provide relief workers with holistic training guidelines and
vital reproductive health care skills. The Holy See has recently
attacked the U.N. for publishing the manual, claiming that the
U.N.’s nonjudgmental attitude on extramarital and homosexual
relations and provisions on contraception and abortion are amoral
and irresponsible. Yet a closer look at the incredibly difficult
and tragic lives of refugee women clearly shows that the Vatican
has issued a dogmatic statement without adequately or accurately
evaluating the situation at hand. Today, there are millions of
refugees dispersed throughout the world. Despite their myriad
cultural, political and economic backgrounds, these people have one
thing in common: They have all fled from persecution and violence.
Displaced from their homes, refugees usually lose their citizen
status and corresponding rights, including access to health care,
education and basic needs such as food, water and shelter. While
all refugees face desperation and uncertainty, women are
particularly vulnerable. According to Reproductive Health Outlook,
the anarchy of refugee camps and the breakdown of social norms and
family structures expose women to higher levels of sexual violence.
Rape is widespread, and women struggling for survival are sometimes
forced to exchange sexual favors for food. It is precisely because
of these difficult and life-threatening circumstances that the U.N.
must take an active role in providing refugee women with a wide
range of reproductive health services. The comprehensive field
manual is one significant step in the right direction. In order for
us to adequately address these complicated issues, we must avoid
oversimplified reactions and really assess the problems at hand. As
an example, consider this statistic: According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), clandestine or unsafe abortions are the cause
of 13 percent of pregnancy-related deaths worldwide; however, in
refugee settings, these abortions account for 25-50 percent of
maternal mortality rates. It is a fact that women facing dire
straits have had abortions in the past, and they will continue to
do so in the future. Given this reality, relief workers must be
trained in abortion proceedings and be prepared to assist in
elected abortion procedures in order to prevent “back alley
abortions” (with coat hangers and dirty knives) from claiming
any more women’s lives. The U.N.’s role is not to judge
decisions made by refugee women; rather, it is to provide critical
health services to an incredibly marginalized population. The idea
of abstinence in these circumstances is often a moot point. After
all, how can a woman abstain from rape or forced sexual assault? If
a woman is impregnated as a result of rape in a refugee camp, who
should decide whether or not she keeps the baby? The Pope, who
lives in luxury and male privilege, or she, who may be facing
insurmountable obstacles such as possible starvation and
homelessness? Denied access to the most basic health care, refugee
women are also far more susceptible to disease. As the Marie Stopes
Organization reports, STDs, including HIV/AIDS, “spread
fastest where there is poverty, powerlessness, and social
instability, (which are) characteristics of refugee life.”
Indeed, many of these women end up in premature graves as a result
of physical trauma, endemic disease and chronic malnutrition.
Currently, the WHO recognizes condoms to be instrumental in
reducing HIV transmission among sexually active populations.
Accordingly, the U.N. has recommended the provision of free
contraceptives for refugees, including condoms. Despite the
Vatican’s proselytizing, people everywhere have sex ““
premarital, extramarital, with multiple partners and otherwise. If
we are serious about curbing the AIDS epidemic, then we must
actively confront the problem as it exists ““ not as we would
like for it to be. We must arm ourselves with information and
education, and struggle to ensure that every individual, including
refugees, has access to this basic information. Contrary to the
critics’ claims, the U.N. manual does not promote any type of
reproductive care, nor does it call for relief workers to push
these types of services onto any population. The manual simply and
clearly states: “Reproductive health care should be available
in all situations and be based on refugees’, particularly
women’s, needs and expressed demands, with full respect for
the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds
of the refugees, in conformity with universally recognized human
rights.” After all, who has the right to deny anyone,
particularly refugees, access to reproductive health care, or any
other basic human right? Given the U.N.’s sincere efforts to
protect refugee women, how can the Vatican possibly denounce the
field manual? Neither refugees nor reactionary religious officials
are new phenomena. But in light of the current crisis resulting
from America’s ongoing war on Afghanistan, we have an
opportunity once more to critically assess the issues surrounding
refugee health care. We should support the U.N.’s work and
applaud its holistic, responsible treatment of reproductive health
concerns. At the same time, we must confront and reject patriarchal
dogmas advanced by conservative critics. If we do not, we will only
exacerbate the enormous suffering of the millions of refugees
struggling daily for survival.
Click here for Mitra Ebadolahi’s opposing
column  Ben Shapiro Shapiro is a
second-year political science student bringing reason to the
masses. E-mail him at [email protected]. Click
Here for more articles by Ben Shapiro
Procedure promotes sexual promiscuity, not protection
RIGHTS: Vatican correct in condemnation of reproductive
health measures for refugees Are you 10 or older? Are you
interested in having free, wild sex with whomever you choose? Do
you want sexual education, contraceptive devices, and reproductive
health care, all provided at no charge to you? Then move to a
refugee camp. Because the U.N. sex manual for refugees, the
Inter-Agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health, promises all this
and more. It condones and promotes irresponsible and immoral sexual
behavior, promises safety and comfort for the promiscuous refugee,
and foists “diverse” sexual education and experience on
children. It offers abortion, contraceptives and psychoanalysis for
victims of their own sexual promiscuity. So when the Vatican
condemns this sluttish piece of trash, the Vatican should be
supported by the public. Although the Vatican is sometimes
mistaken, (e.g. their anti-abortion policy even in cases of rape,
incest, sexual assault and when the mother’s life is in
danger), they are certainly correct in their condemnation of sexual
immorality. When the Vatican states that the manual raises
“serious and numerous concerns,” any decent person
should applaud. When the Vatican protests the introduction of
babies to “the world of individualistic and irresponsible
sexual pleasures which increases the risk for expanding the
HIV/AIDS epidemic,” the masses should nod their heads in
approval. And when the Vatican objects to the
“nonjudgmental” attitude of the wanton tract toward
adultery, pre-marital sex and homosexuality, any person of moral
fiber should speak up in assent. The U.N. manual is revolting. Even
a brief examination of the Inter-Agency Field Manual on
Reproductive Health yields a volume of quotes supporting sexual
promiscuity. For example, the manual states that “Condoms …
should be made freely available for all who seek them. Take every
opportunity to raise awareness and promote condoms as a method of
protection against STDs, including HIV infection” (page 50).
Has anyone at the U.N. ever heard of abstinence? It’s the
safest method of preventing STDs known to man, and yet the U.N.
“promotes condoms” instead of promoting abstinence.
More disgusting yet, the manual says that “promotional
campaigns should be launched at football matches, mass rallies,
dance parties, theatres, group discussions etc., to promote the use
of condoms” (page 52). Can’t you just see it now?
“This ““ goooooooal!!! is brought to you by the U.N.
Before you take your girlfriend, boyfriend, homosexual partner or
10-year-old friend to the car for sex, go out and get yourself a
condom. Safe sex ““ it does a body good!” Says the
all-knowing U.N., “The prevention of STDs involves the
promotion of safer sex and effective case finding, advise on
notification of partners and case management” (page 52). But
obviously to the U.N., preventing STDs does not involve refraining
from sex. How could anyone even dare to think that controlling
sexual impulses could preclude receiving gonorrhea, syphilis or
AIDS? Pregnancy works the same way as STDs according to the U.N.
Have sex whenever you want and use protection or get sterilized. Or
if you don’t protect yourself and get pregnant, get an
abortion. There are always good ways of getting rid of a kid.
“Women who have unwanted pregnancies should have ready access
to reliable information and compassionate counseling … where
abortion is not against the law, such abortion should be
safe” (page 80). Notice the lack of qualifications regarding
abortion. There is no time limit given for the abortion; there is
no limit to the underlying reasons for the abortion. According to
this manual, a woman could come in her final month of pregnancy and
request an abortion for the simple reason that she doesn’t
want the baby. And not only should the option of abstinence be
ignored, says the U.N., but extramarital, premarital and homosexual
sex should be encouraged. People who might be embarrassed about
their promiscuous lifestyles should be comforted. “Some
groups, such as adolescents, unmarried women and men, may need
special consideration so they feel comfortable using the services
and so they can avoid the risk of stigmatization by the
community” (page 68). Obviously, social stigmas attached to
being a whore are a negative development ““ jumping in the
sack with random strangers is just a normal way of life, right?
People should never be shunned for sleeping with every member of
the refugee camp ““ they should be comforted by U.N.
personnel. And as for the homosexual community, “Adolescent
boys engaging in homosexual intercourse should be taught how to
prevent STD/HIV. However, IEC (Information, Education and
Communication) messages related to STDs should not label this
behavior in a way that may stigmatize the boys (e.g. as
homosexual), but should refer to the behavior as “˜men having
sex with men’ or “˜same-gender sex'” (page
93). Can those of moral character vomit now? And the worst is yet
to come. Because these sexual policies are not restricted to
adults, they reach down to ““ you guessed it ““ the age
of 10. The U.N. defines adolescents as 10-19 years of age, and
young people as ages 10-24 years. The lecherous manual says
“adolescence is a time for learning about close
relationships” (page 90). Yes, this is obviously the age at
which children should experience sex. At 10. The age of children in
the fourth grade. Don’t you remember your parents saying to
you, “Jimmy, quit Nintendo for a while ““ Mystique is
here to teach you how to use your joystick?” The U.N. wants
to distribute “information of reproductive health, access to
family planning services, prenatal and post-abortion care”
(page 90) etc., to children young enough to enjoy “It’s
a Small World” at Disneyland. Why? “Young people need
basic information about sexuality and reproduction. They also need
to learn how to protect their reproductive health” (page 92).
Even if this were true, the U.N. should teach youths the easiest
way to avoid sexual problems ““ abstinence. Don’t have
sex. Which word of that sentence doesn’t the U.N. understand?
What this issue truly revolves around is responsibility for
actions. The U.N. is saying that actions do not have consequences.
Have sex, any way you want, anywhere, any time, and the U.N. will
pick up after you. Act like children forever ““ make your mess
and Mommy will clean your room for you. The Vatican is being
realistic. In the real world, Mommy isn’t there to pick up
your dirty socks. Being promiscuous carries the risk of STDs.
Unprotected sex carries the risk of conception. And the U.N. must
promote this truth ““ sexual immorality has consequences.
It’s time for the people of the world to grow up.
Click here for Mitra Ebadolahi’s opposing
column Click here for Ben Shapiro’s opposing
column