75.18EM Emergency Resolution: Abortion (Reiteration of 1972 Resolution)
Whereas, Abortion is a matter of personal rather than public morality; and,
Whereas, Abortion should be considered a medical, not a legal procedure; therefore,
RESOLVED, That the National Council of Women of Canada request the Government of Canada to remove the sections pertaining to abortion from the Criminal Code of Canada.
75.19EM Emergency Resolution: Women and Health: Circumcision and Infibulation of Females (Female Genital Mutilation)
Whereas, Information from the U.N. Status of Women Committee shows that The World Health Organization has been asked specifically to undertake studies on the subject of circumcision and infibulation of females;
Whereas, To date, no such study has been made, nor has any action been taken to put an end to these practices, particularly in Africa;
Whereas, Although it has been extremely difficult to obtain definite facts, the vast amount of misinformation about women’s bodies and their sexuality has been recently documented by women in the USA and “developed” countries; and,
Whereas, The best hope to tackle this problem from an International and regional basis is to coordinate information, actions, and groups; therefore be it,
RESOLVED, That the National Council of Women of Canada press through Canadian Commission on UNESCO, and other appropriate official bodies, for an Africa-wide study and education campaign: with the participation of women;
and,
RESOLVED, That the National Council of Women of Canada request International Council of Women to utilize their official status within the United Nations to press this question seriously as a research topic as one of the activities of International Women’s Year, through the aegis of World Health Organization; and be it further,
RESOLVED, That the seriousness of the problem be fully represented at the Mexico Conference, June 16, in workshops which will be attended by WHO officials.