For Immediate Release
Ground-breaking knowledge on PEI women’s abortion access
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, January 22,
2014 – Understanding the impacts of PEI’s abortion policies on women’s lives
will be the focus for research presentations from the Understanding for a
Change project to be released Tuesday, January 28, by Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie
and her research team at the University of Prince Edward Island. The
presentation will take place on campus at UPEI in MacDougall Hall, Room 242
from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Dr. MacQuarrie says, “We have some
chilling new data and some ground-breaking research to report from our two-year
inquiry into the impacts of PEI’s abortion policies. The effects we have found
on women’s health, including some recently uncovered provincial statistics
regarding illegal abortions in PEI, are eye-opening.”
The release is timed to coincide
with the anniversary of the 1988 Supreme Court of Canada’s Morgentaler decision
which struck down abortion laws as contravening women’s human rights. The
evening will include a series of presentations from members of the research
team to highlight issues of concern to Islanders. What happens on an Island
when you create the conditions of blocking access to safe abortions? How does
abortion stigma impact on women’s lives? What happens to Island women when
their attempts to self induce go awry? What do women have to say about their
post-abortion experiences? These questions and more will be addressed.
Additionally, the presenters will
share recommendations for change that come from women reflecting on their
post-abortion experiences. Members of
the public are encouraged to attend to gain a better understanding of women’s
experiences with accessing abortion.
Dr. MacQuarrie says, “Our research
reveals a solid direction for women’s health to better align PEI with the
principles of the Canada Health Act and the recommendations from both the
United Nations and the World Health Organization on access to safe abortion.”
The event will be moderated by Jane Ledwell, Executive Director of the Advisory
Council on the Status of Women.
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Contact
Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie (902)
566-0617 or email cmacquarrie@upei.ca
Psychology Department
University of Prince Edward
Island
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