Women's Affairs minister in Peru slammed for promoting abortion

Lima, Peru, Oct 10, 2011 / 14:45 pm

Despite a Peruvian official denying her support for abortion, pro-life critics have reacted strongly to her   endorsing pro-abortion individuals and policies during her tenure in office.

The Population Research Institute’s Office for Latin America denounced Peru’s Minister for Women’s Affairs, Aida Garcia-Naranjo, for becoming one of the most vocal advocates of abortion on demand in the country and for allowing abortion supporters to work in her office.

Abortion is illegal in Peru, except if a doctor determines that the life of the mother is in danger. In practice, physicians do not frequently find the mother’s life to be threatened by her child.

Sergio Burga, a researcher for the institute, told CNA that a meeting between various representatives of organizations that promote the legalization abortion in Peru took place on Sept. 2 at the offices of the Ministry for Women’s Affairs.

The research institute claims several prominent abortion supporters now hold positions at the ministry.

Burga said that despite Garcia-Naranjo’s denials that she supports abortion or that she is currently pursuing policies that would legalize the procedure, “what we see is the complete opposite.”

“The Ministry for Women’s Affairs is being used and its resources are being directed towards lobby groups that are not focused on the interests of the majority,” he said.

He also noted that many of the leaders who were present at the Sept. 2 meeting were the same ones who spoke at a Sept. 28 outside the Peruvian Congress in support of the legalization of abortion.