Arizona Legislation Restricting Abortions Passed
In a previous RHRealityCheck post, we took note of legislation restricting abortions in Arizona which had not yet passed. Bill 1206 would implement a 24-hour waiting period, and would make abortions available in only three Arizona communities.

Tuesday, the Associated Press reported the bill's passing. The Arizona Senate voted 16-12 for the bill, which will also require women to get a "state-scripted disclosure from doctors." The minimum vote required from the 30-member Senate to pass the bill was 16. Doctors would also have to provide informed consent, which would give women information about the risks and alternatives to abortion, says the AP.

The House approved the bill in March, so it heads next to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who is anti-choice, supported the bill's restrictions.

Republic of Slovakia Approves Bill That Will Inform Women of Abortion "Risks"
An amendment that will requirement women to be informed of supposed risks of abortion, alternatives to abortion and (biased) information about the "unborn child," as well as mandating parental consent, was passed by the parliament of the Republic of Slovakia, according to a LifeNews.com article.

In Slovakia, abortions are not highly restricted. They are allowed in all cases during the first trimester, but has some restrictions once the first trimester is over.

The article states:

"Marie Smith, the director of the Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues, told LifeNews.com she was pleased with the vote.

"This pro-woman, pro-life amendment is great news for Slovak women who will have access to the true facts about the harmful physical and psychological effects of abortion, be offered alternatives to abortion and fully informed on the development of their unborn child," she said.

The Seimas voted 80-7 in favor of the pro-life measure and its abortion limits, which is a strong vote, Smith explained, since the legislative body is evenly split on the question of legal abortions.

"Slovak lawmakers found ‘common ground' in agreeing that women deserve to know the truth about abortion, need to know the alternatives to abortion, should have resources to help them successfully deliver and take care of their infants, and be informed on the age and development of their unborn child," she told LifeNews.com late Monday."

Sarkozy Introduced by Sarkozy Would Not Allow Burqas in Public
French President Nicolas Sarkozy addressed the Parliament Monday. In his speech, he denounced the burqa, mostly worn by Muslim women, and called it "a sign of the subjugation, of the submission, of women." He also said it is not welcome in France, as reported in a The American Prospect.

According to the article, few women in France wear the burqa, which completely covers the body and has an opening for the eyes.

TAP's Michelle Goldberg's writes,

"Headscarves have been banned in French schools since 2004. Now Sarkozy wants to go much further, banning burqas, loose, full-body veils that cover women entirely, as well as niqabs, or face veils, from being worn anywhere in public."

Many feel Sarkozy's words were a response to an Obama speech, in which he said "the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal," is not an idea he accepts, The American Prospect said.

Louisiana House Approves Conscience Clause
A Daily Women's Health Policy article reported Tuesday the Louisiana House approved a bill allowing health care workers to refuse to participate in procedures based on moral or religious beliefs with a 88-12 vote in favor of the bill. "Now the bill goes to Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), who is expected to sign it," the article said.

It also said the bill will protect health care works from criminal penalties, job loss or demotion if they choose to not participate in "abortion, certain types of emergency contraception, human embryonic stem cell research, human embryo cloning, euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide...The conservative Louisiana Family Forum advocated for the bill. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the American Civil Liberties Union opposed it, arguing that patients would be denied access to services and information."


OTHER NEWS TO NOTE:

June 23: Christian NewsWire: Pro-Life Women to Oppose Taxpayer Funded Abortion in District of Columbia

June 22: LifeSiteNews: Late-Term Abortions are Never Necessary: Former Abortionist

June 23: LifeSiteNews:Senate Blocks Pro-Tiller Resolution Glorifying Abortion Industry

June 22: AP:Ariz. Legislature approves abortion constraints

June 23: Christian Examiner: Healthcare bill includes a bigger dose of tax dollars for abortion providers

June 23: Advocate: Fighting Florida's Adoption Ban

June 23: AP: NC Senate approves changing public school sex ed

June 23: Chicago Sun-Times: No sex please, there's a recession

June 23: LifeSiteNews: Commentary: The Return of Anti-People Propaganda

June 23: WLAJ: Family Planning

June 23: Campus Progress: The Problem With Randall Terry

June 23: NYTimes:On Nixon Tapes, Ambivalence Over Abortion

June 23: LifeNews: House Health Care Restructuring Bill Funds Pro-Abortion Planned Parenthood

June 23: LifeSiteNews: Pro-Life MPs, Doctors and Bishops Unite Against UK Abortion TV Ads

June 23: LifeNews: Louisiana Abortion-Conscience Bill Strengthened, Senate OKs Pro-Life Measure

June 23: LifeSiteNews: Second Development and Peace Scandal Video Released by Conservative Blogger

June 23: NPR: New Leader Brings New Vision To NOW

June 23: Population Media Center:Madonna and a Little Mercy

June 23: LifeNews: Michigan Lawmakers Prepare Bills to Monitor Proposal 2, Pro-Life Groups Support

June 23: ScienceDaily: Game For HIV Positive Youth Developed

June 23: Public Discourse:Is the Abortion Debate Over?

June 23: NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia: Anti-Choice Incumbent Spotlight: Delegate Tom Rust (R-86)

June 23: Argus Leader:Judge will rule in two weeks over Hunt's abortion donor list case

June 22: Guardian:African women with HIV 'coerced into sterilisation'

June 23: Catholic Spirit:'Life' plate marks 10th year; has endured opposition over the years

June 23: NewsBusters: Bozell Column: PBS Wages War on Pro-Lifers

June 23: AP: La. Senate OKs bill to allow health care refusal

June 23: Davis County Clipper: State sex ed. curriculum may get more comprehensive

June 23: LifeNews: Republic of Slovakia Approves Bill to Inform Women of Abortion's Risks, Dangers

June 23: OpEd News:Anti-abortion Terrorism Can Be Prevented

June 23: The Frisky:Abstinence-Only Sex Ed Is Rebranding Its Message

June 23: FOX:HIV Highest in the South

June 22: LifeNews: Pro-Life Advocates Prevail on Abortion at Geneva Human Rights Council Meeting

June 15: NRO: Loving Life

June 23: Baxter Bulletin:(letter) There is a way to reduce abortions

June 22: All Africa: Uganda: Wider Gaps Between Pregnancies Means Healthy Mother, Happy Children

June 23: Oneida Daily Dispatch: (letter) Illegal immigration, abortion balance