■

＊中央日報の中絶取り締まりへの批判

2009年11月24日付で、中央日報のサイトに「【時論】違法な妊娠中絶への取締りに異議を申し立てたい」というタイトルでオム・ウルスン文化未来イフ代表の署名記事が載っています。韓国で、《大統領直属の未来企画委員会が少子化対策として「違法な人工妊娠中絶を取り締まる案」を協議中》であることに対する批判のようです。この「文化未来イフ」というグループがどういうものかはよく分からないけど、文面からすると、フェミニストのグループのように思われます。

まず、罰するのなら男性を罰してほしい。……なぜ双方に責任があることをめぐり、すべての重荷を女性にばかり背負わせようとするのか。

第二に、女性の体を政府の政策に利用するなということだ。……政府は人口調整を女性の体を通じて実現するということなのか。……

第三に、性教育と福祉政策が作られた後、堕胎法を強化するのが正しい順序である。事実上、堕胎を防ぐ早期かつ確実な方策は、男性に積極的かつ完璧な避妊法を教育することだ。
……

など、いずれも日本にも当てはまりそうなことばかりです。（今のところ、「少子化対策で中絶取り締まり」という直接的な動きは、今のところ日本では見られないものの……。）

同じ中央日報に、11月26日付けで「妊娠中絶、放置から根絶へ…政府出産政策定める」というタイトルの記事があるのも見つけました。

国連の"Abortion Policies" Country Profileによると、韓国の中絶状況は、次のとおりです。

ABORTION POLICY

Grounds on which abortion is permitted

To save the life of the woman Yes
To preserve physical health Yes
To preserve mental health Yes
Rape or incest Yes
Foetal impairment Yes
Economic or social reasons Yes
Available on request Yes

Additional requirements

Information not readily available.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CONTEXT

Government view of fertility level: Too high

Government intervention concerning fertility level: To lower

Government policy on contraceptive use: Direct support provided

Percentage of currently married women using
modern contraception (aged 15-49, 1990/92): 62

Total fertility rate (1995-2000): 2

Age-specific fertility rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19, 1995-2000): 1.6

Government has expressed particular concern about:
Morbidity and mortality resulting from induced abortion ..
Complications of childbearing and childbirth ..

Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births; 1990):
National 70
Eastern Asia 95

Female life expectancy at birth (1995-2000): 75

BACKGROUND

The Criminal Code of March 1950 states that abortion is allowed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea “for important reasons”. The particulars of these reasons are not specified in the Code. A person who performs an abortion in the absence of an “important reason” is subject to up to three years’ imprisonment. However, a woman who consents to the performance of an abortion or who induces her own abortion is not held criminally responsible.

Although information on the application of the abortion provisions of the Criminal Code in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is difficult to obtain, reports suggest that abortion is permitted virtually on request, up to the seventh month of pregnancy, owing to the broad interpretation of the phrase “important reasons”. It has been reported that abortion is performed at provincial maternity hospitals free of charge.

Family planning programmes have been operative in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since the early 1970s. Such programmes are integrated into maternal and child health services and are administered by the Ministry of Public Health. Information, education and communication activities are important elements of the programme. The Ministry of Public Health provides contraceptives and consultations in the obstetrics/gynaecology departments of all hospitals and clinics. These services are also provided through the “section doctor system”, whereby one physician is responsible for the health of a group of neighbourhood families. The intrauterine device is the method used by 80-90 per cent of all contraceptive users in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. However, locally produced IUDs supplied by the country’s family planning programme had high failure rates and caused serious side effects; consequently, international assistance was provided for the importation of IUDs.

中絶が事実上「オンリクエスト」だというのは日本と同じですが、避妊事情については日本とはかなり違うようですね。