The European Parliament adopted a resolution by 39 votes to 23, with 0 abstentions, on the forced abortion scandal in China.
The resolution had been tabled by the S&D, EPP, ALDE, Greens/EFA, ECR, GUE/NGL groups and Jaroslav Paška.
It notes that on 2 June 2012 a seven-months-pregnant woman, Feng Jianmei, was abducted and underwent a forced abortion in Zhenping county (Shanxi province), sparking a wave of indignation and condemnation in China and around the world. Parliament strongly condemns the decision to force Ms Feng to have an abortion and condemns the practice of forced abortions and sterilisations globally, especially in the context of the one‑child policy.
It recalls that abortions beyond six months are illegal under Chinese law, but that as a result of China’s one-child policy, illegal sex-selective abortions are widespread, creating an imbalance between the numbers of men and women. It notes that the Ankang municipal government conducted an investigation which concluded that officials in Zhenping county had used ‘crude means’ and ‘persuaded’ Ms Feng to abort the fœtus. It appears that local officials had asked Ms Feng’s family for a ‘guarantee deposit’ of RMB 40 000, which according to her husband was a fine for having a second child. Ankang’s report stated that this decision had violated her rights, and the Ankang municipal government has announced punishments for local planning officials involved in the case, including sacking.
Noting that the EU has provided, and still provides, funds for organisations involved in family planning policies in China, Parliament urges the Commission to ensure that its funding of projects does not breach the remarks set out in Section III, Title 21 of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2012. It also calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to include forced abortion on the agenda for their next bilateral human rights dialogue with China.
Parliament strongly emphasises that, according to the International Conference on Population and Development Plan of Action, the aim of family planning programmes must be to enable couples and individuals to make free, responsible and informed decisions about childbearing and to make available a full range of safe, effective and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, and any form of coercion has no part to play.
It considers important the ongoing debate among intellectuals and academics as to whether or not to continue with the one-child policy in China.