The New Zealand Family Planning Association is an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
One of the keynote speakers at the conference is Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood.
“Positive sexual health” is the theme of the conference, a title that belies the association’s true agenda.
Part of that agenda is the release on November 28 of a “sexuality” resource aimed at five- to eight-year-olds.
According to a Family Planning spokesperson, the resource is not about sex, but about teaching children the differences between boys and girls and naming body parts.
Family Planning’s Health Promotion Director Frances Bird stated that the resource was needed because “young people are being exposed to more media and materials.” She went on to say that children are “presenting with some questions at a younger age that we didn’t see some 10 years ago.”
Family Life international NZ’s national director, Dame Colleen Bayer is appalled at this reasoning.
“The answer lies in restricting what media and materials young people get to see, not further assaulting them with even more inappropriate material” she said. “The media standards in New Zealand are shocking. Children cannot even watch a family movie on the television anymore without being bombarded with inappropriate images.”
Another family spokesperson, Bob McCoskrie reasoned that it should be up to “parents [to] determine what kids need to know at the suitable time.”
“A one size fits all approach doesn’t work,” he said.
Other topics being discussed at the conference include building a sexual and reproductive health movement; medical abortion; gender diversity and sexuality education; sexual and reproductive health and rights on the Kiribati agenda; and New Zealand women’s experiences with the Jadelle long-acting contraceptive/abortifacient implant.
The conference is sponsored by ISTAR, a New Zealand registered charity which distributes the abortion pill mifepristone. It also imports manual vacuum aspiration equipment for suction abortions.
Other sponsors and exhibitors include Durex, Ansell LifeStyles, and the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand (ALRANZ).
Many people disagree with Family Planning’s stance. A thread on New Zealand's One News website is full of troubled comments.
Click "like" if you are PRO-LIFE!
One commenter, Louise Campbell writes “Unreal!!!! It's the parents job to teach children what they need to know when the parent thinks the child needs to hear it. Parents should NOT be happy to leave it up to others to teach their children about sexuality! This makes me angry!”
A peaceful vigil, organized by Family Life International NZ, is being held outside the conference for the three days it is on. Many of those who pass by are shocked to learn the topics being discussed at the conference.
A fact sheet about the Family Planning Conference, produced by Family Life International NZ can be found here.
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