For some time, the JCHS (Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society) and many churches and Christian groups were fighting to get the government to do one thing: assure them that the EU’s interpretation of certain words regarding the ACP-EU Samoa Agreement would not be Jamaica’s interpretation. The various groups made several appeals to the Jamaican government to speak to their EU counterparts and make it clear that Jamaica’s laws would not be touched.
But it seems that the JCHS’ concerns and those of the Church were dismissed as being “misinformed.” It was said by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson-Smith, that many European countries do not even have abortion legalized. However, it would appear that these countries are out of line with EU protocol because a study by the American Center for Reproductive Rights states that 95% of European women live in countries that allow abortion as an elective procedure or for social and economic reasons. Is this enough evidence to prove that many European nations are firmly in support of abortion? It is no secret that the most powerful EU states, like Germany, France, and Spain, endorse abortion. In France, the act is legal for any reason through to the 14th week of pregnancy (and has been since 1975).
Abortion in Germany is illegal (except in the case of rape or a life-threatening condition of the female). However, there is a loophole that allows abortion within the first 12 weeks once mandatory counselling is done before the procedure.
In Spain, abortion is legal up until the 14th week for any reason. Just for more context, let’s add Belgium, the headquarters of the European Union, and the location where Jamaica signed the Samoa agreement. In Belgium, where abortion was legalised on April 4, 1990, murdering the unborn is legal up to 12 weeks after conception.
I dare to say that the individuals who dismissed the JCHS’ claims and other reasonable questioning should reexamine their position. The questions the JCHA raised were fair: Jamaicans should have a right to decide the future of the nation. I could be pro-abortion; however, I must respect the will of most of society, including women. According to a RJRGLEANER Don Andeson poll, they do not support abortion; two-thirds of Jamaicans believe that abortion should be illegal in most instances, and 75% believe it should be legal in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman’s life is in danger. Abortion is illegal in Jamaica, except in some cases of medical emergencies.
My point here is that the European Union has different values, and the standard of morality across the Atlantic is quite different from what we have in Jamaica. The government need not get panicked or “flustered” by the JCHS’ questions. All they and those of us who align with them want is the assurance that, regardless of Europe’s values, Jamaicans’ values and public opinion will not be violated. Equally, we also want to know that our interpretation of certain words in language, like gender, human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, hate speech, and non-discrimination, is clearly known and accepted by the EU.
If not (as it seems to be the case based on the trends we have seen the European Union member states take over the past 3–4 decades), we want to affirm the fact that most Jamaicans are not willing to adopt the values, morals, and beliefs of the European Union.
Does this mean that Jamaica is a more morally superior country? Not at all. These people making the policy decisions in Europe are following their people’s will, and that is the same approach that we are saying should be taken in Jamaica.
We have been told by the government that there is no need to worry. However, dismissing the valid questions and concerns of the JCHS and other like-minded groups is wrong.
It is important for the people who would have signed the Samoa Agreement or were involved with the signing to ensure that the European Union and not just the government of Jamaica, but also the people of Jamaica, have a clear understanding of what we have really agreed to.
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Contact Ifeoluwa at [email protected]. He is 14 years old and has been writing for FC Rain since he was age 11, which is when this article was written.
