Wednesday, February 18, 2015

China's One Child Policy Continues to Destroy Lives, Despite Reports



CONTACT:            Reggie Littlejohn
EMAIL:                  reggielittlejohn@gmail.com
CELL:                    310.592.5722
WEBSITE:            www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.com



PHOTO:  Congressman Chris Smith, Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, and Women’s Rights Without Frontiers President Reggie Littlejohn spoke out against coercive family planning in China at The Heritage Foundation in October 2014.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  CHINA’S ONE CHILD POLICY CONTINUES TO DESTROY LIVES, DESPITE REPORTS
Poster of artist Petrina Fung playing with her...
Poster of artist Petrina Fung playing with her kids, with the caption "No need for lots of babies, have two at most" (see Two-child policy) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On January 1, 2014, the Chinese Communist Party tweaked the One Child Policy, allowing couples in which either parent is an only child to have a second child.  This minor exception has been widely and wrongfully reported as an “easing” or “relaxation” of the One Child Policy.  One non-profit organization recently released a statement that they “would like to celebrate and rejoice” in the “victory” that additional babies have been born under the most recent exception.  Their statement – and the reports published in the mainstream media -- do not mention the fact that the Chinese Communist Party has made no promise whatsoever to end coercive birth control.  To the contrary, on January 28, 2015, Chinese Communist Party news organ Chinadaily.com stated, “National Health and Family Planning Commission officials said in November [2014] that China currently has no plans to suspend or further relax its One-Child Policy.”  “Shanghai Couples Urged to have 2nd Children” 1/28/15 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-01/28/content_19424074.htm

At an October 2014 event concerning the One Child Policy co-hosted by The Heritage Foundation and Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, blind activist Chen Guangcheng described a “war zone” caused by brutal family planning abuses: “In today’s China, under the Communist rule, the government can put their hand into your body, grab your baby out of your womb, and kill your baby in your face.”  “They Will Kill Your Baby in Your Face – Chinese Activist Chen Guangcheng”  11/4/14 http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/blog/?p=1863.  At the same event, Cong. Chris Smith called the one-child policy, “the most egregious, vicious attack on women ever.  China’s one-child policy announced in 1979 is state-sponsored violence against women and children – including and especially the girl child – and constitutes massive crimes against humanity.”  400 Million Lives “Prevented” through the One Child Policy, Chinese Official Says 10/10/14

Reggie Littlejohn, president of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, stated, “The coercive enforcement of the One Child Policy continues unabated, destroying women, children, whole families – and indeed, the fabric of Chinese society.  It constitutes the greatest women’s rights violation on the face of the earth and in the history of the world.  Whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, no one supports forced abortion, because it is not a choice.  The One Child Policy does not need to be ‘eased.’  It needs to be abolished.”

There has been a tragic rise in murder and suicide associated with the crushing “social compensation fees,” which can cost up to fourteen times a person’s annual salary, an amount the vast majority of Chinese citizens cannot afford.  If the parents are unable to pay these “terror fines,” their children will be denied “hukou,” or household registration.  Without hukou, children are ineligible for healthcare or education.  They become illegal aliens in their own land. “Chinese Mother, fined $54,200 for Flouting One-child Policy, Sues Police. http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-chinese-mother-fined-54200-one-child-policy-sues/1803992.html 12/5/13

Here are some of the reported tragedies caused by the One Child Policy.  Most abuses suffered under the One Child Policy are never reported in the west.
These atrocities continue to this day.
The minor modification of the policy that took place on January 1, 2014: 1) does not affect a large percentage of couples in China; 2) retains the dreaded “birth intervals” between children (if a woman gets pregnant before the interval has lapsed, she may be subject to forced abortion); and 3) makes no promise to end the coercive enforcement of the Policy.

To proclaim “victory” under these circumstances is entirely unwarranted and may mislead many into thinking that the One Child Policy is a thing of the past.  Littlejohn stated, “It is a continuing heartache to me when people celebrate minor revisions in the One Child Policy.  I think of all the women and babies suffering and dying now from forced abortions.  It is hard to lead a movement to end forced abortion in China when people think it has already ended. So long as forced abortion and sterilization continue in China we must fight it.  This is a time to increase pressure for change, not to release it.


Watch a video about forced abortion in China here:
Stop Forced Abortion – China’s War on Women! Video (4 mins)



Related links:  “China’s One-Child Policy ‘Reform’ Won’t End Abuses:  US Group.”  http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/policy-07232014161119.html.  7/23/14;  “China Hasn’t ‘Eased’ Its One-Child Policy.” http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/364200/china-hasnt-eased-its-one-child-policy-reggie-littlejohn. 11/18/13; “China Not Easing One Child Policy, Says Campaigner.”  http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/china-not-easing-one-child-policy-says-campaigner  11/22/13; “Little Change in Practice for China’s One Child Family Policy.” http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/24/little-change-in-practice-for-chinas-one-child-fam/?page=all.  11/24/13.

Reggie Littlejohn, President
Women's Rights Without Frontiers
www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org
Stop Forced Abortion – China’s War on Women! Video (4 mins)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuBcJUsjY