Tuesday, May 27, 2008
NAF Communications Department
202-667-5881
press@prochoice.org
Statement of Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), in response to Advertising Standards Canada's (ASC) declaration that an anti-abortion ad campaign launched in January by Life Canada is "deceptive":
We concur with the decision of Advertising Standards Canada to reject this deceptive ad campaign. These ads violated standards for acceptable advertising by using misleading images and misinformation to advance an agenda of banning abortion. We commend ASC for affirming that advertisements must be truthful and accurate.
The controversial ads featured an image of a pregnant woman with text that read, "Nine months: the length of time abortion is allowed in Canada. No medical reason needed. Abortion, have we gone too far?"
Eighty-two percent of abortions in Canada are provided during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, according to Statistics Canada. In reality, doctors in Canada only provide abortion care after 23 weeks 6 days from a woman's last menstrual period if a woman's health or life is at risk or the fetus has a lethal anomaly.
Cities across Canada including Fredericton, New Brunswick and Kelowna, British Columbia refused to run these ads due to their "offensive" and "controversial" nature. The ads were also pulled from public transportation in Hamilton, Ontario prior to this decision by ASC.
Women facing an unwanted pregnancy deserve accurate information, not this type of politically motivated propaganda.
NAF provides unbiased, factual information about abortion care through our toll-free Hotline (1-800-772-9100) and website (www.prochoice.org).
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in Canada and the United States. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care to promote health and justice for women. Our members include health care professionals at clinics, doctors' offices, and hospitals, who together care for more than half the women in both countries who choose abortion each year. For more information, visit our website at www.prochoice.org.
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