Prevent pregnancy!

When this letter appears in The Jakarta Post, the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo may just have ended. Controversial issues linked to fertility and the status of women have been the topics of the conference. The main objectives of this conference are: to stabilize population growth and fight endemic under-development.

The Vatican and some Islamic circles have already launched criticism on the draft resolution about contraception and abortion, which was formulated before the conference. The draft mentions that an estimated 500,000 women die yearly from problems linked to pregnancy and abortion.

Child mortality remains high in countries having high birth rates. Therefore the draft action plan is aimed to "prevent unwanted pregnancy" and to allow "free and responsible choices" for risk-free pregnancy. The draft resolution further states that abortion must be treated and applied with caution and should "in no case" be used as a method of family planning. The draft, in other words, means that births may not be controlled by abortion. People are encouraged to use contraception for their birth control.

There are at least two important methods of birth control using contraception: artificial and natural contraception. Certain groups may perhaps draw the conclusion that birth control should be exercised by using the natural method instead of using artificial contraceptive devices. Some moralists are of the opinion that the just and right way of birth control is to prevent pregnancy and not to prevent births. Preventing pregnancy is widely tolerated, but preventing births is amoral and not allowed, for it is regarded as equal to murder.

The issue of abortion linked to birth control continues to draw attention of the public and invite debate. It was predicted that population growth would alarmingly outweigh economic growth.

ALOYSIUS HARYONO

Jakarta