On Saturday 7 October over 3000 Victorians braved a typically cold and windy Melbourne day to show their support for the human rights of in-utero Victorians.
Dr Joanna Howe was honoured to speak at the event, to unite with the thousands present and share her passion for educating and inspiring Australians to know the brutal reality of abortion and to fight for social and legal change where abortion is unthinkable and genuine and meaningful support is given to all pregnant women.
In 2008 Victoria became the first state to introduce a law allowing abortion up to birth and on demand. Since then, this horrific law has been used as a template for all other states and territories.
Noting this legacy, Dr Howe told the crowd, “Victoria, this is where it started. This is where it must end.” She drew on Australia’s egalitarian tradition, stating “Today we can no longer say Australia bears the hallmark of equality and fairness that were our founding values”.
The crowd was shocked to hear Dr Howe expose the brutality of different abortion procedures and the extent of children who have been killed in-utero through abortion. In Victoria alone 4186 gestationally viable children have been killed through late-term abortion since 2008. Close to 50% of these viable children were perfectly healthy with physically healthy mums. The oldest in-utero Victorian child to be killed through late-term abortion was in 2011 at 37 weeks. This is full term.
The March for the Babies is a powerful demonstration of hope, unity and unwavering commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our society. It is essential that we continue to support and build these public demonstrations in each state and territory in order to drive social and legal change.