In a resounding victory for common sense, following a short
but lively debate in the European Parliament, a majority of MEPs voted to refer
the highly controversial resolution on the Estrella report back to the
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.
The resolution on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
presented by Portugese MEP Edite Estrela, was an assault on the Sovereignty of
member states that attempted to make abortion a fundamental human right, remove
conscientious objection and introduce pornographic sexuality education even for
young children .
The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European
Community, COMECE, condemned the resolution and said that the EU had no
competence in the matter.
The report although presented by Edite Estrella is reported
to be the work of the International Planned Parenthood Federation in Brussels.
The fact that the report has been referred back to committee implies, that a
revised report cannot not be presented until early next year, thus, limiting
the time available to the Parliament to deal with it, prior to the next European
elections.
The report and its attack on children proved to be ‘a bridge
too far’ even for many Socialist and Liberal MEP’s who may already be looking to their home
support bases in their re-election campaigns.
