A delegation of national parliamentarians from Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Portugal and Sweden participated in a field visit to Peru and Brazil from December 1-10, to meet with leading activists and nongovernmental organizations working on sexual and reproductive health and rights and feminist causes, members of parliament and government representatives, as well as members of the clergy active on HIV/AIDS.

Through meetings, field visits and discussions in Lima, São Paulo and Brasília, the delegation members were able to attain a greater understanding of the reality of women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights in the region and the influence of the Catholic church on related policies, and pending legislation in Brazil to decriminalize abortion in the first trimester.

Some of the main aspects which were raised were as follows:

• the importance and influence of the Catholic Church in Latin American politics, particularly in Peru
• the clear difference between Brazil and Peru where in Brazil much progress has been made in SRHR policies by the government as opposed to Peru which is still very poor (over 50% of the population lives in poverty - 25% of which in extreme poverty, ie. less than 2US$/day). There was also a feeling that while some policies are coming into place in Peru on SRHR, the government has few concrete plans to implement them.
• in Peru, there has been a significant positive economic growth for the past 5 years, however, according to Peruvian NGOs and even government authorities, none of this has been allocated to SRHR where budgets have remained frozen for years. Shortages in contraceptives supplies were mentioned several times.
• there is great inequality between the richest segments of society and the poorest. Both countries, considered "Middle Income" according to the OECD (Peru is Lower Middle income) hide the widespread poverty in both countries and that in some case a significant part of the GDP wealth is generated by non-job-creating exports.
• Peru with other Andean countries (eg. Colombia) and currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the USA and the Peruvian Ministry of Health published a report outlining how the cost of medicines could increase by 30-40% if the Free Trade Agreement were to come into force.

One parliamentarian, the Hon. Ausrine Marija Pavilioniene of Lithuania, participated despite demands from the Lithuanian Catholic archbishop Sigitas Tamkievicius that she be denied leave of absence in order to participate in the field visit. This was just another in recent efforts by members of the Catholic hierarchy to exert improper influence over democratic processes around the world. To read the complete EPF press release on this matter, click here ENG / FR

The field visit was organized by Catholics for a Free Choice and the Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) in close collaboration with Centro de la Mujer Peruana Flora Tristán and CDD Brazil.