” “The EU Parliament is called to vote today on a resolution which concerns the fifth Millennium Development Objective about the improvement of mother-child health. This one recommends a reduction by three quarters of the mothers’ death rate which is very high in the developing countries and the will to provide "universal access to reproductive health" by 2015. The text recalls that every year over half a million women die of treatable and preventable complications at delivery and birth. "The indicators used to measure the achievements of these targets are the mothers’ death rate, the proportion of births aided by skilled medical staff and the general use of contraceptive methods, as well as the birth rate among teenagers, prenatal assistance and unmet family planning requirements". Overall, the text insists on "rights" in terms of sexual and reproductive health, expressly mentioning recourse to abortion. One of these amendments "deplores the prohibition, supported by the churches, to use contraception, since the use of condoms is essential to prevent diseases and unwanted pregnancies". ” “
