美国国家公共电台 NPR--Abortion-rights activists in Germany aim to make the procedure more widely available

Abortion¹-rights activists² in Germany aim to make the procedure more widely available

Transcript³

Earlier this month, the EU Parliament voted in favor of a resolution to make abortion a fundamental right — a good sign for activists in Germany fighting to make the procedure more available.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

This month, the European Parliament passed a resolution that says abortion is a fundamental right. Not every European country's laws match that resolution. Activists in Germany are fighting to make the procedure more widely available, even though it is technically⁴ a criminal offence. Esme Nicholson reports from Berlin.

ESME NICHOLSON, BYLINE⁵: It's early evening on campus at the Charite, one of Germany's most prestigious⁶ teaching hospitals. Twenty-one-year-old Isabella Catanaza (ph) is taking a break from the library. As a third-year med student, she's pretty busy but still finds time to organize classes on subjects not offered by the university.

ISABELLA CATANAZA: (Through interpreter) I help run workshops for other medical students who want to learn how to terminate a pregnancy⁷. The workshops are extracurricular, but we'd much prefer it if the university held them.

NICHOLSON: Catanaza says that at many medical schools in Germany, you can go the full six years without learning the basics of abortion.

CATANAZA: (Through interpreter) Some professors are progressive and teach abortion. But many dismiss it, claiming it's such a simple procedure, there's no need to talk about it. And others are openly against it.

NICHOLSON: The Charite told NPR that it teaches the theoretical principles of abortion, but the decision not to offer practical instruction was made in consultation⁸ with students. Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus wants abortion on every med school syllabus⁹, but recognizes the current education gap boils down to the law. Abortion is illegal in Germany. And even though certain circumstances protect doctors and women from prosecution¹⁰ within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the stigma¹¹ sticks.

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LISA PAUS: (Through interpreter) Abortion has no place in criminal code and should not be treated as a felony.

NICHOLSON: Paus is a member of the Green Party, which, together with its governing coalition¹² partner, the Social Democrats¹³, is pushing to decriminalize abortion. But with a right to life enshrined in the constitution, legislative¹⁴ change will prove difficult, especially without the backing of opposition¹⁵ lawmakers, many of whom believe the right to life starts at conception. Gunter Krings is with the Christian¹⁶ Democrats. He sees no need for any change to the law.

GUNTER KRINGS: (Through interpreter) Starting a debate about the legality of abortion will only deter¹⁷ doctors from offering this difficult service. And while we recognize the need for abortion access in certain circumstances, I don't imagine any physician enjoys carrying out abortions¹⁸.

NICHOLSON: Dr. Baier.

ALICIA BAIER: Hello.

NICHOLSON: Hey.

Dr. Alicia Baier is a gynecologist and co-founder of Doctors for Choice, a group advocating for legal abortion. She says there are just 1,200 abortion providers in all of Germany. But this isn't only about access. She says the fact it is not being widely taught creates a safety concern. Twelve percent of abortions, she says, are performed with the method the World Health Organization considers outdated¹⁹.

BAIER: For doctors, they have the feeling they are doing something unlawful, something wrong. If they do any little mistake, they are almost half in prison, you could say.

NICHOLSON: Baier says that while the procedure is never pleasant, nothing will change until doctors stop being labeled as criminals.

BAIER: Often in Germany, you are seen as a murderer if you perform abortions.

NICHOLSON: Though, with medical students taking matters into their own hands, Baier says she's hopeful that access to safe abortions will improve even if attitudes towards the medics carrying them out don't.

For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.

(SOUNDBITE OF NIKLAS PASCHBURG'S "FRAGMENTATION")

1 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

5 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

6 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

7 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

8 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

9 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。

10 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

11 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

12 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

13 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

15 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

16 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

17 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

18 abortions   

n.小产( abortion的名词复数 )；小产胎儿；（计划）等中止或夭折；败育

参考例句：

• The Venerable Master: By not having abortions, by not killing living beings. 上人：不堕胎、不杀生。 来自互联网
• Conclusion Chromosome abnormality is one of the causes of spontaneous abortions. 结论：染色体异常是导致反复自然流产的原因之一。 来自互联网

19 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。