Birth control cover-up in “TAR”

In an attempt to hide the ongoing birth control policy in the “Tibetan Autonomous Region” (TAR), Chinese health authorities forbid the official use of words relating to birth control. A notice, dated 13 September 1995, sent to all levels of government offices and stressing the use of scientific terms was recently smuggled into India and translated below from the original Chinese version:

Official notice of the National Family Planning Commission and the Health Department banning the use of words such as, “drug-induced abortion” or “surgical abortion”.

This notice is for the attention of health offices, family planning offices, public hospitals, women and child care centres and operation theatres in all regions and cities.

The following are the terms and conditions of the National Family Planning Commission and Government Health Office Document No. 146 (1995).

  • The family planning offices and health departments in all regions and cities shall strictly prohibit the use of words such as, “drug-induced abortion”, “surgical abortion” and “sterilisation”. These invalid phrases should not be used on leaflets and signboards.
  • All the offices should be united in this campaign and inform the general public not to use these words on television, in newspapers, broadcasts or periodicals.
  • Clinics providing “drug-induced abortion”, “surgical abortion” and “sterilisation”, shall henceforth be named “out-patient operation clinics”, “family planning centres” and “operation hospitals”.

The Family Planning Commission Document No. 146 (1995) orders health and family planning offices in all regions and cities to strictly investigate all hospitals, women and child care centres and operation theatres and to submit their reports to the TAR Family Planning Office and TAR Health Department before 15 October 1995.

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