Brasília, January 12, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of the Special Secretariat of Public Policies for Women, Emília Fernandes, said today that a democratic government such as the PT will not accept measures like birth control. According to the Minister, there is an important difference between birth control and family planning. "The difference, which needs to be drawn clearly, is that control is something imposed and anti-democratic, which we do not accept. Under no condition, a government like ours, democratic and popular, would admit birth control. What we defend is family planning, which is a right and, therefore, the free choice of the couple, man and woman," she explained.

The Minister met with the Minister of Education, Cristovam Buarque, to discuss ways to implement the program, which was the target of criticisms by some members of the Catholic Church, who considered the federal government's plan to convey information about contraceptive methods to families enrolled in the Family Grant program "an inadmissible attitude."

Family planning has been established by law since 1996 and envisions free access to health services, including the use of contraceptives, condoms, and contraceptive pills, as well as voluntary sterilization through tubal ligation or vasectomy.

"Planning does not have the connotation of imposition, but, rather, of dialogue, knowledge, and education. I am certain that when the Church understands the type of approach with which we want to deal with the matter of family planning, it will be a partner, since it also works with the education of people," she said. (DAS)