Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- The leading pro-life group in New Zealand is calling on that nation's parliament to draft legislation to make it illegal for people or groups to pressure or coerce a woman into having an abortion. The measure is similar to legislation some states in the United States have considered.

Right to Life New Zealand cites the bill the Michigan legislature approved as evidence that this kind of legislation is not without precedent.

The group says it is "trying to establish procedures to make sure that a woman is not intimidated into an abortion from a father of the unborn child, her family, employer or other individual in a position of authority such as a teacher."

Right to Life told LifeNews.com in a statement that the International Planned Parenthood Federation and its affiliates have pressured women into having abortions.

"New Zealand women are likely to have been and still are subjected to physical and mental intimidation to have an abortion especially by family members, boy friends, teachers, counselors, etc." the group explained.

The pro-life group is asking people to sign a petition to support legislation allowing women to be free from pressure to have abortions.

Those signing the petition are calling for the New Zealand government to "support a law reform that will make it a criminal act to force pregnant women into abortions."

"We need to safeguard a pregnant women's right to be free from undue coercion from individuals or groups who seek the abortion of her unborn baby," it adds.

Related web sites:
New Zealand Right to Life petition -
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/forcedabortionsnewzealand/signatures.html