UN Human Rights Council Backs, Obama Admin Opposes, Backdown on Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 7, 2009
Geneva, Switzerland (LifeNews.com) — The United Nations Human Rights Council has backed, and the administration of pro-abortion President Barack Obama opposed, a measure seen as backing down on abortion. Pat Buckley, who lobbies for the British pro-life group SPUC sees the measure as a positive development.
The United Nations has long had a pro-abortion posture and gone as far as pressuring some nations to legalize or expand abortions.
However, the Human Rights Council has backed a Russian resolution promoting traditional values that could be a way for the pro-life movement to advance its perspective on abortion.
"In a rare break from its long term strategy of attempting to dictate newly-conceived so called ‘rights’ on everyone – such as the manufactured ‘right to abortion’ – the UN Human Rights Council has approved a resolution tabled by the Russian Federation," Buckley explained.
The resolution is entitled "Promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind."
Buckley says the resolution "cites the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action."
It "calls for the holding of a workshop to be held in 2010 for an exchange of views on how a better understanding of traditional values of humankind underpinning international human rights norms and standards can contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms," he says.
While the nations proposing the resolution include some strange bedfellows, its approval presents an important opportunity, the pro-life advocate explains.
"As a result of the successful resolution, a workshop on traditional values will now be held in September 2010," Buckley said. "Submissions can be made by well-disposed governments and non-governmental organizations promoting fundamental human rights on the basis of natural law."
The resolution was strenuously opposed by the countries that are trying to impose abortion on other nations.
The European Union, which persistently seeks to promote abortion in international forums, attempted to undermine the resolution, SPUC notes. When this attempt failed, the EU declined to enter consensus and the resolution was put to a vote.
Ultimately, of the 47 nations out of 193 sovereign countries that have a vote at the Human Rights Council, the resolution carried by 26 votes to 15 with 6 abstentions.
"It was no surprise to find the US opposing the resolution, which has renewed under Barack Obama the pro-abortion policies pursued under Bill Clinton," Buckley noted.
Related web sites:
SPUC – https://www.spuc.org.uk
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
