The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution last week endorsing guidelines, crafted with input from abortion advocates, supporting abortion as a human right.
The resolution endorses a paper by UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Navi Pillay that refers to abortion as a "sexual and reproductive health right." The nations of New Zealand, Burkina Faso and Colombia are sponsoring the resolution.
Focus on the Family's Director of International Government Affairs Yuri Mantilla said the resolution is "a waste of time."
"The United Nations Human Rights Council should not be focused on trying to promote abortion as a human right," he said. There are so many violations of human rights around the world, and so many crimes against humanity, Mantilla explained, that "it would be more helpful to construct a narrative of international law that is consistent with justice."
Twenty of the 47 council members also oppose the resolution, which was adopted without a vote. The 20 council members submitted an opposition letter, which will accompany it when the UN General Assembly reviews the issue later this month. The resolution's text, according to the opponents, focuses on promoting new rights that are not defined in international human rights declarations, "mainly the reference to 'sexual and reproductive health rights.' "
The UNHRC should focus on "real human rights," he said, including the right to life, family rights and religious freedom.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the U.N.'s "Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
Contact: Bethany Monk
Source: CitizenLink
