Day 7 of the UN CSW: US & EU ask to delete “right to life, liberty”

The United States of America was founded to protect the unalienable, God-given rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Behind closed doors on Monday, however, the delegations from the United States and European Union quietly urged the United Nations to delete a reaffirmation of this foundational principle.

Why? Because it threatens hardline abortion language supported by the US and EU at the United Nations. The Obama administration is concerned that the language could be used by pro-life nations and lobbying groups to strengthen recognition of the right to life from conception in international language.

The document being negotiated currently says: “the Commission reaffirms that every human being has the inherent right to life, liberty and security of person.”

Last year, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) failed to reach an “agreed conclusions” outcome document, largely because the US and EU insisted that pro-abortion language supporting “reproductive rights” and “sexual and reproductive health care services” be included. This year, they’re blaming pro-life countries for the breakdown in negotiations in 2012 and they’ve resorted to unconventional warfare to do it.

On Monday, the New York Times audaciously published an editorial calling delegations refusing to budge on the personhood of all human beings an “unholy alliance.” Countries like the US and EU (who want to delete references to the right to life and liberty from negotiated documents!) are portrayed as progressive human rights champions.

Curiously, the nations of the “unholy alliance” are the only countries at the CSW to have condemned forced abortion and forced sterilization of women in places like Uzebekistan and China. The US and EU have remained deafeningly silent.

The US and EU are also advocating the right to “comprehensive sexuality education” for youth. Thankfully, some delegations are taking a stand against this ill-defined, ill-conceived proposal. At a side-event hosted by the delegation of Indonesia and Family Watch International, Dr. Miriam Grossman explained how “comprehensive sexuality education” is used by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to promote sexual activity among adolescents and teach them about their “right to safe abortion.”

Negotiations will conclude Friday.

Josh Craddock, 21, is Personhood USA’s United Nations liaison. He currently studies Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at The King’s College in New York City.

See also Policy Making to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Day 1 of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and Day 3 of the UN CSW: Report on major Personhood-sponsored event