Personhood USA promotes human dignity at the United Nations

Heads of state from across the globe came to New York City this week for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. I saw firsthand the addresses of President Obama and dozens of other kings, premiers, and prime ministers. Perhaps the most notable address was from Iran’s President Ahmadinejad, who created quite a stir among Western delegations. Though most eyes are fixed on the issue of Palestinian statehood, I will be focusing on another issue entirely: promoting the personhood of the preborn child internationally.

President Obama’s address reminded the assembly that “everyone has the right to life” according to the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document also recognizes “the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.” Moreover, all human beings are “free and equal in dignity and rights.” Every individual is entitled to these rights regardless of “race, color, sex” or “birth.”

Pro-abortion groups have interpreted this to exclude those who are not yet born, despite the Declaration’s clear proclamation that these rights are applied “without distinction of any kind.” The International Women’s Health Coalition, which teaches women to perform abortions on themselves, and the International Planned Parenthood Federation actively promote their agenda abroad by coercing countries to overturn pro-life laws and provide access to abortion, despite the fact that these actions are contrary to the founding ideals of the United Nations.

Yet there is reason for hope. Personhood is growing around the world through grassroots initiatives and voter-driven campaigns to recognize the basic rights of human beings in the womb. The Dominican Republic ratified a constitution that established personhood in 2009, and Hungary will do the same on January 1, 2012 when their new constitution that prohibits abortion takes effect. Filipino voters, working with Personhood USA, turned in signatures to reject a law that would undermine the sanctity of life in the Philippines. Portuguese citizens are petitioning to put the issue of personhood before their parliament, and the Polish are renewing their efforts to end abortion as well. A petition to amend Colombia’s constitution to ensure the rights of personhood gathered 5 million signatures this year. These monumental efforts will change the course of those nations in the 21st Century just as the end of the slave trade changed the course of civilization around the turn of the 20th Century.

In order to reaffirm personhood world-wide, the United Nations must be reminded of its duty to promote human dignity for all. To protect these basic rights, Personhood USA will join with the international community to spread the vision of personhood to all corners of the earth.

Josh Craddock, 20, currently studies politics at The King’s College in New York City. To learn how to support Personhood in your state, please visit http://www.personhoodusa.com/