Biden Pressures Guatemala to Withdraw from Pro-life Document; Senate Responds

By Lisa Correnti | April 4, 2024

Bernardo Arévalo, president of Guatemala

WASHINGTON, DC, April 5 (C-Fam) The Biden Administration is pressuring the government of Guatemala to withdraw its signature from the pro-life Geneva Consensus Declaration. In response, prominent U.S. Senators have sent a letter of support to Bernardo Arévalo, president of Guatemala encouraging his government to remain.

The Geneva Consensus Declaration was initiated by the Trump administration and promotes life, women’s health, and the family. To date thirty-six governments have signed the document, the United States under Joe Biden, has withdrawn.

“We write to strongly urge you to remain in the Geneva Consensus Declaration coalition,” the Senators wrote in a letter dated March 13. “As you are aware, the GCD is a coalition of thirty-six nations from every region of the world committed to promoting women’s health, and supporting the intrinsic value of every life, strong and healthy families, and your own national sovereignty.”

The initiative is being led by former chairman of the Senate pro-life caucus Steve Daines (R-MT) and was joined by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC).

Among other things, the Geneva Consensus Declaration acknowledges that no international right to abortion exists.

The Biden administration has viewed the Geneva Consensus Declaration as a threat to their attempts to spread a legal right to abortion around the world. President Biden withdrew from it shortly after taking office and has pressured countries party to the agreement to withdraw including through the UN human rights system.

As the human rights record of each country is examined in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the Human Rights Council, the Biden administration urged Burkina Faso and Benin to withdraw from the GCD.

“The U.S. Government should not threaten, cajole, or pressure countries to leave this historic coalition, “said Valerie Huber. “To do so misuses the influence of the US, dramatically increases anti-American sentiment in countries that should be allies and disrespects the sovereign right of countries to hold different views on issues for which, even in the US, there is not consensus,” said Huber, the architect of the GCD and former Trump administration senior advisor.

Huber said Guatemala has made “significant progress” in women’s health since joining the GCD, “but much work remains.”

Guatemala is the regional leader for the Geneva Consensus Declaration. Its former president Alejandro Giammattei established Guatemala as the “pro-life capital of Latin America.”

The Biden administration commended the election of President Arévalo. The Administration took steps to assure he was sworn-in, including by sanctioning opponents in the Guatemalan government and parliament who questioned the legitimacy of the election, alleging that Arévalo was involved in fraudulent activity as a candidate. The US. State department revoked some 300 visas from government officials, legislators, and family members citing “anti-democratic actions.”

Pro-life advocates told the Friday Fax they believe the Biden administration is using its influence in the country to decriminalize abortion.

President Arévalo was inaugurated in January. He was received at the White House last week, meeting with both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Several measures were announced including an initial $170 million in aid.

If Guatemala can withstand Biden pressure, a new U.S. pro-life administration next January will likely rejoin the GCD and prioritize grant-making to countries that have pledged commitments to women’s holistic health.

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