Anatomy of a UN Victory?/Smoke Signals/More Smoke

By Austin Ruse

     (NEW YORK – C-FAM) The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are dearly interested in providing abortion and contraception to refugee women the world over. A 1995 "Inter-Agency Field Manual" called "Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations" (created by, among others, UNICEF — Friday Fax, Edition 5) proves it (call us for the relevant pages). 

     Congressman Chris Smith announced in late September that WHO, UNHCR and UNFPA are at it again. They are planning another field manual that will make abortion and contraception promotion mandatory among relief workers. 

     Smith met subsequently with UN Secretary General Kofi Anan and informed him that "abortion was a consensus breaker" (when it comes to House support for UN funding). Then came the denials.  

     A memo issued by WHO says  "some factually incorrect information about WHO is circulating…" It goes on, "WHO does not advocate abortion as a method of family planning." Further, "It has been agreed that intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUD's) and equipment for manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) of the uterus will not be included (in the new Health Kits to be distributed by aid workers)…" Congressman Smith, and key pro-life organizations including CFHRI, have private information that these WHO denials are either outright fibs, or a change in the evolving policy, which would mark a major pro-life victory at the UN.  

     Keep watching. An announcement of the new manual is expected by the end of the year. 

Smoke Signals 

     UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is meeting right now in Paris at their annual General Conference, and word is circulating they will produce document on genetics that will be deliberately ambiguous about human cloning.  The German delegation to the Conference introduced a proposal to ban all kinds of human cloning, including the artificial reproduction of an embryo (used for research purposes and then destroyed). This proposal died for lack of support, and through the intervention of the American delegation. The language adopted by the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) of UNESCO, meeting in Paris in late July, states that "reproductive cloning of human being shall not be permitted." Reproductive cloning is distinguished from human cloning for research purposes. This leaves the door wide open for artificial embryo research. Contact John Cavanaugh-O'Keefe, American Bioethics Advisory Commission for more information (540) 659-4171.  

More Smoke 

     The United Nations International Year of Older Persons is nearly upon us…in 1999. This enormous world project provides a wonderful opportunity for pro-family advocates to advance the bubbling issue of euthanasia. While euthanasia was not discussed, just a week ago, at the weekly UN Department of Public Information NGO briefing, lots of attention was paid to the growing tension between the generations. One speaker even mentioned that declining birthrates have exacerbated this tension because there are fewer young people to support a graying population. There is a wedge for life here. We will report more on this as it evolves.

 

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter