Burundi and Chad Join the Geneva Consensus Declaration

By | September 12, 2024

Geneva Consensus Declaration 4th Commemoration in Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON DC, September 13 (C-Fam) The African governments of Burundi and Chad have joined the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an international agreement that says countries have a right and duty to defend the family and protect life in the womb.

The two African countries bring the total number of signatures to the Geneva Consensus Declaration to thirty-nine. The agreement adopted in the waning days of President Donald J. Trump’s presidency remains an ongoing source of embarrassment for the Biden administration.

Five new signatories have joined the agreement since Trump left office despite aggressive efforts by Biden to push countries to withdraw and discourage new signatories.

“This commemoration is a call to action,” said First Lady Madam Angeline Ndayishimiye of Burundi at an event in Washington DC this week. “Burundi is ready to collaborate with all partners to ensure that every woman, every family, everyone will be helped through life.”

Dignitaries representing forty-two countries joined U.S. Congressmen to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the international pro-life declaration and to welcome the two newest signatories.

On behalf of Chad, Ambassador Kitoko Gâta pledged, “As new members of the Geneva Consensus Declaration coalition, we are recommitting ourselves to secure meaningful health and development gains for women, uphold the value of every life, protect the family as the foundational unit of society, and defend the sovereign rights of all nations.”

The Geneva Consensus Declaration was launched in October 2020 by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. The four principles of the agreement are the promotion of women’s health, protection of life, protection of the family, and the sovereign right of nations to self-determination. The Declaration also explicitly states that there is no international right to abortion.

The agreement initially had thirty-two signatories. President Biden withdrew the U.S. from the coalition in one of his first official acts as President and has campaigned against the agreement since then. Biden officials circulated letters at UN headquarters asking signatories to withdraw. They officially asked Burkina Faso and Benin to withdraw at the UN Human Rights Council. And Biden representatives asked Guatemala to withdraw shortly after the election of a new president.

Hungary assumed the role of Secretariat of the coalition initially held by the United States. The annual Commemoration for the GCD is hosted by the Institute for Women’s Health, or IWH, led by Valerie Huber who was the architect of the Declaration during the Trump administration.

Huber acknowledged the opposition, criticism, and attempts to undermine the coalition. “Throughout history, every great movement for human dignity and freedom has faced similar challenges. Together, you can show a watching world that where families thrive, women truly flourish, and life is cherished,” Huber said. “You are not just addressing today’s challenges” she said, “you are laying the groundwork for a future where every nation can chart its own course while upholding fundamental human rights.”

Huber also presented an award to Ugandan First Lady Janet K. Museveni for her country’s commitment to the Geneva Consensus Declaration, and their recent commitment to a wholistic model for women’s health and education programming called Protego.

Several pro-life U.S. Congressional leaders participated at the event: Senators Jim Lankford, Steve Daines, and Marco Rubio, and Representatives Robert Aderholt, Jim Banks, Warren Davidson, Andy Harris, Kevin Hern, Debbie Lesko, Gary Palmer and Bill Posey.

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