Catholic, Muslim Nations Unite Against “Enforced Pregnancy” and “Gender Justice”

By Austin Ruse | July 10, 1998

     (NEW YORK – C-FAM) Catholic and Muslim nations demonstrated a stiffening resolve over the last three days at the International Criminal Court (ICC) negotiations here in Rome. Despite intensive pressure and repeated procedural manipulations by pro-radical-feminist Western delegations, the religiously-based countries have made it increasingly clear that they will not accept an ICC that is ideologically skewed in favour of the radical-feminist agenda. 

     On Tuesday evening, an "informal working group" of delegates debated inclusion of "enforced pregnancy" in the ICC statute. The term, which was inserted in the draft statute last December by the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice in the ICC, is advanced by radical-feminist lobbyists as code to criminalize the denial of access to abortion. 

     The Women's Caucus and its supporters among Western nations had hoped that the lack of clarity regarding the meaning of "enforced pregnancy" would soften the resistance of the scores of Catholic and Muslim nations that have legal protections for unborn children. But the anti-lifers' hopes were dashed when about 20 nations, or well over half of those who spoke, argued strongly against the term in the informal working group. 

     This setback does not yet spell defeat for the phrase, however. The Dutch chairman of the informal working group, who reportedly has been strongly supportive of the "enforced pregnancy" language, claimed inaccurately at the end of the Tuesday evening debate that "a strong majority" had favoured its inclusion. He then deferred the matter for future discussion. 

     On Wednesday and Thursday, the pro-life and pro-family nations again flexed their muscles. Strenuous objections, particularly by Muslim delegations, led to the deletion of two references to "gender" in Article 37 of the statute, which deals with the court's composition. The Women's Caucus has pushed for the inclusion of "gender" references in several sections of the ICC text in hopes of utilizing the hazily-defined term to gain legal recognition for various elements of the radical-feminist and homosexual agendas.  

     In spite of this week's successes, pro-life and pro-family lobbyists in Rome stress that the overall battle is not won. On Tuesday, radical-feminist lobby groups issued a world-wide appeal via the Internet, urging their supporters to deluge national delegates with calls and letters demanding the inclusion of the Women's Caucus agenda in the ICC Statute. "There is an attempt to derail a number of  key positions the Women's Caucus has put forward in the ICC negotiations," a Women's Caucus representative warned. "We are appealing to you to be part of the process here in Rome by faxing us your letters which we will personally hand to your country's delegation." 

     Pro-life/family forces at the ICC say that it is important that their supporters continue to express their own opinions to their national governments right up to the conference's conclusion on July 17, to highlight the fact that those who are opposed to the radical-feminist agenda far outnumber its backers.

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