Pro-Lifers Triumphant at OAS

By | 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 3 (C-Fam) The Trump administration and pro-life Latin American nations kept abortion and gender ideology out of all the resolutions of the recently concluded General Assembly of the Organization of American States.

According to insiders, language related to “sexual and reproductive health” and “gender-based violence” was never even seriously debated. The controversial phrases were kept out of the earliest drafts of a new resolution on international assistance for Haiti and throughout negotiations of other resolutions. A Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent was postponed because of similar controversial language linked to abortion, gender identity, and sexual diversity.

The pro-life victory stunned long-time participants on both sides of the debate at the work of the Organization of American States (OAS), an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., where the governments of the Western Hemisphere discuss regional cooperation on democracy, peace, and human rights.

“Calling into question gender ideology was unthinkable just a few months ago,” said Neydy Casillas, a pro-life legal expert and co-founder of the Global Center for Human Rights. She praised the “courage” of delegates representing pro-life governments.

“Good times are coming for the pro-life movement with this new batch of right-wing governments in Latin America,” Casillas said. “We can finally launch a counterattack against these ideological impositions from international organizations.”

The delegations of Mexico and Brazil, both of which promote abortion and gender ideology, said that failure to include the controversial language was a “step backward.” They complained of the opposition to what they described as “agreed terminology” as they find themselves increasingly isolated in the region.

Argentina, Paraguay, the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the new governments of Costa Rica, Chile, and Peru all opposed the controversial language. “While there is still some lack of organization, these governments have started to join forces and work together,” Casillas explained.

Terms like “sexual and reproductive health” and “gender-based violence” were until recently a staple of resolutions of the OAS. Pro-life governments were unable to block the language. The most they could do was make reservations, objecting to interpretations that might include abortion and gender ideology as part of this terminology. Despite reservations, the language was later used to promote abortion and gender ideology in the normative and programmatic work of the organization.

“Given the recent political changes in the region, we believe there is a real opportunity to achieve even stronger outcomes in future OAS negotiations,” said Luis Martinez from the pro-life group Human Life International.

The change of paradigm has been gradual as several Latin American nations elected conservative pro-family governments into power in recent months. At the last two sessions of the OAS General Assembly, progressive nations were forced to go on defense. They proposed a continuing resolution to authorize existing programs without renegotiating new terms. Even that temporary measure may not last, given the new political climate.

The rollback is not limited to political agreements and is also affecting the bureaucratic mechanisms of the OAS. Last month, an agreement of the Inter-American Commission on women, a subsidiary organ of the OAS, also left out controversial language on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health that might normally have been included.

All OAS programs that include abortion and gender language could be rolled back as pro-life and pro-family governments find their footing in international negotiations. Their greatest challenge will come from the influence of leftist European governments who exert political influence in the region through the United Nations and other economic and political mechanisms.

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