Meeting the Pro-Abortion Challenge in Europe

I'm pleased to report to you a significant development at the Council of Europe where the Parliamentary Assembly - in a reversal - backed a resolution defending conscientious objection for medical professionals.

And, our international affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), played a vital role in the outcome of this important vote.  

At the request of members of the Parliamentary Assembly, the ECLJ prepared an extensive legal memorandum examining the main provisions of the draft resolution under the requirements of European and International law, and within the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.  The ECLJ also warned that the pro-abortion report under consideration gravely endangered freedom of conscience.  You can read more about the ECLJ's involvement in the case and outcome of the vote here. 

The new resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly puts in place many safeguards respecting the conscience objection rights of medical professionals.  Among the key provisions:

Affirms, defends and promotes the right to conscientious objection of medical staff.
Applies not only to doctors but to all the staff engaged directly or indirectly in an act or a procedure of abortion, euthanasia, etc.
Applies not only to individuals but also to institutions, hospitals and clinics, private but also public.
Protects from discrimination and pressure against the objecting medical professional.

In hours before this crucial vote, the ECLJ co-organized a conference - inside the Council of Europe - in order to address, from both the legal and medical points of view, the key issues involved.

Thanks to your support and prayers - we're able to provide the kind of legal work that makes these kind of victories possible.