ACLJ Files Five Reports Defending the Lives of the Preborn at the UN
The process of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations (U.N.) allows countries and NGOs to make recommendations to each country that is up for review regarding its human rights situation. Tragically, when it comes to abortion, almost all recommendations made involve expanding access to abortion. This is why it is so critical for us to detail the atrocity that is abortion and stand up for the preborn. We filed reports with the U.N. on Mexico, Chad, Monaco, Malta, and Congo, to urge them to protect the life of the preborn.
In Mexico, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that state statutes that criminalized abortion were unconstitutional. This ruling has now led to 11 states legalizing abortion on demand up until the 12th week of pregnancy. That same year, the Mexican Supreme Court also voted eight to three to invalidate a provision that “established conscientious objection for medical personnel and nurses, limiting it only when the patient’s life is put at risk or it is an emergency.” This is extremely concerning because, as we stated in our report, “No healthcare worker should be required to carry out or take part in a procedure that deliberately takes the life of a human being.”
Chad currently permits abortion in cases to protect the physical and mental health of the mother as well as in cases of perceived abnormalities of the unborn child. In our report, we demonstrated how abortion cannot be used to protect the mental health of the mother when it has been shown that abortion is detrimental to the mental health of the mother. In fact, this has even been noted by the American Pregnancy Association, which has reported that abortion can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, regret, shame, anger, loneliness, poor self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts. Further, human life does not deserve death simply because that baby may be born with some abnormality. As we stated in our report:
Medical advances have allowed babies born with physical abnormalities to live long and healthy lives. For example, in 1983, the average life expectancy of a person born with Down syndrome was twenty-five years old. Today, that life expectancy is sixty years and continues to increase. In Chad, babies with Down syndrome could be aborted because it could be considered a “particularly serious condition.” The decision of whether a preborn baby is allowed to be born or be killed should not be based on prenatal tests that have been proven to be unreliable.
In addition to calling out countries for human rights violations and urging immediate reform, it is also important that we commend and encourage countries that are upholding the rights of the preborn. This is especially important on the issue of protecting life because every country that has a pro-life stance will undoubtedly receive recommendations to expand access to abortion.
In our report on Monaco, we commended the country for its strong position in upholding protections for both the life of the mother and the preborn child. However, we informed it that there is still more that can be done. Monaco’s law provides an exception, allowing the abortion of a child due to perceived abnormalities. In our report, we stated that the possible presence of abnormalities in the unborn child is no reason for an abortion, especially given that prenatal tests can be unreliable. No baby should be killed simply because they might be born with an ailment. Further, we encouraged Monaco to resist the calls from the international community to expand access to abortion and that, in fact, Monaco has a moral responsibility to reject such recommendations.
Malta remains committed to upholding protections for the mother and the preborn. A recent survey even showed that 90% of the population was opposed to unrestricted abortion during the first three months of the pregnancy. In May 2021, legislation was introduced that would remove Art. 241(1) from the criminal code, which would effectively legalize abortion. Thankfully, this proposed legislation expired in April 2022, and no action has been taken to reintroduce similar legislation.
Countries all around Congo in Sub-Saharan Africa have been expanding access to abortion. In fact, since 2000, 21 Sub-Saharan African countries have expanded access to abortion. Unsurprisingly, this has led to a drastic increase in the number of abortions being carried out in the region. As we stated in our report, “Between 1995 and 1999, there were approximately 4.3 million abortions carried out annually in the region. Between 2015 and 2019, abortions nearly doubled, and that trend has continued with eight million abortions being carried out annually in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Thankfully, Congo has remained steadfast and committed to protecting human life by prohibiting abortion.
As we noted in all of these reports, there is no international right to an abortion. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”
Join us as we continue to give a voice to the preborn and advocate for their inherent dignity all around the world.