ECLJ Warns About an Attempt by the Council of Europe to Undermine "Conscientious Objection"

(Strasbourg, France) - The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is very concerned with a new draft resolution from the Council of Europe aimed to legally limit the freedom of medical doctors and health care providers who object to abortion.
 
This new draft Resolution is the last initiative taken by the Parliamentary Assemble of the Council of Europe in order to promote abortion and restrict freedom of religion and conscience. This new resolution, sponsored Ms Hgg and Ms Mc Cafertty (Doc. 11757 and AS/Soc 2009 15) is entitled Womens access to lawful medical care: the problem of unregulated use of conscientious objection.
 
This resolution has two main objectives: the first - to push for further access to abortion as a "Human Right" - the second: to limit the possibility for individual health care providers and institutions "to refuse to provide certain health services based on religious, moral or philosophical objections."  The "health services" targeted are mostly abortion, emergency contraception, assisted suicide and artificial procreation.
 
At the request of Members of Parliamentary Assemble, the ECLJ is currently preparing a memorandum in support to "conscientious objection" that will be submitted to the Parliament in the weeks ahead.
 
See here the motion for a resolution by Mrs Hgg and others. (Doc. 11757) (French here)
 
The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide.  Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.  Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament.