Pro-Life Intelligence, 24 May 2007

United States expresses strong opposition to sexual and reproductive health references in Medium Term World Health Strategy

Pat Buckley, lobbying on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, has sent the following report.

The World Health Assembly (WHA), of the World Health Organisation (WHO) (see note below) has adopted a five year strategy which contains controversial indicators and targets in the area of sexual and reproductive health.

The US rejected any attempt to interpret the strategy as "suggesting the existence of a new human right to sexual and reproductive health" or "encouraging or compelling Member States to expand the availability of legal abortion." The US position was supported by Paraguay, El Salvador, Malta, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on behalf of the Arab League and the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The WHO Secretariat noted the US statement and the unease expressed by the other countries and promised to take them into account in the strategy's implementation.

The US has previously explained its opposition to the controversial language, stating that:

  • the international community has never agreed that reproductive and/or sexual health rights are human rights;
  • abortion services or the use of abortifacients should not be promoted under the guise of 'reproductive health and sexual health services';
  • excessive focus on 'unsafe' abortions leaves the idea that 'safe' abortions are acceptable (though the humanitarian necessity of providing care to women who suffer health consequences from having had an abortion should be recognized);
  • abortion services should not be provided at the primary health care level in the name of 'urgent action';
  • abortion should not be promoted as if it can somehow tackle the issue of violence against women.

The inclusion of reproductive health goals and targets in this health strategy shows the determination of pro-abortion forces to continue their efforts to make abortion a human right globally, and points up the need for continual vigilance. The US position is welcome, which, together the support from the other countries, makes it clear that no international consensus exists on reproductive health, and that it firmly rejects all attempts to legalise abortion. It is disappointing, however, that no European country with a mostly pro-life constitution, such as Ireland and Poland, supported the US intervention.

Note: The 60th World Health Assembly (WHA) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, May 14-23. The WHA is the supreme decision-making body for the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHA meets once a year and is attended by delegations from all of WHO's 192 member-states. The WHA's main function is to determine WHO policies.



© SPUC 2008