PRO-LIFERS COMPLAIN UN POPULATION

CONFERENCE VEILED IN SECRECY

NEW YORK (CWNews.com) June 2, 2000 - Pro-life groups at the United Nations this week complained that important talks surrounding the Beijing+5 conference, including negotiations regarding "reproductive rights," are being held in secret, in violation of UN rules.

The Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) said that while most UN meetings allow officially-recognized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to have open access to delegates, many are being excluded from what they have termed "backroom political deals" and say no record is being made of the meetings.

Of most concern to the pro-life groups are proposals advanced by Mexico, the US, and the European Union calling for abortion to be made "more accessible," which they say would be a violation of the original conclusions of the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women. The new language also requires all health service providers to learn abortion procedures even if it would violate their religious beliefs. This would even apply to countries that do not allow abortion under any circumstances. Conservatives consider these an assault on religious freedom and national sovereignty.

Delegates from developing nations, banded together in a group known as G77, have begun to object to the pro-abortion policies being advanced under the title of "reproductive rights." The delegates are saying that "food and medicines must not be used as a tool for political pressure," according to the World Life League.

"This battle for alleged reproductive freedom began at the UN more than two decades ago," said Mark DeYoung, director of World Life League. "For decades, developing nations have been forced to accept 'family planning' in order to receive basic aid. The G77 is finally telling the West that enough is enough." [Source: http://www.cwnews.com/index.cfm ]

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