The
new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS)
criticized pro-life laws and policies in Latin America and the Caribbean
during remarks at UN Women's Global Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: A Commitment to Action.
Luis Almagro, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and now OAS Secretary General, spoke in the context of the post 2015 development agenda and called for the overturning of laws restricting and prohibiting abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Secretary General
claimed that he supports "more rights for more people" but then called
for the removal of rights from an entire group of individuals-- unborn
children-- stating:
"Four
months ago, when I assumed the position of Secretary General of the
Organization of American States, I was adamant at the outset that my
mandate would contribute to broadening the access to rights of all the
peoples of the Americas. My recurrent theme has been and will continue
to be "More rights for more people."
"From the perspective of women's rights, we are still facing
two major challenges. First, the limitations of the scope and reach of
women's rights: the Americas continue to have some of the most
restrictive laws regarding sexual and reproductive rights and freedoms,
and that reality has to change."
Secretary General Almagro
ignores the fact that laws restricting abortion are in compliance with
the American Convention on Human Rights, a guiding treaty for the
Inter-American System which recognizes that "Every
person has the right to have his life respected. This right shall be
protected by law and, in general, from the moment of conception."
The Secretary General's extreme
pro-abortion perspective is in sharp contrast with a large number of
countries in the region which restrict access to abortion and protect
the right to life beginning at the moment of conception. This reality
reflects the region's deeply held cultural and religious beliefs that
value unborn children as cherished members of the family deserving of
legal protection, a protection equally shared with their mothers whose
lives and well-being are legally protected from the physical, emotional
and spiritual harm of abortion.
In addition, Secretary General Almagro stated that the OAS will continue to work with OAS member countries to
create a legal framework in the context of "human rights" --that
includes access to abortion--which will be implemented at the national
and local levels.
He lauded the work of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) at the OAS which advises the OAS on issues related to women and works closely with UN Women. Included under the CIM's guidance is the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI) that oversees country progress in implementing the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, known as Belém do Pará.
The MESECVI in its Second Hemispheric Report (English, Spanish) called for legislation to: "Legalize
interruption of pregnancy on therapeutic grounds, that is to say, to
save the life of the mother or avoid serious or permanent injury to her
physical and mental health"; "Legalize the interruption of pregnancy caused by rape"; and "Adopt provisions to guarantee the free distribution of emergency contraceptives."
It
appears that the push to expand access to abortion in the region will
be greatly assisted by the new Secretary General of the OAS.
Pro-abortion NGOs think it will.
Pro-abortion Ipas claims that "Almagro
joins a growing field of regional leaders calling for the repeal of
criminal abortion laws. Advocates for women's rights in the Americas
hope this trend will build an environment that supports policy and law
change to increase women's access to safe abortion."
Ipas also claims that "...nations across Latin America and the Caribbean must
address unsafe abortion in order to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals related to maternal health and gender equality.
In
light of this increased challenge, pro-life advocates in the region
will no doubt increase their efforts to prevent the violence of
abortion. PNCI notes that the United States is one of the top donors to
the OAS.
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