United States Speaks Up for Life

From September 14-16, 2005, the United Nations held one of the largest meetings of heads of state in world history. More than 180 national leaders came together at the 2005 World Summit to work on a plan of action for completing various international goals, called the Millennium Development Goals, by 2015.

During this conference and previous UN conferences pro-abortion organizations have worked to create new goals, including a goal for universal access to abortion. Fortunately, no new pro-abortion goals were added to the document.

At the end of the meeting, the United States issued an official “Explanation of Position” which clarified how the United States understands the parts of the Millennium Development Goals which discuss “reproductive health.” Recently appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton delivered the statement which partially reads, “the use of the phrase ‘reproductive health’…do(es) not create any rights and cannot be interpreted to constitute support, endorsement, or promotion of abortion.”

The U.S. government viewed this statement as necessary because many United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations try to use the term “reproductive health” to create an international right to abortion.

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