– As nations mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action this month, Congressman Chris Smith, a leading human rights U.S. lawmaker, urged his counterparts in parliaments around the world to reflect on the damage caused by a radical abortion agenda and to work instead toward a future that cherishes life, strengthens families, and upholds the inherent dignity of every human being.

   “Thirty years ago, the Beijing Declaration was hailed as a landmark moment for gender equality, but advocates with an agenda used it to push abortion as an international right,” said Smith.

   “The document itself contains no such right, and in fact states that any changes to a country’s abortion laws ‘can only be determined at the national or local level according to the national legislative process.’”

   “In the 30-years’ time since the Declaration, some NGO’s and foreign governments have hijacked this non-binding document and worked to pressure nations—especially pro-life countries—into abandoning their pro-life values and legalizing abortion, disregarding the deeply held beliefs of their people,” said Smith, a long-term cochair of The House Pro-life Caucus.

   “Genuine health care and human rights are life affirming and do not come at the expense of the unborn,” Smith said.  Instead, he called for policies that support maternal and child health, provide real care for women and children, and uphold the dignity of both the mother and child.

   “For three decades, the international abortion lobby has misused the Beijing Declaration to undermine the fundamental right to life and erode the foundation of the family,” he said. “It is time for leaders around the world to stand firm against this agenda and advocate for policies that protect life at all stages.”

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