There seems to be a change in US policy towards the UN on abortion.
The US has rejected a United Nations resolution aimed at preventing violence against women because it included language on access to "safe abortions".
A statement read out by US First Secretary to the UN Jason Mack said that the US agreed with the "spirit" of the resolution introduced by the Canadian government, which has made the "elimination of violence against women" a foreign policy priority. He said that the US joined other the members of the Human Rights Council "in condemning all acts of violence against women and girls and in calling for the elimination of all forms of sexual and other forms of gender-based violence, including sex trafficking of women and girls."
Dissenting from pro-abortion consensus
However, he said the US "must dissociate from the consensus, specifically on access to safe abortions."
The US opposed section 9 (d) which included "safe abortion where such services are permitted by national law" in the list of "health care services" that are needed to ensure "the promotion and protection of the human rights of all women and their sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights".
Right to abortion?
Advocates of abortion on demand have worked for many years to insert abortion rights language into any and every UN document, treaty and statement. However, in a change from the rhetoric of the Obama administration, Mr Mack insisted that there is no "right to abortion" in international law. Furthermore, he said, "We do not recognise abortion as a method of family planning, nor do we support abortion in our reproductive health assistance."
The move is seen as complying with the State Department's new aid programme, Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance, which will get $8.8bn (£6.8bn) to fund non-governmental organisations around the world that comply with the Mexcio City Policy.
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