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31 / 03 / 2008 - Precious Life accuse `Bill of Rights Forum` of hypocrisy
Precious Life has accused the Bill of Rights Forum of “sheer hypocrisy” for failing to include the right to life of unborn children in proposals submitted to the Human Rights Commission. Precious Life has now called on the Head of the Commission to reject the proposals or resign.
The final report of the Bill of Rights Forum was formally submitted to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in Belfast today (31March).
The Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said “The Bill of Rights Forum claim that a Bill of Rights should protect the fundamental rights to which each person is entitled yet their proposals have denied any rights to our unborn children. This is sheer hypocrisy”
“One of the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world - the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - states clearly: 'The child …deserves special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, BEFORE as well as after birth.' The Forum's proposals have failed to protect or safeguard the rights of the child before birth.”
“Their proposals also fail to reflect the particular circumstances and ethos of Northern Ireland. When a motion opposing abortion was debated in our Assembly in October 2007, Precious Life presented over 120,000 petitions against abortion signed by the people of Northern Ireland. That motion was passed with cross-party support. This is proof of the pro-life ethos in Northern Ireland where unborn children are cherished and protected”
“The Forum's proposals use undefined terms like 'reproductive rights’ and 'reproductive health' which have been used in other countries around the world as code-language for abortion. Abortion is the ultimate abuse of human rights. Every human being possesses the same basic rights and foremost amongst them is the right to life itself – for on that, all other rights depend.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded “Now that the Forum has submitted their recommendations to Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, I challenge her to state publicly that she will reject their proposals and ensure the human rights of unborn children in Northern Ireland are fully and firmly protected in law, policy and practice. If she fails to do so, then she must resign immediately.”
TAKE ACTION - Contact the Human Rights Commission. Tell them that the proposed Bill of Rights must ensure the human rights of unborn children are fully and firmly protected in law, policy and practice. Click here
The final report of the Bill of Rights Forum was formally submitted to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in Belfast today (31March).
The Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said “The Bill of Rights Forum claim that a Bill of Rights should protect the fundamental rights to which each person is entitled yet their proposals have denied any rights to our unborn children. This is sheer hypocrisy”
“One of the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world - the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - states clearly: 'The child …deserves special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, BEFORE as well as after birth.' The Forum's proposals have failed to protect or safeguard the rights of the child before birth.”
“Their proposals also fail to reflect the particular circumstances and ethos of Northern Ireland. When a motion opposing abortion was debated in our Assembly in October 2007, Precious Life presented over 120,000 petitions against abortion signed by the people of Northern Ireland. That motion was passed with cross-party support. This is proof of the pro-life ethos in Northern Ireland where unborn children are cherished and protected”
“The Forum's proposals use undefined terms like 'reproductive rights’ and 'reproductive health' which have been used in other countries around the world as code-language for abortion. Abortion is the ultimate abuse of human rights. Every human being possesses the same basic rights and foremost amongst them is the right to life itself – for on that, all other rights depend.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded “Now that the Forum has submitted their recommendations to Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, I challenge her to state publicly that she will reject their proposals and ensure the human rights of unborn children in Northern Ireland are fully and firmly protected in law, policy and practice. If she fails to do so, then she must resign immediately.”
TAKE ACTION - Contact the Human Rights Commission. Tell them that the proposed Bill of Rights must ensure the human rights of unborn children are fully and firmly protected in law, policy and practice. Click here