Greg DalyClaims that human right treaties allow a right to abortion are completely without foundation the Pro-Life Campaign (PLC) has told the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
Speaking in Geneva on Tuesday at a discussion about the right to life section of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Cora Sherlock of the PLC pointed out that a right to abortion is not supported by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which recognises the right to life, liberty and the security of the person.
“Additionally,” she said, “the Convention on the Rights of the Child states in its preamble that the child ‘needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth’.”
Ms Sherlock said it was regrettable the committee has previously criticised Ireland for its pro-life protections, and said that as “a living human being”, the unborn child is “entitled to all of the same rights as other members of the human family”.
She called on the committee to reflect on its “duty to comply with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which when properly applied should act to protect human life especially the most vulnerable”.
The covenant, which Ireland ratified in 1989, states that “every human being has the inherent right to life”.