Sexual and Reproductive Health Agenda Being Pushed at the United Nations Conference on Disabilities

January 27, 2006

(Manhattan, New York)-ECLJ attended the recent conference held by the Economic and Social Committee of the United Nations in the drafting of a new convention on disabilities. The ECLJ representative met with key delegates from nations such as the United States and the delegate for the Holy See.

At issue were two key points. The first being that several nations and voting blocks, including the EU, were pushing for the addition of an addendum to Article 25 on health for the inclusion of the wording sexual and reproductive health. An intervention was filed by the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, under which ECLJ was in attendance, stating that the addition of such language, UN speak for abortion rights, devalued and took credibility from an otherwise worthwhile document. The second aspect of contention was the addition of language in support of rights for hydration and food for the severely disabled. ECLJ, along with the SOCSS, and delegates from countries as diverse as nations from Africa, the Middle East, the United States and Holy See all supported the language in favour of hydration.

The final drafting and vote for the Convention will take place in August in New York.