ECLJ Continues its Presence at the European Parliament

February 13, 2006

(Strasbourg, France)-ECLJ remains busy in assisting Members of European Parliament in the fight for the right to life and protection of the dignity of the person. Most recently, ECLJ assisted in the drafting of an amicus brief by MEPs for the Colombian Constitutional Court in Roa v. Columbia, a challenge to the current abortion prohibition in Colombia. Overwhelmingly, Columbians polled have come out in favour of keeping abortion illegal. A recent green paper by the European Union shows that most European nations with liberal abortion laws struggle economically in a trend that began with the liberalization phenomenon. In stark contrast to this is Ireland where the economy grows due to an ample and youthful workforce. The correlation between abortion proscriptions in Ireland and its economic growth versus the struggles of nations with liberalized laws is undeniable.

ECLJ also drafted a legal analysis for the Rapporteur of a European Commission Proposal on tissue engineering, somatic stem cell research and gene therapy finding that the legality of the proposal is determinant on respect for the human embryo and the placement of safeguards ensuring that the human body and its component parts are not commoditized.