12 December 2008

 
Media Release

Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Unborn Children are Persons

The 60th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UDHR] is a time for review.of our nation’s performance in upholding the human rights of every member of our human family. The Preamble of the Convention states; “whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members  of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

Article 3 of the convention states; “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” Unborn children are members of the human family and are its weakest and most defenceless members. Unborn children at conception are endowed by their Creator with human rights, the foundation right being a right to life. These human rights are universal and inalienable, being inalienable they can not be taken away.

Each year in New Zealand more than 18,000 unborn children are killed by abortion in contravention of their human rights. Since the passing of the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act in 1977 more than 350,000 unborn children have been deprived of their life in New Zealand. This is the most important human rights issue in our nation. The destruction of these children is an intolerable burden on the conscience of our nation. If we are to be a just and peaceful society, this violence against our unborn must cease.

On the 10th of December the 60th anniversary of the Convention, a petition signed by 330,000 concerned persons and organised by a coalition of social conservative groups from around the world was presented to the United Nations.

The United Nations petition for the Unborn Child and Family asserts that the rights presented in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are inherent to every person including unborn children and that governments should extend the right to life to all members of the human family, including the unborn child. The petition also calls on governments to: protect the family “as the fundamental group unit of society,” give special assistance to motherhood and childhood and promote the rights of parents.

Right to Life calls upon the New Zealand government to act on this petition by passing legislation that recognises  the unborn child as a person endowed by its Creator  at conception with human rights including an inalienable right to life.

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