Geneva, UN HRC, Henk Jan van Schothorst:
"Thank you for the floor, Mister/ Miss President.
Transatlantic Christian Council/Christian Council International welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to health.
While we appreciate the attention given to the well-being of health care workers, we are deeply concerned about the fact that the report treats conscience-based objections to abortion as a barrier to health, rather than a protected right. This framing marginalizes health workers who act in good faith and violates their religious freedom.
We are also concerned by the push to decriminalize abortion, which not only undermines the sovereignty of states to decide on this matter but also the voices of unborn lives. We wish to reaffirm that international law does not establish a universal right to abortion, and that countries should help women avoid abortions according to the ICPD Platform of Action.
We therefore call on the Council and the Special Rapporteur to recognize the sovereignty of states, strengthen the right of health workers to ethical integrity, and protect the sanctity of unborn life.
I thank you".
