Dear Members and friends of the Political Network for Values:
We are happy to share the latest news on the initiatives and activities carried out by the Political Network for Values and its Members, and other relevant news from around the world.
Our mission is to work on the promotion, protection and defense of fundamental rights and freedoms in local, state, and national parliaments and international bodies. We continue to support the work of our Members and friends who are bravely and tirelessly confronting the advancement of agendas that undermine the fundamental rights and freedoms of every human being in every country of our world.
The Political Network for Values is integrated by 100 legislators from Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia and Uruguay who have endorsed a Decalogue of Commitments for Human Dignity and the Common Good.
|
|
|
Geneva Consensus Declaration Reaches 35 Country Signatories, with 3 New Cosigners
Since its virtual multinational ceremonial signing on October 22, the Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD) has three new signatories increasing the number of cosigners to 35. The United States of America, together with Brazil, Hungary, Uganda, Egypt and Indonesia, led the “coalition to achieve these four pillars: (1) better health for women, (2) the preservation of human life, (3) strengthening of family as the foundational unit of society, and (4) protecting every nation's national sovereignty in global politics.” The anniversary of the GCD will be celebrated on April 7, each year. Read more
|
|
|
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights to Hear Manuela & Others vs. El Salvador
The case of Manuela & Others v. El Salvador is at the merits stage, and the IACHR is set to hold the public hearing in the next months (date pending). The case of Manuela has turned in to a critical piece in legalizing abortion in El Salvador. However, in what experts are calling the Roe v. Wade of Latin America, the case of Manuela does not involve an incarceration over an illegal abortion but that of a neonatal infanticide as Manuela was sentenced in August 2008 to thirty years in prison, for the murder of her newborn son. “[T]he promoters of abortion, are campaigning in this case for the decriminalization of infanticide, [and] claim to rely on European human rights law”. The petitioners Center for Reproductive Rights, Colectiva de Mujeres para el Desarrollo Local, and Agrupación Ciudadana por la Despenalización del Aborto Terapéutico, Ético y Eugenésico, have also filed nine other cases against El Salvador. Read more.
|
|
|
Argentina Legalizes Abortion
On December 30 in a vote held at 4:00 a.m., the Senate of the Republic of Argentina voted 38 in favor, 29 against, with one abstention to legalize abortion up to week 14 of pregnancy. The Congress approved the bill earlier in December, “the ninth time abortion activists have attempted to legalize abortion in Argentina.” As the Political Network for Values previously reported during the last attempt the legalize abortion in the country in 2018, the ola celeste, or blue wave movement for the protection of both lives (mother and her unborn child), is to credit for the 2018 pro-life victory. A large pro-life march preceded the approval by the Argentine Congress. Pressure is already being exerted upon Peru and Mexico to follow Argentina. Remarks in Spanish by Rodrigo Iván Cortés, Secretary General of the Political Network for Values, here.
|
|
|
MORENA Seeks to Impose Abortion as a Matter of Public Policy Throughout Mexico
The MORENA movement is seeking to impose abortion throughout Mexico with the Population bill that reached the Senate in December. The bill contemplates the “elimination of institutional obstacles” to abort in Article 35, includes provisions on education in gender ideology in all of Mexico’s schools, and references to “sexual and reproductive health and rights”. The bill violates the constitutions of many Mexican states that have enshrined the protection of the right to life from conception (recognized in Article 4 of the American Convention on Human Rights). A CitizenGo petition against the bill led by Frente Nacional por la Familia with the support of more than 800 national organizations and of the 32 states of the Republic directed to the President and senators is open for signature. The measure will likely be included in the next session of the Senate in February.
|
|
|
|
Querétaro First Mexican State to Pass a Bill on Mainstreaming Family Perspective
On December 9, Querétaro became the first state to approve and publish the law reform that includes family mainstreaming, so that all policies and programs are planned with a family perspective. In what is known as the “Méndez Law”, because of its author, Congresswoman Elsa Méndez who championed the initiative, explains that the family is an institution of public utility. Congratulations to the Congress of Querétaro, especially to the Congresswoman for this initiative that benefits the families of Querétaro and sets a valuable example to and precedent in all of Mexico. Read more.
|
|
|
Goya Producciones of Spain Releases Documentary on Palliative Care
In the context of the debate surrounding the legalization of euthanasia in Spain, Goya Producciones has released the documentary Dying in Peace: Palliative Care v. Euthanasia, which uses material prepared by the Political Network for Values for the seminar on palliative care it organized in the Congress of Deputies of Spain in January 2018. On December 17, the Congress of Deputies of Spain passed the bill regulating euthanasia. The bill waits in the Senate for a final measure before entering into force. Lourdes Méndez Monasterio, member of the Political Network for Values and Congresswoman of Spain, made a strong speech in committee against the bill and on the consequences the legalization would bring. Watch it here.
|
|
|
In Paraguay the Childhood Plan 2020-2024 Left Without Effect
Thanks to the efforts of pro-life and pro-family groups in Paraguay, the Childhood Plan 2020-2024, authored by the Minister Teresa Martínez, has been left without effect over the inclusion of a gender perspective and the primacy of the state over parents in the education of their children. It is foreseen that a new plan will be developed with the inclusion of organizations representing parents, who were left out of the first plan. Read more.
|
|
|
A Polish law will combat ideological censorship on social networks
Through the Law on Freedom of Speech and Dissemination of Information on the Internet the flagrant ideological censorship that big tech companies out of Silicon Valley are applying, especially to conservative users, will have a response in Poland. The Polish Ministry of Justice issued a statement announcing “a pioneering law on the protection of freedom of expression on the Internet.” In the note, the Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Ziobro, states: “The user of social networks must feel that their rights are protected. Nor can there be censorship of expression. Freedom of speech and freedom of debate are the essence of democracy.” Read more.
|
|
|
Massachusetts Pro-Choice Governor Rejects Extreme Abortion Bill Day After Christmas
“Charlie Baker, the pro-choice Republican governor of Massachusetts, vetoed a bill that would legalize abortions up to birth and lower to 16 the age for girls to get abortions without a parent’s knowledge or consent. Explaining his decision to veto the bill, Baker insisted that although he supports abortion, he stated as ‘[m]ost troubling the fact that under these provisions, women will have greater access to late-term abortions throughout the term of their pregnancy with no specific statutory requirement that a physician utilize lifesaving medical equipment if a child is born alive.’ An effort to override the veto is expected in the state legislature in early 2021, which will require a two-thirds majority in both the state House and the Senate. Read More.
|
|
If there is news you would like us to include in our newsletters on the work you are carrying out in your respective countries to promote, protect and defend fundamental rights and freedoms, please contact carolinabayo@politicalnetworkforvalues.org. Please providing the relevant information and material that you would like us to include in our next newsletter.
Sincerely,
Carolina Bayo
Senior Policy Counsel
Political Network for Values
|
|
|
|
