Monday 14.05.07

Amnesty International policy change completely undermines their work for human rights

The news that Amnesty International has changed its policy and is now actively campaigning for abortion at an international level is very disappointing says Family Life International.

The new policy, adopted by Amnesty International last month, now sees them campaigning for an end to laws which outlaw abortion.

“This policy change is completely inconsistent with, and it undermines, the human rights work of Amnesty International” says Family Life International media spokesperson; Brendan Malone.

“How can an organisation which is meant to oppose the violation of human rights lend their support to abortion, which is the gravest violation of innocent human rights, and is an act that is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of women?”says Brendan Malone.

Amnesty International has claimed that this policy change is about women who have been the victim of rape or incest, but the official documents clearly state that Amnesty International now supports the abolition of any and all criminal penalties related to abortion.

“Even if this was just about cases of rape and incest, the last thing a woman who has been the victim of the sexual violence needs in her life is the violence of abortion” says Brendan Malone.

Family Life International is also very concerned by the fact that Amnesty International attempted to hide this new abortion policy from the general public. Documents on the Amnesty International website state that “There is to be no proactive external publication of the [new abortion] policy position or of the fact of its adoption issued. This means no section or structure is to issue a press release or public statement or external communication of any kind on the policy decision.”

Family Life International seriously questions why Amnesty International would feel the need to keep this policy change a secret, unless they were either trying to hide this policy change from the public, or they planned to formulate a campaign of spin to conceal the full truth about their new support for abortion.

“This policy change marks a sad day for the many pro-women, pro-human rights supporters who have given financial support, and have felt solidarity with Amnesty International in the past, but have now been alienated from them by Amnesty International’s decision to support and promote abortion” says Brendan Malone.

ENDS

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