Amnesty International has been lambasted after it introduced a new abortion policy that calls for countries around the world to introduce abortion-on-demand, for any reason, up to birth.
Amnesty International describes itself as ‘the world’s largest grassroots human rights organisation’ on its website and claims to ‘work to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied’.
However, pro-life groups have hit out, accusing the organisation of hypocrisy, losing its credibility and becoming nothing more than “just another mouthpiece for the abortion industry” after it released its new extreme abortion policy.
The policy calls for universal access to ‘safe’ abortion, as well as the decriminalisation of abortion, while claiming that ‘anyone who can become pregnant has the right to an abortion’ and that ‘human rights protections start at birth’.
Dr Daniel Frampton, of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), said: “Amnesty’s hypocrisy is glaring. Calling itself an organisation that stands up for ‘humanity and human rights’, it disgraces itself by refusing to recognise the humanity and human rights of unborn babies.
“Amnesty International’s updated policy is shocking and extreme, stating ‘that anyone who can become pregnant has the right to an abortion’.
“It is incredible that this so-called human rights organisation should view access ‘to safe abortion as an essential component of a fair and equal society’, and something that ‘is integral to realising the full range of human rights’.”
Dr Frampton added: “Amnesty International loses all creditability as a human rights organisation when it declares that abortion is a human right that prevents death. Abortion, by definition, involves the death of at least one human being.
“Amnesty International claims that its updated policy ‘respects human rights, autonomy, and dignity’. But where is its respect for the autonomy and dignity of the child in the womb?
“Amnesty International’s updated policy has made the unborn prisoners of the abortion industry. Founded to defend and give a voice to people whose liberty and right to life were unjustly threatened, Amnesty International has now forgotten the fundamental rights of the unborn to life and liberty,” Dr Frampton added.
Catherine Robinson, of Right To Life UK, said: “Amnesty International’s new abortion policy highlights the shocking irony of the self-declared human rights organisation claiming to support human rights on the one hand, while on the other it is ignoring the right to life of humans at their most vulnerable stage.
“Around the world, the organisation opposes regimes that end the lives of innocent people. But it is tragically and simultaneously blind to the dignity and right to life of people in the womb.
“Rather than highlight and confront human rights abuses and stand up for citizens who are suffering under unjust regimes, Amnesty has sadly become just another mouthpiece for the abortion industry.”
Amnesty International’s updated policy, endorsed by the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, calls for the following:
• Recognises that anyone who can become pregnant has the right to an abortion
• Calls for universal access to safe abortion, as early as possible and as late as necessary, and for provision of post-abortion care and evidence-based abortion-related information
• Recognises that decisions around pregnancy and abortion directly impact the full spectrum of human rights
• Calls for removing abortion from criminal and other punitive laws and policies, and to stop punishing women, girls and all pregnant people, healthcare providers and others for obtaining, assisting with, or providing abortion services
• Calls for reforming laws and policies that limit abortion access to specific circumstances
• Confirms that human rights protections start at birth, in line with international law
• Calls on states to fulfil economic and social rights by promoting policies that empower pregnant people to make free decisions about their reproductive lives – including through access to health care, social security and the means to obtain an adequate standard of living.
Picture: An Amnesty International Italia activist demonstrates her feelings. (Matteo Nardone/Pacific Press ZUMA Wire).
