Climate change in the womb

When the Swed-ish Embassy in Malta and Meusac ann-ounced that a conference would be held at the Phoenicia Hotel tomorrow on the programme of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union, which began on July 1, it was stated, and I quote, that "Dealing with the financial crisis and tackling the rising unemployment that is currently affecting the whole of Europe, together with climate change are the two priorities that will dominate the Swedish Presidency". The environment and promoting the EU as a global actor were also mentioned as priorities of the Swedish Presidency.

It was also announced that the conference will discuss Malta's priorities within the EU too.

In this scenario, the Malta Unborn Child Movement (MUCM), made up of 45 Maltese organisations, is proposing that, within the context of the priorities assigned to the environment and climate change by the Swedish Presidency, climate change should also include climate change in the womb as "the common concern of mankind". That is, how climate change also affects the wholesome and sustainable development of about 200 million unborn children every year in the European Union and worldwide. "Climate change" is doing as much harm to unborn children as it is doing to those who are born.

In her book Environmental Justice And The Rights Of Unborn And Future Generations, Laura Westra, professor of philosophy at the University of Windsor, states: "The traditional concept of social justice is increasingly being challenged by the notion of a humankind that spans current and future generations".

"Her book has been described as "the systematic examination of how the rights of the unborn and future generations are handled in common law and under international legal instruments".

A dimension of man's relationship to his environment is implied in the concept "the common concern of mankind". While covering directly climate change in general, it focuses also on issues that are generally basic to mankind, like climate change also in the womb. This through inadvertent exposure to toxic substances and emissions of would-be mothers and fathers, especially at places of work and the world in general. Also through the inconsiderate consumption of drugs, alcohol and tobacco before and/or during pregnancy and the lack of love for and rejection of unborn children by their parents, which also conditions the affective development of un/born children, manifested by parents in a variety of ways during the pregnancy. The concept of "the common concern of mankind" arose from the UN deliberations on Malta's proposal on climate change.

The proposal by MUCM also promotes the EU as a global actor, another priority of the Swedish Presidency.

In May 2009, in its European Parliament Election Manifesto (paragraph 45, under Values), the Malta government committed itself "...to work for the fundamental right to life... from conception to natural death". Clearly, this is about loving and responsible care in the womb, man's first environment, his first world. It is also to work in order to have the laws, programmes and policies of the EU run in this direction.

In a declaration on "current global issues", which still appears on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a section devoted solely to children, the government declared: "Malta will continue to actively support the protection of the basic human rights of children in the world, particularly as laid out in the international convention on the rights of the child" and that "Malta will continue to support international actions and policies that respect the rights of the unborn child and foster the best interests of children".

Paragraph 9 of the preamble to the UN Convention proclaims: "Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, 'the child by reason of his physical and mental immaturity needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection before as well as after birth...". I repeat the last phrase: "...before as well as after birth..."

The proposal by the Malta Unborn Child Movement is being submitted for the proactive consideration of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union and the Malta government. Malta is a member state of the European Union.

The author is coordinator of the Malta Unborn Child Movement.