Abortion is not a human right
Human rights can cover a lot of virtues and some vices too. So we must be cautious before giving credence even to persons who have an apparently irreproachable façade. Sweden, a country to which I was accredited as ambassador, has legislation which is very favourable to abortion.
In his report 'EU citizens' initiative to force abortion' (The Sunday Times, July 19), Ivan Camilleri writes that Swedish MEP Brigitta Ohlsson has mounted an Internet campaign "in a bid to exert pressure on the EU to force countries like Malta to introduce the right of abortion."
This is not the only source of pressure coming from Sweden. The cause of human rights is being used, repeatedly and systematically, to cover abortion by no less a figure than the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights. He is Thomas Hammarberg, a Swede, who used to be head of the Stockholm-based Olof Palme Centre, affiliated to the Social Democratic Party.
Mr Hammarberg's pro-abortion agenda emerges from his reports on Ireland, Poland and San Marino which can be accessed on the Council of Europe's website (www.coe.int). His advocacy of abortion is all the more pernicious as it is low-key and seemingly discreet.
Mr Hammarberg's favourite tactic is to refer with approval to anonymous and unidentified NGOs that support abortion, while ignoring those that oppose it. He does not hold back from using double standards: he has enthusiastically quoted the Vatican and Catholic organisations when criticising the Italian government's measures against illegal immigration.
Human rights are, of course, a controversial and highly charged subject. But one question has to be seriously addressed: should the views on human rights of the Swedish left be imposed, even surreptitiously, on countries having completely different historical and cultural backgrounds, such as Ireland, Poland, San Marino, Italy or, indeed, Malta?
Not everything carrying the label 'human rights', 'Council of Europe' or 'European Parliament' can be endorsed without critical examination.
Noel Buttigieg Scicluna, Former Maltese Ambassador to the Council of Europe and ambassador in Vienna, Budapest and Copenhagen, St Julian's
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Gerry Cowie
Jul 28th 2009, 20:21
@Luca Bianchi - It's ridiculous at the very least to suggest that those who do not favour abortion should just avoid it! It's insulting to those who are not religious and yet who value human life to be told that this is just a religious issue. This is not about religion but about valuing human life. Who has the right to end human life? Nobody! Without respect for life of some kind you might not be alive as people would be free to kill you if they did not like you. There is a law which outlaws murder, for instance, and people are punished for it. Are you just suggesting therefore that people should just avoid murder if they do not like it? Should they avoid theft if they don't like it? Should they avoid fraud if they don't like it?
It's easy to fall for the views of pro-abortionists who simply trivialise the whole problem, just as they ultimately trivialise and cheapen life by their misguided approach that it is all in the interests of freedom and human rights! But who defends the freedom and human rights of the unborn?
This is not imposing beliefs! It is protecting life!
Tony Mifsud
Jul 28th 2009, 19:39
When making recommednations during the Committee on the Rights of the Child, September 22, 2000 at Geneva, Thomas Hammarberg, the present Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, and Peter Newell of Epoch-Worldwide declared:
“In relation to legal reform to reduce and prevent violence to children, the most fundamental change required in almost every state is the explicit removal of any defence which currently justifies physical assault of children, in order to ensure that children have equal protection under the law on assault... in all settings.. within the family,…and in all institutions…
Amazing how Mr Hammarberg, a person of such high stature, is unaware (!) that paragraph 9 of the preamble to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 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.."
While insisting that “children should have equal protection under the law on assault” he conveniently ignores, the UNCRC declaration that “children ..before birth” should be protected also.
Steve Pace
Jul 27th 2009, 10:03
Imposition is alway a problem especially with our church . Instead of discussing in a civil manner , it resorts to shoving guilt feelings and firing all its canons against all those who say controversial things. It is sad indeed.. We preach Tolerance to Illegal Immigrants, To all those who differ in politics and religion , yet many seem so intolerant to their own Maltese brothers. And it seems that only toics of Divorce and abortion are tackled. How about for example a priest celebrating Mass to Boat house owners who illegally occupy public land. Is that not morally wrong. Do we hear the church comdemming such acts .. No. of course not ? Do we see the church comdemming the waste of money on Fireworks, whilst it asks us to donate money to the poor ? No we don't . Someone might say, that this is all out of context and probably like you i will be in the line of fire. What i am trying to say is that people are so quick to judg and execute .
Luca Bianchi
Jul 26th 2009, 20:29
@ Mr. Pace
Yeah, so far yours was the best comment. That’s precisely what I meant. I mean, you can’t say “No, you can never, for no reason whatsoever, resort to abortion” like the others have been implying. My point was that you can never know what a determined situation might involve, so these people who are all out against abortion can’t just impose their “NO” on these people.
Steve Pace
Jul 26th 2009, 19:58
Mr Bianchi. Yes , agreed there are many reasons why women get preganant. Rape is one of them . And yes , that woman did not choose to become pregnant. So sometimes women do not have the choice. I totally support you in this. What we need to think about is the result as well. The child for instance. There are many options other then abortion. Many couples who have tried for children and never managed would be more then happy to adopt . These children do not have a voice in the decision taken by someone contemplating abortion. Why not give them the chance to live ? The repercussions felt by a woman having abortion is very deeply felt .Let us not think that having an abortion is like going to the Waste reccycle centre getting rid of rubbish . We should not be militant ( and i am not saying to you ) in approaching this subject as this is not the solution. Providing support to such cases during pregnancy is probably more productive. Providing alternative solutions to the person in such a difficult situation should be considered. I dont feel this topic is Black or white.
Luca Bianchi
Jul 26th 2009, 19:25
@ L. Galea
You as well, perhaps, represent the perspective of ‘the people’?
You can’t know what a lady could ever be going through, or what caused her pregnancy. You certainly cannot fathom that, can you? Hence, you shall not make of a personal belief a cast-iron fact. You see, here in Malta you seem to relish that far too much; and this is really not addressed to you solely.
Luca Bianchi
Jul 26th 2009, 19:20
@ Ms. Zammit.
OK, you’ve entirely flummoxed me. You indeed did. There’s just one tiny, little thing I would like to ask you now. Undoubtedly, if I’m entitled to do so. Who are you exactly to impose on others what you firmly believe in? To tell other women what to do and what not.
I must say I find this idea of imposing on others of you Maltese to be really astounding. No, wait, are you perhaps speaking on behalf of ‘the people’ as well? As this seems to have become the latest trend of some Maltese people.
Galea. L
Jul 26th 2009, 18:55
Luca Bianchi
Abortion is murder and no one is imposing his opinion or beliefs on others.
It is the law imposes on everyone not to commit murder because otherwise there will only be the law of the jungle of where might is right which is exactly the situation in abortion, the might of the mother/doctor on the baby who is a human being but unable to defend itself from beign murdered.
M. Zammit
Jul 26th 2009, 18:37
Dear Mr Bianchi,
The woman's right is to have or not have sex.. full stop.
Steve Pace
Jul 26th 2009, 17:47
On the subject i totally agree with Mr Cowie. Human rights in no way should mean that we have the right to decide whether an infant has the right to live or die Unborn children have the right to life as much as we do, whether we are religious or not . Whilst understanding the many difficult circumstances in which some children will be brought to this world, we should be the ones to defend their rights. A human being is a human being right from conception, immaterial whether life is cells or a fully grown human. Unfortunately many pro abortionists are of the opinion that the mother should have the divine right to choose whether to bring her child to the world or not. Many a times people who are opting for abortion do so because they are in a panic mode. As we defend the infants right to life, we should also offer our total support to people who are contending abortion by not being judgmental, but by helping these people make the best choices in the interest of the new life. We then have a culture of Life !
Luca Bianchi
Jul 26th 2009, 17:22
@ everyone
There's one thing I can't understand... How, or rather, what gives you the permission to impose on others your beliefs? If you are entirely against abortion, there's one easy way to go about it, simply abstain from resorting to it. But never shall you impose on others - who might be in some peculiar situation - your perspectives. I can't quite fathom how people deem fit to tell others what to do in certain circumstances that they are not part of. Pitiable, it makes me cringe.
Gerry Cowie
Jul 26th 2009, 14:44
It is typical of pro abortion and pro choice (pro abortion by default) persons and groups to put such a spin on things that they can appear to the weak-willed to be convincingly right, despite their obvious wrong. They will use any way in which to weave what they want into people's minds, rather like very clever lawyers. People have undoubtedly got off very serious charges merely due to clever and convincing lawyers!
I understand that there is a St Bridget of Sweden who is held by the Catholic Church as Patroness of Europe. Maybe somehow she will have some kind of influence on her namesake!
At the end of the day, respect for human life from conception to natural death will triumph. We do not want a culture of death but a culture of life. Fortunately there are many in this world, many of whom, as it happens, are not of any religious persuasion, who support human life from start to finish. It would be an insult to them to suggest that life is merely a religious issue.
carmel serracino-inglott
Jul 26th 2009, 14:43
Well said M. Zammit. We have to show that abortion is murder against human rights. Every human has a right to live why not babies then? As yoou said politicians are there to speak for those who have no voice The unborn child is one of them. If a politician is incabablr of doing so he should not be in politics at all. We in Malta at least should keep this in mind to vote only for politicians who are politicians and fight for humans to live well let alone kill them worst if they have no voice. well done Zammit.
Galea. L
Jul 26th 2009, 13:00
Totally agree with you.
Since when has the murder of another human being become a human right?
M. Zammit
Jul 26th 2009, 10:56
Human Rights have to have as their basis something that is necessary for humans to live, that is why they are called RIGHTS. Right cannot be wrong. Killing is wrong. Killing is not a RIGHT and can never be right.
Why do some people try to twist words until they no longer have the correct meaning?
I think that the only RIGHT that is never discussed is TRUTH. When politicians twist words to promote something that is intrincically wrong, that is, the ultimate deceit and the time when their position is no longer untenable. Politicians have a DUTY to be honest because they are not speaking for themselves but are elected to govern by their citizens on the basis of trust. They must look at the common good and speak in favour of those who have no voice. Politicians must be wise as wisdom is what avoids mistakes. Politicians who sway to a breeze shouldn't be in politics. Politicians are not elected to give in to the whim of the moment but are there to forge paths that benefit a nation.
Abortion is and will always be destructive and goes against human rights. Abortion = ANTI-HUMAN RIGHTS!