- The Iona Institute - https://ionainstitute.ie -

OAS Secretary General backs ‘essential’ right to life

Pro-life advocates praised the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) for stating that the right to life should be protected from conception [1].

Luis Almagro, formerly the Uruguayan foreign minister, has previously drawn criticism for the organisation’s apparent support for abortion.

Last week, at a forum for candidates for OAS Secretary General, the current OAS head, Almagro, said that “definitely, the principles of religious freedom that I have mentioned and the principles of the right to life are fundamental principles and rights.” Almagro is running for re-election as secretary general.

Almagro also said that it is “essential” that Article 4 of the American Convention on Human Rights be fully applied.

That article states that,  “Every person has the right to have his life respected,” and that “[t]his right shall be protected by law and, in general, from the moment of conception.”