The United Nations has been accused of trying to assert an international right to abortion.

The charge was made in New York this week as delegates from 172 countries including Ireland gathered for a major UN General Assembly.

While most media attention focussed on climate change, there was a parallel meeting aimed at ensuring ‘universal health coverage’ for all.

And while delegates agreed upon the basic goal, some, such as Ireland’s Minister for Health, Simon Harris wanted to include sexual and reproductive rights. This has often been interpreted to include abortion.

Minster Harris said: “Ireland believes that if universal health coverage is to be genuinely universal it should and indeed it must embrace all health services including those related to sexual and reproductive health as set out in the sustainable development goals.”

He continued: “We have taken vital steps in Ireland to ensure that such services are available, are of good quality, are accessible to all women & girls throughout their lives, free of stigma, discrimination, coercion and violence. Reproductive healthcare is a basic human right and should not ever be seen as a matter of political discretion. The Irish Government’s new international development policy, A Better World, prioritises gender and equality and provides for a number of new initiatives in this area.”

On the other hand, speaking on behalf of 18 countries, including Poland, Hungary and Nigeria, Alex Azar, Health and Human Services Secretary of the United States, advised dropping that same language because it may refer to intrusive sex education and abortion, and be used to assert a universal right to abortion.

In a plea reflecting the mind of Pope Francis, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin also rejected the same language.