The Pro-Life Campaign (PLC) has criticised the United Nations for its questioning of Ireland’s legal protections for the unborn.
Addressing a session of the UN’s Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, which convened in Geneva, Switzerland, to examine Ireland’s record on a broad range of social issues, including the current bar on abortion, Lorcan Price of the PLC pointed out that despite a clear ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that states of the European Union are free, under the terms of the European Convention, to legislate individually on issues affecting the unborn, the Committee has repeatedly questioned and criticised Ireland for not liberalising its abortion laws.
“The Pro-Life Campaign notes with concern an issue raised by the UN Committee which questions some aspects of our remaining constitutional protection for the unborn child in Ireland,” Mr Price said. “I would respectfully submit to the Committee that there is neither a ‘right to abortion’ nor any universal consensus towards recognising a ‘right to abortion’ in international law. The protections accorded under Irish domestic law to the right to life of the unborn child were based on the profound moral and ethical values expressed by the people of Ireland.”
Referring to the ECHR ruling, Mr Price continued: “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects human beings during the pre-natal period of life. Under Article 6 it recognises them as holders of human rights and subjects of international law. It is regrettable that the United Nations Human Rights Committee has consistently criticised Ireland for not expanding the availability of abortion. The Irish legal position, that the unborn child has human rights, should be afforded the highest deference from international Human Rights bodies.”
Over the course of the most recent session of the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, a number of members posed questions on abortion, and specifically on whether the Irish Government intends to offer a referendum on Article 40.3.3, towards changes to that constitutional right to life of the unborn on par with that of the expectant mother.
