Penna Dexter

At the opening of the 74th United Nations General Assembly, which convened a couple of weeks ago in New York, President Trump gave a speech that encompassed hot-button issues ranging from Iran to global religious persecution. One of his bold moves was to call the United Nations out on its promotion of an international right to abortion. Austin Ruse is President of C-Fam, the Center for Family and Human Rights, a non-profit that monitors and works to affect the social policy debate at the United Nations. He's been watching the UN for decades and says the president "delivered what may be the most pro-life statement any president has ever delivered to the world body." President Trump told the gathered dignitaries, "Americans will also never tire at defending innocent life. We are aware that many United Nations projects have attempted to assert a global right to tax-payer funded abortion on demand, right up to the moment of delivery. Global bureaucrats," he continued, "have no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocent life. Like many nations here today, we in America believe that every child, born and unborn, is a sacred gift of God." Austin Ruse explains that this strong statement followed strong action by the United States in initiating a joint statement signed by 21 nations voicing their opposition to ever including a global right to abortion in international law. This refers to constant attempts to include the terms "sexual and reproductive health" and "reproductive rights" in UN documents. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar stated unequivocally in his speech to the General Assembly, "There is no international right to abortion, and these terms should not be used to promote pro-abortion policies and measures." In fact, the U.S. did not set out to take such a strong stand. But, as Secretary Azar explained, "they try to sneak these things in....we are calling them out." Keep watching them, Mr. Secretary.