February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com)
GROUPS PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF LESBIANS, GAYS, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS DENIED CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
The website pinknews.co.uk reported last week that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) advocating for the rights of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) were denied observer status at the United Nations.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) NGO committee, which is composed of 19 members, is in charge of reviewing applications from NGOs seeking observer status with the council. Once the ECOSOC NGO committee has made its recommendations, the ECOSOC, comprised of 54 members, can approve or reject the decision. LGBT groups from Spain, the Netherlands and Brazil were denied observer status after a tied vote in the ECOSOC NGO committee. The UK, Israel, the US and 4 others voted in favor of granting the desiring groups status whereas, China, Egypt, Russia and 4 others voted against it. Four other countries either abstained or were not represented at the meeting.
According to pinknews.co.uk, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) expressed in a statement their outrage at the fact that ” The nature of the questions LGBT human rights defenders were asked, repeatedly trying to link homosexuality and pedophilia, simply show how far our stubborn opposition is ready to go”. Many LGBT advocates are also accusing a group of countries of continuously delaying consideration of certain applicants.
In 2006 and 2007, five groups promoting the rights of LGBT were granted consultative status with the ECOSOC including one Canadian group, the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Quebec (CGLQ).
NEW MATERNAL HEALTH FUND LAUNCHED BY THE UN POPULATION FUND (UNFPA)
On February 14th, the UNFPA announced the creation of a new thematic fund dedicated to maternal health. According to the website oneworld.net, the fund’s aim is to “boost global efforts to reduce the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth”. The fifth Millennium Development Goal focuses heavily on maternal health and the reduction of maternal mortality. The fund was established to support 75 countries.
The UNFPA hopes that governments and private enterprise will help raise the targeted $465 million during 2008-2011. It is hoped that the money raised will be used for its intended purpose; to insure that “No woman should die giving life”.
However, a UNFPA issued report about the Maternal Health Fund discuses related issues in the context of sexual and reproductive health, i.e. abortion, contraception, etc. It also mentions different initiatives “for generating political priority at the global level”, and cites as a prime example The Women Deliver conference held in London last October. This event was largely focused on abortion. In the past few months, many UN agencies have been attempting to make child and maternal health undividable. They are also trying to create linkages between maternal health and sexual and reproductive rights, including the right to “safe abortions”. It is hoped that the money raised will be used for its intended purpose; to ensure that “No woman should die giving life”, but it is doubtful considering the UNFPA’s long standing history of giving a high priority to the promotion of family planning and abortion.
UNICEF OFFICIAL UNDER FIRE AFTER CONTROVERSIAL FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE
Ann Veneman, the UN Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) chief, is under scrutiny after a fundraiser was deemed to have infringed on many rules and regulations.
Newsmax.com reported that the public relations firm responsible for the event, KCD International, is under formal investigation by New York State Attorney General. The firm was hired by the Italian fashion House Gucci, which paid for the event that was held on the UN’s North Lawn in New York City. The ‘gala like’ event raised approximately $4 millions for UNICEF and Madonna’s charity, Raising Malawi.
It is apparently not the first time KCD International has used high profile locations to boost the image of their company. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was so upset with the lack of judgment of UNICEF officials and lack of adhesion to the standard practice that he cancelled his appearance at the event. Newsmax.com reported that the situation is so bad that “there is talk inside UNICEF that Veneman (…) who was appointed in 2005, may not serve her full five-year term”.
UN RELEASES INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION’S (IPPF) STATEMENT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC)
International Planned Parenthood Federation, one of the most notorious pro-abortion Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) operating at the UN, released a statement endorsing the theme of the 41st session of the Commission on Population and Development; population distribution, urbanization, internal migration and development. The session is scheduled to take place April 7-11.
According to the IPPF, “Urban growth is predominantly fuelled by natural population increase rather than migration. It is, therefore, incumbent upon policy-makers and governments alike to insure long term investment in sexual and reproductive health, family planning and the empowerment of women and girls.” It appears IPPF, an extremely well funded and influential lobbying group, is attempting, as usual, to manipulate the chosen theme to push their pro-abortion agenda.