LISBON DECLARATION OBJECTED TO BY PRO-LIFE COUNTRIES

LISBON, Portugal, Aug 13 (LSN) – The World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth concluded yesterday with the adoption of the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes despite the objections of several pro-life countries to the anti-family language in the document. UN sources report that the document pledges to “establish a dependable database on youth reproductive health and to provide access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable legal methods of family planning of their choice.”  After the adoption of the Declaration both the Vatican and Guatemala rose to proclaim their reservations and disappointments with the document. The Holy See noted that “despite (their) best efforts” the document failed to include mention of the vital role of parents and particularly fathers in regard to their “rights and duties and responsibilities for the guidance and education of their children.” The Vatican also expressed concerns over certain terms such as “gender”, “gender-based”, “gender sensitive”  and “gender equitable”, being used to promote homosexuality. Guatemala and the Vatican both objected to terms such as “reproductive health” which promote abortion.  See the UN report at https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1998/19980812.soc4472.html