Promoting Abortion in the Year of Youth

ROME, AUG. 24, 2010 (Zenit.org).- It seems a contradiction, but the International Year of Youth that the United Nations began this month is becoming a forum to promote abortion.

The Vatican's semi-official daily, L'Osservatore Romano, made this observation, pointing the finger at international organizations including the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA).

"On UNFPA's Web page are several U.N. initiatives [...] oriented to the promotion of universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, language that, as is known, makes reference to contraception and abortion, as well as to the promotion of brazen sexual education," the Vatican newspaper explains.
 
"Distressing as well," the paper adds, is the fact that "in the provisional documents published before the preparatory conference that is being held in Leon, Mexico, from Aug. 23-27, no mention is made of the Convention for the Rights of Children."
 
"This document is certainly not perfect, but it stresses the basic rights and duties of parents to educate and raise their children," the article notes. Meanwhile in the draft statement of the preparatory conference, no mention is made of the terms "child" and "parents."

The Vatican daily characterized this report as manifesting a "radical conception of youthful autonomy, which seeks to break all bonds between parents and children."

"[T]o strike the heart of the family does not help young people," the article affirmed.

In opposition to this trend, L'Osservatore Romano suggested taking into account the Magna Carta of Values, presented at the United Nations on Aug. 13 by the World Youth Parliament.

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On the Net:

Magna Carta of Values at World Youth Parliament site: www.wyparliament.org/index/