US refuses to back UN on abortion access in human rights resolution
Source: Agence France-Presse
Washington supports ‘the spirit’ of a UN resolution calling for women’s access to reproductive healthcare but ‘does not recognize abortion’ as a method
Agence France-Presse in Geneva
Thursday 22 June 2017 15.32 EDT
The UN Human Rights Council has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning abuse and discrimination of women, but Washington refused to back one paragraph mentioning access to safe abortions.
The strongly worded resolution, tabled by Canada, expressed “outrage at the persistence and pervasiveness of all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide”, calling on countries to take immediate steps to prevent gender-based violence and discrimination.
The resolution was adopted by the council without a vote, but several countries, including Bangladesh, China and Egypt, took issue with parts or all of the text.
US representative Jason Mack voiced strong support for “the spirit” of the resolution.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/22/women-abortion-un-human-rights-resolution-us-refuses
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