Controversy relating to pro-abortion UPR report deepens

The controversy about the pro-abortion report prepared by a group of NGO's for Ireland's Universal Periodic Review has deepened. We reported April 28th that a number of Catholic organisations whose names wrongly had been included in the list of those endorsing the report, subsequently denied they had done so and said they were taking steps to have their names removed from the list. It now appears that the Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) is refusing to allow many of these names to be removed.

Youth Defence in an article on the controversy yesterday, wrote: 

Organisations who have contacted the Irish Council of Civil Liberties seeking to have their endorsement withdrawn from the 'Your Rights, Right Now' report are now being told that they cannot do so. In an astonishing decision, the ICCL, say they will not allow endorsements to be withdrawn because the report and its endorsements - which includes a section calling for abortion - is "a matter of recorded historical fact which cannot be altered."

At least 12 organisations to date have confirmed that they wish their endorsements to be removed by the ICCL - but of those 12, only Trócaire has officially been removed from the document.

The Director of the ICCL, Mark Kelly wrote to other organisations stating that organisations which had previously supported the report (when they were unaware of its call for abortion) were unable to withdraw their endorsement because "the endorsement was recorded in the report and sent to the UN on 21 March 2011" and their endorsement of the 'Your Rights, Right Now' report "is a matter of recorded historical fact which cannot be altered now."

In a separate move the Irish Government has arranged a series of meetings to allow public discussion on the review

The first meeting which was held in DUBLIN on Monday 16/05/2011 generated considerable debate on the issue and when 20 out of 25 interventions related to the Human Rghts of the Unborn;a frustrated supporter of the pro-abortion report shouted..''move on! your groups are not mainstream!''.. 
Needless to say irrespective of the viewpoint that seeks to marginalise the issue the right to life of the unborn is fundamental. One cannot enjoy any other right if ones fundamental right to life is not respected. We urge pro-life individuals to attend one of the meetings preferably the one in your area and speak out strongly in support of the right to life of every human being born and unborn

The other venues for similar meetings are as follows 

ATHLONE, Wednesday 18/05/2011, 7-10 pm. Douglas Hyde theatre, Athlone Institute of Technology

KILKENNY, Friday 20/05/2011, 7-10 pm the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle

LIMERICK, Monday 23/05/2011, 7-10 pm Room 310, Mary Immaculate College, South Circular Road

SLIGO, Wednesday 25/05/2011, 7-10 pm   Room A0006, Institute of Technology Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo

CORK, Friday 27/05/2011, 7-10 pm   Boole 1, University College Cork, College Road, Cork
 
DUBLIN, Monday 30/05/2011, 7-10 pm   Axis Ballymun Theatre, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9