Representatives from 31 countries attended the first EU wide pro-life, pro-family conference, hosted by Familiokratos Coalition (Family Power Coalition), which was held in Brussels from 26th to 30th of June 2011.Leading organisations, from the 31 countries, shared recent successes and breakthroughs and discussed how their EU wide coalition would support initiatives and strategy, both at Member States and at EU level, to advance pro-life and pro- family legislation.
Speakers at the Familiokratos Coalition Conference included Congressman Christopher Smith who addressed the conference on the issue of “Advancing Legislation from a US Perspective and an Elected Official’s Viewpoint”;
Luca Volonte, EPP Chairman, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, addressed the conference on the issue of “Presenting a Persuasive Message”;
Marie Smith, director of Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues, USA, commented on “Challenges to Laws and Policies”.
Roger Kiska, legal counsel Alliance Defense Fund, talked on the Sovereignty of Member States and the Legal aspects of Hungary’s new Constitution, which protects life from the moment of conception and enshrines the concept of the natural family.
Spanish MEP Jaime Mayor Oreja invited and hosted the Familiokratos Coalition together with the Qatar Foundation, Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development, on Wednesday 29th June at the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee, The Council of Europe, UN Representative and USA Congressman Chris Smith met with the coalition.
Conference delegates agreed on the following three initiatives:
· To continue advancing pro-life and pro-family legislation in Europe aiming to protect children in the womb and uphold the family.
· Affirming the Right to Life, from conception to natural death, as a fundamental human right.
· Supporting Family, Marriage between a man and a woman and Parents’ Primary Rights, especially that of education of their children.
