The United States, under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has announced its intention to rejoin the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a group that challenges the right to abortion. The declaration emphasizes that there is no international right to abortion and no obligation for states to finance or facilitate abortion.
The Geneva Consensus Declaration includes countries with varying human rights records, such as Egypt, Russia, Belarus, and Saudi Arabia, among others.
Secretary Rubio highlighted that the Declaration aims to promote women's health and development, protect life at all stages, defend the family as the fundamental unit of society, and collaborate across the UN system to uphold these values.
He stated, 'Investing in women’s health and well-being saves lives, provides more opportunities for women and girls, and safeguards the family unit.'
Former President Joe Biden had withdrawn the US from the declaration in 2020, but President Donald Trump had promised to rejoin it to counter the perceived international right to abortion.
In a recent move, Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits US government funding for foreign nonprofits involved in abortion-related activities, and enforced the Hyde Amendment, which imposes similar restrictions domestically.
The decision to rejoin the Geneva Consensus Declaration aligns with the Trump administration's stance on abortion rights and reflects a broader effort to prioritize pro-life policies.
