US Sparks row at UN on abortion...

US sparks row at UN over abortion

Abortion has dominated the meeting on women's rights
The US has insisted abortion should not be recognised as a human right, at a review of progress 10 years after a major conference on women's rights.

The issue has dominated the opening proceedings of the UN session organised to re-affirm the world's commitment to the Beijing declaration.

The US has submitted amendments insisting that any new declaration did not create "the right to abortion".

The conference is also discussing Aids, sex trafficking and women's education.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the conference: "Over this decade, we have seen tangible progress on many fronts.


BEIJING CONFERENCE: MAIN ISSUES
Violence against women
Increasing burden of poverty on women
Unequal access to education
Poor opportunities for advancement
Inequality in economic structures and policies
Inadequate protection of women's human rights

"Life expectancy and fertility rates have improved. More girls are enrolled in primary education. More women are earning an income than ever before.

But he added: "We have also seen new challenges emerge. Consider the trafficking of women and children - an odious but increasingly common practice. "Or the terrifying growth of HIV/Aids among women, especially young women." (ed: or rape of women by U.N. Officers)

Also from the story:

The US position at the current meeting reflects President George W Bush's tough stance against abortion.

That contrasts with his predecessor Bill Clinton, who was in the White House at the time of the Fourth World Conference on Women. (ed: THANK GOD!)

The Ice Palace opines...

As I sit at home nursing a case of the stomach flu, reading this story makes me feel no better. Saying the murder of one's own progeny, in utero, is a right? As far as the remainder of the agenda:

Increasing burden of poverty on women
Unequal access to education
Poor opportunities for advancement
Inequality in economic structures and policies
Inadequate protection of women's human rights

None of the above is something that can't be cured or at least drastically alleviated by a healthy dose of CAPITALISM!! Until the world figures that one out, we'll be having these conferences ad nauseum til the proverbial cow comes home.

Now pardon me while I hurl again....

-Psycmeistr-