By Megan Witt
On 23 October 2023, The Institute for Women’s Health (IWH) and their President, Valerie Huber, invited ambassadors, members of parliament, Congressmen and women, international health professionals, and influencers to Capitol Hill in commemoration of the third anniversary of the Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD). This consensus represents a historic coalition of countries that understand the importance of affirming that there is no international right to abortion, the family is fundamental to society, women and girls’ health should always be promoted, and that each nation’s sovereignty must be respected. In 2020, this document was negotiated by the United States, Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, and Uganda, along with 32 additional nations as signatories.
Tragically, under the Biden administration, the United States removed itself as a signatory of the GCD. However, the audience of the luncheon was encouraged when Honorable Alex Azar, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, committed to continue pressuring officials to reenter this agreement, “whether in a year or years, we will rejoin”, he said.
Senator Steve Daines also gave a feeling of hope when he announced that he and Congressman Jim Banks have proposed a resolution to Congress, calling the United States’ government to reaffirm the commitments they had originally made by signing this declaration, rejoin the document as a signatory, and ask subsequent Presidents to continue support of the GCD and its principles.
Senator Daines, in his address to the crowd, assured us that the fight to protect life in the United States was not over. The Senator quoted a tweet by Elon Musk saying, “population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming”, and pointed out that if we do not protect human life, there will be no need to protect the planet. He reminded us of the importance of faith in face of issues like these, and that freedom requires virtues and virtues require faith, a sentiment that is often forgotten in today’s culture.
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, the first female chair of the Senate pro-life Caucus, reiterated the valiant efforts of individuals in the United States government to promote the dignity of life at all stages. She emphasized that “our rights come from God, not the government” , and that she and the pro-life caucus are fighting to protect the right to life each person possesses.
On a similar note, Senator James Lankford applauded the GCD for its incredible ability to unite countries and individuals of many different religions, cultures, and nationalities under the paramount value of the sanctity of life. “When families are strong, nations are strong”, declared the Senator, an idea central to the principles of the GCD.
The 2023 IWH Distinguished Award of International Honor was presented by IWH’s President, Valerie Hubbar, to the Republic of Guatemala and H.E. President Alejandro Giammattei for their application of a new program called Protego. The word Protego in Latin means “to cover, protect, and defend”. This program, created by IWH, gives nations the framework to put in place diplomatic, legal, health, and education policies that encourage the principles upheld in the GCD, while respecting the nation’s sovereignty and acknowledging the differences of religion and culture in each of these countries.
Finally, the luncheon came to a close after remarks from the Secretariat of the GCD and Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. Szabolcs Takács. The ambassador described the increasingly hopeful conditions of his country after the enactment of their new constitution, a document with heavy focus on encouraging strong families. They have seen a 33% decrease in the number of abortions performed each year, mariages have nearly doubled, and the fertility rate has increased by 24%.
The GCD is an essential document that unites the international community around the fight to protect all innocent life and promote human flourishing globally. The Institute for Human Ecology and The Catholic University of America are grateful to have been invited to such a wonderful event, and we look forward to fighting this important fight together.
