Easter Friday

 Today I walked in a march of witness ,with people from Prestwick churches , where I live.

I got to carry the cross one of the sections of the walk.

It was about 3C , with only a few flakes of snow falling.

Had nice soup at the last Church.

Christ died for our sins.

A success at Youth conference

Well here are the volunteers who have came forward to help me out at the UN next year.

 

From left to right are , Katherine Beck , University of Southern Florida , USA ( doing a semester in London ) , Stephen Todd ( works for Prince's trust in England ) , myself , Pelayo Ballesteros Panizo  ( Spain ) , Anne Howard who came with me to the UN a few years ago , Niall O Coinleain ( Republic of Ireland ) and Isaac Spencer ( Cardiff university )

 

The plan is for each of these young people to spend a week with me at the UN in New York in March and April next year. 

 

Photo taken at breakfast yesterday ( Palm Sunday )  at the SPUC Youth Conference.

SPUC youth conference

This morning I spoke to the students to see if any would like to help me out at the UN next year.

Please pray that the Lord would give me discernment as to who would be best to come and assist me at the UN.

To London then Swanick

Today I travel by train down to London , tonight I plan to see a work colleague who used to work with me at the UN.

On Friday afternoon I will travel to the Hayes Conference Centre where I shall be speaking about my work at the UN. This will be the annual SPUC Youth and Student's Conference. The main reason for me attending is to pick out two volunteers / assistants to come to the UN with me next year.

Plan to travel back to Scotland on Sunday afternoon.

The end of CSW 2013

I was more depressed than usual at the end of this CSW.

This is what the meeting was like at the end.

The promoters of abortion were happy.

Final result of CSW for 2013

Report on this years Commission on the Status of Women ( CSW )

The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls

Agreed conclusions

Word counts

Final Document – 15 March 2013

Reproductive health = 9          Reproductive rights = 2

Sexual orientation = 0            Marriage – minimum age = 2

Forced marriage = 2              Sexualiy education = 1

Masculinities = 0                  Father =0

Mother – young = 1             Abortion – forced = 1

Abortion – safe = 1

Compilation text as of 25 Feb 2013

Reproductive Health = 11      Reproductive rights =4

Sexual orientation=5             Marriage – early =4

Marriage – forced=3             Sexuality education=2

Father =0                              Mother  - child = 1

Abortion forced = 2            Abortion – safe = 1

Final text  - 15 March 2013

Reproductive wording

ee bis)  Expand the availability of health-care services, and in particular, strengthen maternal and reproductive health centres, as key entry points that provide support, referrals to services and protection to families, women and girls at risk of violence, especially sexual violence, and which provide support to adolescents in order to avoid early and unintended pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections, through education, information and access to sexual and reproductive health-care services;

Note – We were unhappy that this new phrase “ maternal and reproductive health centres “ was included.

9 ter The Commission recognizes that violence against women has both short- and long-term adverse consequences on their health, including their sexual and reproductive health, and the enjoyment of their human rights, and that respecting, promoting sexual and reproductive health, and protecting and fulfilling reproductive rights, in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences, is a necessary condition to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women to enable them to enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to prevent and mitigate violence against women.

Note – We would have like a reference to the Report of ICPD  instead of the Programme of Action. The former included reservations.

d) : Ensure that in armed conflict and post-conflict situations the prevention of and response to all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence, are prioritized and effectively addressed, including as appropriate through the investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators to end impunity, removal of barriers to women's access to justice, the establishment of complaint and reporting mechanisms, the provision of support to victims and survivors, affordable and accessible health care services, including sexual and reproductive health, and reintegration measures; and take steps to increase women’s participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes and post-conflict decision-making;

n)         Promote and protect the human rights of all women including their right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence; and adopt and accelerate the implementation of laws, policies and programmes which protect and enable the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including their reproductive rights, in accordance with the Programme of Action of International Conference on Population and Development, the Beijing Platform for Action and their review outcomes.

Note – Too much emphasis on rights

aa) Establish comprehensive, coordinated, inter-disciplinary, accessible and sustained multisectoral services, programmes and responses at all levels, and with the support of all available technologies, for all victims and survivors of all forms of violence against women and girls based on their needs, that are adequately resourced and include effective and coordinated action by, as appropriate, police and the justice sector, legal aid services, health-care services, including sexual and reproductive health, and medical, psychological and other counselling services, including specialist services as appropriate, State and independent women’s shelters and counselling centers, 24-hour hotlines, social aid services, one stop crisis centers, immigration services, child services, public housing services to provide low threshold, easy to reach and safe assistance for women and children, as well as assistance, protection and support through access to long term accommodation, educational, employment and economic opportunities, and take steps to ensure the safety and security of health care workers and service providers that assist and support victims and survivors of violence, and in cases of girl child victims, such services and responses must take into account the best interests of the child;

dd)      Address all health consequences including the physical, mental and sexual and reproductive health consequences, of violence against women and girls by providing accessible health-care services that are responsive to trauma and include affordable, safe, effective and good-quality medicines, first line support, treatment of injuries and psychosocial and mental health support, emergency contraception, safe abortion where such services are permitted by national law, post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection, diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, training for medical professionals to effectively identify and treat women subjected to violence, as well as forensic examinations by appropriately trained professionals;

Note – Not abortion related , HIV context.

w ter   Accelerate efforts to address the intersection of HIV and AIDS and violence against all women and girls, in particular the common risk factors, including through strategies to address domestic and sexual violence, and to strengthen coordination and integration of policies, programmes and services to address the intersection between HIV and violence against women and girls, and ensure that responses to HIV and AIDS are leveraged to prevent violence against them, while meeting their specific needs for sexual and reproductive health care services, as well as HIV and AIDS diagnosis, affordable and accessible treatment and prevention, including procurement and supply of safe and effective prevention commodities, including male and female condoms;

Note – Note abortion related – AIDS context

Sexuality Education

t: Develop and implement educational programmes and teaching materials, including comprehensive evidence-based education for human sexuality, based on full and accurate information, for all adolescents and youth, in a manner consistent with their evolving capacities, with the appropriate direction and guidance from parents and legal guardians, with the involvement of children, adolescents, youth and communities, and in coordination with women’s, youth and specialized non-governmental organizations, in order to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women of all ages, to eliminate prejudices, and to promote and build informed decision-making, communication and risk reduction skills for the development of respectful relationships and, based on gender equality and human rights, as well as teacher education and training programmes for both formal and non-formal education.

Note – some mention of parents , would have liked more.

Final Note – A Chairman’s text magically appeared at 6.30pm on Friday 15 March. Some delegates read out reservations , but we were locked out of the room an

Big day today at the UN

Well we were here at the UN until 2am this morning. All week we had been going from 10am to 10 pm.
It is now 10.30 am , Friday. I am  back at the UN and the delegates are milling about like " Sheep without a Sheppard ".

All the hard stuff is not agreed , the sexual orientation wording , as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights etc , etc.  I am not sure how this effects violence against women and girls. Maybe the lesbians should not beat up other lesbians , but that's not in the text.  The violence of ripping unwanted unborn babies to bits is not mentioned in any details. There is just all the usual code words being thrown around.

Waiting in the wings is the Chairman's text which could magiucally appear at any moment.

Pleases pray for the good delegates to be strong , courageous and outspoken.

The EU in a huddle in our conf room

At around 1am the EU delegates came into our conference room to confer. I wish they would hurry up a bit.

The Archbishop drops by

We had a wee treat this afternoon when Archbishop Chullikatt , the Apostolic Nuncio to the UN in New York came by to say hello.

From left to right : Rai Rolas ( National RTL ) , the Archbishop , Marcia Barlow ( United Families Int. ) and Jeanne Head ( Nat RTL ).

Photo by Peter Smith

Tonight the document should be finalized.

Some of the youth at CSW with us.

Here is part of the team of young people helping out here at the UN. Most are from Franciscan University , in Steubenville . Ohio , USA. We will be here until about 10pm tonight.

L to R : Nicole, Maura Ames, Monica Krason, Cindy Welker, Andrew Koehler, Peter Smith, Anthony Clements, Francesca Clements, Clare Meehan

An excellent side event

Lady in red is Sharon Slater president of  FWI

Just attended a great side event sponsored by Indonesia and Family Watch International . ( FWI )

The subject was " comprehensive sexuality education " , which is just teaching children to be sexually active. There was also a speaker who treats people for same sex attraction.

We hung around until 10.15pm last night , should be the same tonight. Some of our students just went out to get pizza for us.

Revelation TV

On the 14 Feb this year I was interviewed on Revelation TV

This show can be viewed :

Tuesday March 12th @ 22.00hrs

Wednesday March 13th @ 13.00hrs

Viewers can watch the programme on the following:

Sky guide 581

Free sat  692

Internet www.revelationtv.com

Hope you enjoy the interview.

Youth event at the UN

Here are the condom packs that were picked up today at a youth event at the Commission on the Status of Women.

They claim " safe sexual pleasure is a human right ". I have never seen this wording in any UN treaty.

Please pray now

Here is my good friend Fr. Justin Wylie who represents the Holy See at the UN in New York. Pray that many countries will support the good language he will propose this afternoon.

Next photo shows conference room 1 where negotiations will occur this afternoon.

Sunday afternoon

On Sunday I helped out with training some students from Franciscan University , Stubenville.  Here is Wendy Wright speaking to them.

I taught the students how to leaflet , please see :

http://mccl-go.org/pdf/mm_brochure_en_2012.pdf

This is a flyer that shows direct abortion is never needed to save the life of the mother .

Sunday morning

Went to Church at East 7th St Baptist Church
 ( Graffiti ) this morning , as I have done for the past 18 years , each Sunday that I am in New York.

See photo with Pastor Taylor Field and his wife Susan, a great couple , and wonderful servants of the Lord.

There will be a big battle this week on the document. We are hopeful for a reasonable out-come.

Coalition meeting

Had around 15 people attend our coalition meeting today. A few more joined us by phone.

Tomorrow I will be doing some training of students who will be with us next week at the UN.

Time for a laugh

Maura , Jeanne and myhself

The UN would make you cry , but sometimes we have a laugh.

Side event

I have just spoken at a side event called ,
 " Dying to kill : The allure of female suicide bombers".

 This is not my area of expertise , but I spoke on the evil of suicide , assisted suicide and euthanasia  from a Christian perspective. This was well received.

 Also shared about suicide in my own family and the devastating effect is had. Sadly my father committed suicide when I was 8 years old leaving my mother to raise four children under the age of twelve.

Tomorrow there will be a meeting of the pro-life NGOs that work with me at the UN.

Morocco

Myself and Imane Belghiti

I have just met a wonderful Moroccan NGO , who has an organisation called the Moroccan NGO for Cultural and Social Development for Women , Family and Child.

They are pro-life and pro-family. We may be working with these people in the future.

Canadian pro-lifers at the UN - CSW

L to R : Patrick Wilson, Emilia Demski, Myself, and Mitchell Gunnarson

Here are some of our volunteers , this is their first time at the UN. Here are their views of the CSW.

1.Patrick Wilson

The CSW has been an interesting, and overall rewarding experience for me. Interesting, because though many of the negative preconcieved notions I had of the UN and its commissions ended up being accurate, there is also many glimmers of hope and good work that can be spotted at a commission like the CSW. The ignorance of the abortion issue altogether by the UN body, including the oppresive and unanimously condemned practice of sex-selective abortions in countries such as India, and forced abortions in China, was not unexpected but still quite upsetting. However, this did not stop minds being changed from events such as screenings of the phenomenal film, "It's a Girl", which was extremely well-attended at with three separate showings, and people having to be turned down at the door due to volume. Overall, I am grateful to have had this unique experience to attend the CSW, and have come out of the first week with optimism that there is good work that can be found here - if you have the patience to look for it!

2.Emilia Demski
It has been a very exciting experience to be present and involved in an event like the CSW, and furthermore to be representing the pro-life movement. Thus far, I have encountered the expected challenges that come along with work in regards to the pro-life view. Despite the opposition we face, we must take away all that we can and keep working hard to reach our ultimate goals here, and back home.

3.Mitchell Gunnarson
Coming to the Commission for the Status of Women has been an extremely interesting experience. I have seen first hand the militant push for universal access to abortion and LGBT rights. Although at times it can feel like a David vs. Goliath situation, I am not discouraged. Speaking out, ensuring the Pro-Life message is heard is never a futile gesture. The United Nations is an important international forum and I look forward to promoting the truth of the pro-life message in the future.

Sri Lanka

Sr. Kathleen Fleming

After my second visit to Sri Lanka  the police raided and shut down all the  abortion mills in Sri Lanka. Abortion is illegal in Sri Lanka. This country has a very low maternal mortality rate , contrary to the myth that you need legal abortion to save mothers lives.

My dear friend and colleague Sr. Kathleen is the new Mother Teresa of Sri Lanka. She just sent me the following photos.

May God bless her.

Front gate of defunct Marie Stopes abortion mill

Rear view of defunct Marie Stopes abortion mill in Sri Lanka

Some volunteers at CSW

Left to right :  Nicole Rudolph , Steven Page , myself , & Ethan Foster

I would like to introduce you to two volunteers who in their own words would like to make a few comments :

1. Ethan Foster - As a child, I was home schooled through high school and I am currently a student intern with a major in political theory. In my off-seasons, I spend my summers as a beekeeper. International politics was far from my mind. Growing up, I believed that the United Nations was a lost cause and that lobbying was a vicious instrument. My first hours at the UN reminded me that God works in the darkest places and redeem souls from all walks of life. I thank Mr. Peter Smith for his help and education in the past few days.



2. Steven Page - From a young age, I maintained an interest in politics and the legal process. Majoring in International Politics and Policy has provided me opportunities to study the fascinating interaction of domestic and international policy. I hold the UN diplomats as well as the NGO's, who so passionately defend their causes, in the highest regard. I pray that God may one day use me in this sort of capacity.

Policy making to reduce maternal Mortality

Left to right : Myself , Dr Donna Harrison , Prof Elard Koch ,  Miss Jeanne Head

Attended a press conference with these fine pro-life medical doctors this afternoon where they provided ample scientific evidence that maternal mortality can be lowered when abortion is illegal.

Side event - How to reduce maternal mortality

Donna Harrison M.D.

Attended part of this event this event morning.

Donna Harrison gave a very good presentation on the danerous nature of RU486 chemical abortion as against the less dangerous suction abortions. Both are of course lethal for the onborn child.

Dr Elard Koch from Chile also gave a great presentation on how his country has the lowest maternal mortality in the America along with all abortion being illegal

Still at the UN

Left to right : Maura , Jeanne and myself

Here we are working on flyers concerning " reproductive right " and "reproductive health".

Maura is Jeanne's assistant for this week.

We need to get these flyers done before Thursday because that is when negotiations re-start.

At the UN

Left to right : Trica Ehman , Samantha Singson , Peter Smith

 

 

 

 

Well here we are at the office at the UN.It is also known as the Vienna cafe.

There are no negotiations until Thursday , but we are still busy.

Met up with an old friend !

Around 15 years ago I met Kevin  Stenzel ( see opposite photo )  , at East 7th Street Bapsist Church ( Grafiti ).

I have attended this church for the past 18 years , whenever I am in New York on a Sunday. Kevin was a missionary worker at Grafiti for more than 10 years. For the past 5 years he has been woring in the Mid - West and gets to New York about once a month. When we run into each other we normally have lunch together after church , as we did today.

Last Friday a friend of mine organised for me to have lunch with an Ambassador . These types of meetings are often useful.  Good friends are needed more than fire and water.

Please pray for me over the next 2 weeks, there will be much work to do.