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Paraguay rejects UN proposal to legalize abortion
Gutierrez stressed: “They are free to make suggestions, but we are also free and we will defend our sovereignty.” (Photo ABC)
Paraguayan Minister of Children and Adolescents Walter Gutierrez said Friday in Asuncion that the UN recommendation to legalize abortion in the South American country conflicts with the constitution and other national laws. “We have to amend the constitution,” he explained.
Gutierrez also pointed out that the national constitution recognizes life from conception, making it impossible to legalize abortion in the country. “We emphasize very much our position and respect the Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay, which guarantees the right to life from conception. They are free to propose what they want, but as a sovereign and self-determined people, we are also free to respect our provisions,” he said.
Gutierrez also pointed out that the ruling National Republican Association (also known as the Colorado Party, ANR-PC), which holds a majority in Congress, does not agree to legalize abortion and insists on a firm defense of life from conception, firmly believing that the best interests of the child have a constitutional status.
The United Nations also put pressure on Paraguay over the legal age of marriage, saying the current legal age of marriage should be lowered from 18 to 16.
In addition, the United Nations also discussed the issue of children’s gender orientation. The document sent to Paraguay by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child also urged the promotion of “prompt, transparent and accessible legal recognition of their gender identity and the avoidance of abuse against transgender and gender diverse children and adolescents”. In another part, it asked the country to “adopt gender education and make it part of the compulsory school curriculum”.
Gutiérrez believes that the Paraguayan Constitution already mentions guaranteeing equal rights and eliminating all forms of discrimination. “Their intention is to individualize different collectives, which is unnecessary.” Therefore, the minister insisted that there is no need for Congress to introduce an additional bill. “How can a child decide whether he is transgender or not? We do have many other problems, many other priorities to address, and this does not fit in with our line and our philosophy of work,” he added.
Gutierrez said the United Nations questioned the government’s policy stance on the family-based approach, which President Santiago Peña’s government claims needs to be strengthened.
Regarding Paraguay’s response to the United Nations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gutierrez said: “We are surprised that they considered, for example, some false statements, such as, there is a conspiracy theory about the anti-vaccine issue here, and children stop being vaccinated because of this, which is complete nonsense.”
He added: “Our government has made it a main premise to protect life from conception, to protect and focus on safeguarding the rights of children, starting with strengthening the protective role of the family.”
“I understand that talking about ways to protect the family troubles many people, but when we talk about the best interests of the child, it is clear that the child is within the family or must be within the family, the child cannot be separated from the family, so in addition to seeking to protect the rights of the child, we must also protect the family. Our public policy is based on strengthening the family and we have expressed this very firmly and very clearly and we stick to it,” he also told Ñandutí Radio.
The United Nations has officially issued a series of recommendations to Paraguay on reforms in the areas of children and education. The document clearly states: “In all cases, abortion should be legalized and adolescents should have access to safe, timely and quality abortion and post-abortion care services.”
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