Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago de Chile (Agenzia Fides) - Some fifty parliamentarians and members of government from 17 countries took part in a Pro Life Parliamentarians World Assembly in Santiago del Chile, according to a report by the European network of Family Policy Institutes IPF sent to Fides. European network IPF chairperson Lola Velarde, said this "is an unprecedented step at the world level. For the first time fifty parliamentarians and members of government from 17 countries are united to work to protect human life".
The official Act took place at Chile's San Tommaso University in the presence of some 400 people, parliamentarians, mayors, municipal counsellors, representatives of pro-life associations and university students. The Act included a debate on pro life activities in Mexico, Chile, Peru and Nicaragua, where recently the introduction of a more relaxed abortion law stopped thanks to mobilisation. This first meeting discussed objectives and strategies to promote authentic respect for the dignity of the person from conception to natural death, and respect for all rights, starting from the fundamental right to life.
According to Lola Velarde, the common denominator was "a need to face politics for the benefit of life and transversal authenticity, without building party monopolies, to defend human rights where the can and must be persons and parliamentarians of different sensitivities and ideologies". In fact "it is time to globalise Life", because “the wager for Life is not for one country, or a few parliamentarians it is for all humanity". The Pro Life Parliamentarians World Assembly is the first step in this direction.
The next assembly will be held in 2008 in Spagna, with collaboration of San Tommaso University in Santiago del Chile and the Spanish foundation San Pablo-CEU, with the objectives to increase the number of participants and parliamentarians and government members committed to "Pro Life”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/11/2007; righe 27, parole 373)
