Dutch parliament rejects motion to declare abortion a 'human right'

Members of the Dutch parliament rejected a resolution on September 23 which would have enshrined abortion as a "human right."

Key Takeaways:

• Dutch parliamentary members rejected a motion to declare abortion a "human right."

• The measure was rejected after a strong push by political parties with Christian roots.

• Pro-lifers used a number of materials, including Live Action's Abortion Procedures videos, to share the truth about abortion.

The Details:

The private members motion urged the Dutch government to enshrine the "right" to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, the resolution was defeated on September 23, with only 68 of 150 members voting in favor.

According to ZENIT News, opposing parties with strong Christian roots, including the Reformed Political Party (SGP), and the Christian Union and Forum for Democracy, played an important role in the measure's defeat.

Irmgard Averesch of the Dutch Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (DCBR) told LifeSite News that Live Action's Abortion Procedures videos, among other materials, were sent to every member of parliament to make them more informed about the realities of abortion. Averesch said activists were also standing outside of parliament, handing out pamphlets and holding signs with abortion victim photography.

“Leading up to the moment when Parliament would vote on the motion to make abortion a human right, we individually mailed all parliamentarians a neutral outline of abortion procedures, including screenshots from the Live Action abortion procedure videos, to give them an insight into what they would be voting for or against,” said Averesch.

In the abortion procedure videos, former abortionists describe in detail each abortion method and what it does to the preborn child, as well as the risks is brings to the mother.

Abortion Doctors Share How The Most Common Abortion Procedures Take Place

According to Reformatorisch Dagblad, although the motion to make abortion a "human right" failed, parliament members also rejected a separate motion by the Christian Union and the SGP to make reducing the number of abortions a goal of Dutch foreign policy.

The Bottom Line:

The motion's rejection comes as a surprise, given that the Netherlands has long rejected the sanctity of human life by liberally allowing both abortion and euthanasia. Averesch noted that while pro-lifers can claim victory this time, the work is far from over.

“We are grateful to God that, whether our work or that of different prolife organizations had influence in the decision, that it was voted out,” Averesch said. “However, it was a close call, and we should not be sitting back and relax now. There is a lot of work to be done since the pro-choice voice is getting louder again.”