Costa Rica and the European Union have colluded to thwart U.S. efforts at the UN Commission on the Status of Women to define “woman” based on biological sex and exclude abortion from reproductive health language. During the commission’s 68th session in New York, the EU successfully blocked eight U.S. amendments aimed at clarifying gender terms and protecting the integrity of women’s rights.
Costa Rican Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde, serving as chair, sided with the EU, issuing procedural rulings that defeated the amendments without debate. Despite objections from 22 governments calling for postponement to achieve unanimity, Valverde adopted the agreement prematurely. This marked the first time in the commission’s 70-year history that the U.S. demanded a vote, standing alone against it, with six delegations abstaining.
The EU bundled the U.S. amendments into one package, preventing individual consideration and effectively shutting down challenges. Egypt’s ambassador criticized the process, noting more time could have accommodated all views. The ruling exemplifies how progressive forces at the UN prioritize gender ideology over biological truth, eroding protections for women and the unborn.
In response, the U.S. is presenting a draft resolution on March 19 to define gender as men and women across all UN contexts, aiming to counter the ideological capture of international bodies. This pushback is crucial amid a global trend where gender fluidity undermines women’s spaces, sports, and rights, while promoting abortion as a so-called “right.”