The V Transatlantic Summit of Political Network for Values (PNfV), convened under the theme “Affirming Universal Human Rights – Uniting Cultures for Life, Family and Freedom”, took place on 16 and 17 November at the UN headquarters in New York. The International Organization for the Family was among the organizations that helped organize the event.
According to the PNfV, the summit resulted in “a commitment to rescue the original meaning of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)”, supported by more than 200 political and civic leaders from 40 countries. It is the New York Commitment that celebrates the 75th anniversary of the UDHR.
PNfV President José Antonio Kast said that, “We are here to bring forth, in its original sense, the agreement of 1948. We must return to the human person and, from there, ensure their fundamental rights. It is precisely here, at the United Nations, that our voice needs to be heard. We assert the timeless and transcendent principles that inspired the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
The New York Commitment 75 for Universal Human Rights gives visibility to a broad consensus that exists in all continents on the need to affirm the dignity of the person and the fundamental values, especially life, family and freedom.
“There are many of us who think this way and we are very active socially, politically and culturally and we believe that dialogue can always take place. It is our duty to remind those who forget it or want to distort the original meaning of the UDHR,” Kast said.
Ito Bisonó, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Dominican Republic, pointed out that there has never been a more opportune time to reaffirm the principles that gave rise to the UDHR in the face of the threats that today particularly affect the life, freedom, and dignity of individuals.
Samuel George, Member of Parliament of Ghana, emphasized that the UN Constitution enshrines the right to life, the protection to be given to the family based on the marriage of a man and a woman, the protection of motherhood and childhood, the preferential right of parents to choose the education of their children, freedom of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression. So it results incomprehensible that international organizations violate them.
Margarita de la Pisa, Member of the European Parliament, pointed out that these rights, far from being regressive, are the basis of true human development. “Defending life, for example, means a political commitment to prosperity,” she said.
In the same vein, Hafid El-Hachimi, an official of the Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said that families are the fundamental unit for the sustainable, cultural and economic development of society, so seeking to redefine the family means compromising the future.
What is the New York Commitment?
As the PNfV explains, In the New York Commitment, the participants of the meeting committed themselves to forming a global alliance in favor of the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined and universally recognized in the UDHR.
They will work to establish environments favorable to the formation and stability of the family; to protect children, before and after birth; and to respect the freedom of parents and legal guardians to provide the religious and moral education of their children in accordance with their own convictions.
They also pledged to promote respect for the various religious and ethical values, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions of the peoples of the world, as well as the sovereignty of States in matters within their domestic jurisdiction.
The PNfV is an international network of politicians actively committed to the promotion and defense of life, family and freedoms. The Transatlantic Summits are a cornerstone for the Network. Politicians and civic leaders from various countries meet in person to strengthen ties, share successful cases and best practices, and build joint agendas. They are usually held every two years.
The first Summit was held at the United Nations headquarters, New York, in 2014; followed by others at the European Parliament, Brussels, in 2017; at the Colombian Capitol, Bogotá, in 2019; and at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, last year.