On October 21, 1994, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) was established in New York City by Austin Ruse, a prominent conservative activist. This organization became a cornerstone of international pro-life and pro-family advocacy, focusing on influencing global policy at the United Nations to protect unborn life, traditional marriage, and parental rights against what it describes as “radical” secular agendas on reproductive rights and gender ideology.
C-FAM’s founding marked a pivotal moment in the conservative movement’s shift toward international diplomacy. Prior to 1994, pro-life efforts were largely national; Ruse, drawing from his experience in conservative circles, created a watchdog group to monitor and lobby UN conferences, such as the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, where it successfully pushed back against expansive abortion language in global agreements. The institute’s work has since shaped conservative positions in over 20 UN bodies, collaborating with groups like the Family Research Council and the Holy See to promote “natural family” values.
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