For over 47 years United Families International has been defending the family, parental rights, life and religious freedom at all levels of policy. Our efforts continue yet become harder and harder as woke ideologies and agendas become stronger in promoting their anti-family narratives and policies. But with you, our families, and the future of humankind in mind, we press onward.
Most recently, UFI was involved in advising missions at the United Nations on language being negotiated in the Pact for the Future, and its two annexes – The Global Digital Compact, and The Declaration on Future Generations. We also co-sponsored an event for UN Action Days. We got some wins, and are also left with some concerns in these documents. Read today’s article and learn more about the Pact for the Future.
Thank you for your support. We at UFI appreciate your financial donations and prayers. UFI has great goals and many programs we hope to advance, and would love your assistance. Our volunteer staff pledges our continued efforts to be wise, frugal stewards of your generous donations.
Together, let’s continue to fight for our sovereignty, our families and our right to religious freedom.
With hope in the future of the family,
Wendy Wixom, President
United Families International
“Transforming Global Governance” – the Pact for the Future
This past month there was a lot of activity at the United Nations as the General Assembly adopted the new Pact for the Future on Sept 22nd. This document has been promoted as UN 2.0 – to “transform global governance” (UN Press Release, 23 Sept 2024). Media coverage of “The Pact” has been mixed, some expressing elation and relief at its passage and others expressing deep concern.
After months and months of negotiations, on September 22, what was believed to be the finished document came before the UN General Assembly for adoption. At that point, a representative of the Russian Federation opposed the document, on the basis of sovereignty, and offered an amendment that said “the United Nations shall be driven by intergovernmental decision-making process and that the United Nations and its system shall not intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State as provided in Article 2 (7) of the Charter of the United Nations.”
However, before this amendment was voted on, a representative of the Republic of the Congo, speaking for the African Group, proposed a motion that “no action be taken on the draft amendment.” That motion was adopted by a recorded vote of 143 in favor to 7 against (Belarus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Sudan, Syria), with 15 abstentions. (See UN Press Release) After that vote, the Pact for the Future was then formally adopted.
There is debate as to whether or not the Pact for the Future should be considered a “consensus” document and some wonder why more conservative countries didn’t support Russia with their proposed amendment to the Pact for the Future. We can also speculate on which countries comprised the 15 abstentions and their reasoning for doing so. But, we do know what Javier Milei, President of the Argentine Republic, said in an impassioned speech, post adoption, to the General Assembly:
“If the United Nations wants to resume the principles that led to its birth, and adopt the role for which it was designed, it can count on the full support of Argentina in its struggle for freedom. You should be aware, though, that Argentina will not support any policy that implies restricting individual or trade freedoms, nor the violation of natural rights of individuals – regardless of who promotes these, or how big the consensus is in this institution.
“For this reason, I would like to officially express our dissent on the Pact for the Future that was signed on Sunday, and I invite all nations of the free world to support us. Not only in relation to this Pact but also in the establishment of a new agenda for this noble institution – that is the agenda for freedom.“
Pres. Milei’s speech is worth the read. In the U.S., several strong national conservative organizations issued warnings about the Pact for the Future. The Heritage Foundation said, “Although the Pact for the Future will not be legally binding, it will subsequently be referenced and characterized in U.N. documents and resolutions as a commitment that all governments will be pressed to honor.” Eagle Forum sent out a message to members all across the country to, “Tell Your Representative to Stand for Sovereignty.”
The Pact for the Future: Examples of the Good and the Not Good
SOVEREIGNTY
United Families International has been involved in lobbying at the United Nations for 29 years –beginning with the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. Protecting our national sovereignty has always been an important issue. Over the years UFI has opposed mandatory language, preferring language that gives options to the Member States. In this Pact, UFI promoted the words “for the consideration of Member States,” after strong proposals that could threaten sovereignty. As a result, four paragraphs in the Pact do include the “consideration” phrase, and there is even stronger language in paragraph 32:
“We reiterate our full respect for the sovereign equality of all Member States, the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and our obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, our commitment to settle international disputes by peaceful means. We also reaffirm our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
FAMILY
In recent years, at the U.N., it has been very difficult to get language included that recognizes the family, even though the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 16-3) states that, ” “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” We are happy to report that the Pact actually has six places where “family” or “families” is mentioned:
60 (f) Implement family-friendly and family-oriented policies that support the social and economic development of children and young people so that they can reach their full potential and enjoy their human rights.
61 (f) Strengthen intergenerational partnerships and solidarity among generations by promoting opportunities for voluntary, constructive and regular interaction between young and older persons in their families, workplaces and in society at large.
Annex II Declaration on Future Generations
- The promotion of intergenerational solidarity, as well as intergenerational dialogue, and social cohesion is an indispensable part of the foundation for the prosperity of future generations and, in this regard, the role of families and family-friendly and family-oriented policies as contributors to sustainable development must be recognized.
PARENTAL RIGHTS
The Pact for the Future includes two documents that were negotiated separately. Annex I is the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and Annex II is the Declaration on Future Generations. We are deeply concerned with the number of times the GDC refers to the “rights of the child.”
During negotiations, UFI promoted using the words from the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 18-2, which says, “recognizing that parents or, as the case may be, legal guardians, have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child.”
We were not successful in getting that language included in the text, but there is a reference to the treaty in the following paragraphs of the GDC:
23 (c) Strengthen legal and policy frameworks to protect the rights of the child in the digital space, in line with international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child 21(all SDGs);
31 (b) Prioritize the development and implementation of national online child safety policies and standards, in compliance with international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (SDGs 3, 5 and 10);
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also has good language that can be referenced to focus on the important role of parents in the education of their children.
“Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.” (Universal Declaration, Article 26-3)
HUMAN LIFE
Over the years, we have worked hard to protect human life. There is a phrase that is often used to promote abortion in UN documents: “sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights” (SRHR). We were NOT able to get that phrase removed from paragraph 27 (f) of the Pact.
27 (f) Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
You will note that this paragraph refers to both the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action. In both of those documents there is a paragraph that states that “In no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning” (8.25 in ICPD and 106-k in Beijing). This is also repeated in the Beijing +5 and ICPD +5 documents. It is important that these conference outcome documents are referenced.
2030 AGENDA
The entire Pact for the Future is designed to “turbo-charge” implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. United Families International has been actively promoting family involvement to achieve the SDGs, since 2016 – with the publishing of our book, Family Capital and the SDGs, which provides “best practice” examples of families, throughout the world, achieving the SDGs.
This year UFI also co-sponsored a special event during UN Action Days, September 20, titled “Raising Hope for Indigenous Families – An Intergenerational Approach to Prosperity.” We combined efforts with Big Ocean Women, Native American Fatherhood and Family Association, Universal Peace Federation and Welcome Hand to present solutions for:
- SDG#1 – Overcoming Poverty, SDG#2 – Double Agriculture Production and Overcome Hunger, SDG#3 – Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse,
- SDG#4 – Early Childhood Development among Indigenous People,
- SDG#15 – Restoring Degraded Land and Soil.
The event was presented in New York City at the Uganda House for both in-person and virtual attendance.
WORLD FINANCIAL ARCHITECTURE
Fourteen paragraphs of the Pact include the words, “reform of the international financial architecture.” This is probably the most dangerous part of the effort to “transform global governance.” The UN is currently dependent upon Member States to provide funds to achieve their goals. There has been an effort, for several years, to devise a way to collect money, internationally. One hundred and fifteen paragraphs of the pact include the words “finance” or “financial”, including:
- Developing countries require enhanced access to financing from all sources to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Flows of capital to many developing countries are falling, and more capital is leaving many developing countries than is coming in. . . .
79 (d) Promote financial stability through international cooperation on, and consistent regulation of, banks and other financial service entities.
Action 51. We will accelerate the reform of the international financial architecture to strengthen its capacity to support developing countries more effectively and equitably during systemic shocks and make the financial system more stable. [Ask yourself, “who gets to determine the definition of “systemic shocks” – the UN Secretary General?]
Looking to the Future
Many developing countries are supporting the Pact for the Future with the hope that this new global governance and reform of the International finance will provide increased funds for them to achieve the sustainable development goals. If they are not very careful they will lose their sovereignty in the process.
Pres. Melei of Argentina recognized this potential when he said, “the 2030 Agenda, although well-intentioned in its goals, is nothing more than a supranational government program, socialist in nature, which seeks to solve the problems of modernity with solutions that violate the sovereignty of nation states and violate people’s right to life, right to freedom and property of persons.”