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Statistics suggest that every year in Australia, over 100 babies are born alive during failed abortion attempts and then left die. Please speak up for them.

Last year, George Christensen drafted the Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022, in an effort to protect babies born alive as the result of a failed abortion attempt. While he was not able to see this Bill introduced to Parliament before his retirement, Senators Alex Antic, Matt Canavan and Ralph Babet have vowed to continue his fight.

The Bill will now come before the Senate and is currently the subject of an inquiry by the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs. This inquiry provides a vital opportunity for members of the Canberra Declaration community to have their say on legislation that could save the lives of hundreds of Australian babies.

Making Your Submission

Your submission could be a page long or even just a paragraph. Politics is a numbers game, so it is far better to make a brief submission than not make one at all for fear it won’t be comprehensive enough!

The Parliament of Australia recommends that when writing a submission (even a short one), you should briefly introduce yourself, keep your points simple and concise, highlight your own perspective, and focus on how problems can be addressed. (Read more on making a submission HERE).

Fortunately, it has never been easier to make a submission with the Canberra Declaration. Use our online submission form HERE.

Submissions are due at the end of business next Friday 10th March, so don’t delay!

The Canberra Declaration has drafted its own 14-page submission which you can view HERE. What follows is a summary of our submission: what we believe are the strongest points to be made in favour of the Bill that could guide your submission. You may like to pick just one heading or even one dot-point as the basis of your submission. The important thing is that you don’t just copy and paste, but customise and personalise what you say.

Children are Being Left to Die

• 396 babies survived abortion in Victoria and were left to die in the years 2010–2020.

• 328 babies survived abortion in Queensland and were left to die in the years 2010–2020.

• The Queensland Termination of Pregnancy Guidelines state: “If live birth occurs… do not give life-sustaining treatment… document date and time end of life occurs.”

• Babies who survive abortion in Queensland and Victoria have no legal rights. Most other states and territories are similar.

• It is reasonable to infer from available data that at a minimum, 100 Australian children are left to die every year following a failed abortion.

Unwanted Babies Also Possess the Right to Life

• A 2018 doctoral study found that 95 per cent of biologists agree: “a human’s life begins at fertilization”.

• Due to advances in genetics and DNA, virtually no ethicist denies that the fetus is biologically, genetically and scientifically human.

• Since unborn babies are human beings, they possess the same inherent human rights as every other member of the human family.

• “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” — Article 3, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” — Preamble, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Australia’s International Obligations

• In 1990, Australia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states, “every child has the inherent right to life” (Article 6).

• Under that Convention, Australia has committed to ensure “to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child” (Article 6).

• Under the same Convention, Australia recognises “the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health,” and has committed “to strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services” (Article 24).

• Under the same Convention, Australia has committed to “take appropriate measures” to “diminish infant and child mortality” (Article 24).

• In 1980, Australia ratified the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, agreeing: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” (Article 6).

• Australia is currently in breach of its international obligations. The Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022 will resolve that breach.

Public Support for the Bill is Strong

• In a 2021 YouGov poll, 56 per cent of Australians said that babies who survive abortion should be given the same medical care as any other premature baby.

• In the same poll, only 18 per cent of Australians said that babies who survive abortion should be left to die.

• Three times as many Australians support medical care for babies who survive abortion as those who oppose such care.

Also: A Petition to Sign

Please take a few minutes and make your submission using the Canberra Declaration’s online submission form HERE.

Finally, there is one more important thing you can do that will take less than a minute: please sign Senator Alex Antic’s petition supporting the Bill HERE.

Thank you for your partnership in standing for LIFE in Australia.

Image via Unsplash.