Washington-The Bush administration continues to break new ground at the U.N. by defending life, faith, family and national sovereignty. In supporting the family internationally, the administration called on Central American countries to recognize that the promotion of the traditional family is the linchpin for successful development.

             In February, Ellen Sauerbrey, U.S. ambassador to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, gave speeches in Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica in which she outlined U.S. policy regarding the importance of family for the well-being of children. She said that the presence of two committed involved parents contributes directly to better school performance, reduced substance abuse, less crime and delinquency, fewer emotional and behavioural problems, less risk of abuse or neglect, and lower risk of teen suicide. There is simply no substitute for the love, involvement and commitment of responsible parents in a child's life.

While many of these points may appear non-controversial, the role of the family is a highly contentious issue in international negotiations, where individual rights are given priority and where suspicion of the traditional family as a bastion of male dominance runs high (C-fam, 19 March, 2004).

Comment

As we pointed out in the March 2004 issue of CI, pp. 28-29, Canada pursues the opposite course: it constantlysupports proposals for the imposition of abortion, sexual "orientation," sex education and homogamy (same-sex "marriage.") The time has come to regularly protest this attitude to your Member of Parliament.