New York-Representing Canada, Ambassador Gilbert Laurin delivered a speech at the opening of the Conference on Population and Development on March 23, 2004, which startled even veteran pro-life lobbyists at the United Nations by its proabortion stridency.

"We should not rest until every woman, man and adolescent is able to meet all their family planning and reproductive health needs," said Laurin, using the standard code words disguising the fact that he means contraception, condoms, sterilization, abortion and other antilife measures.

He continued, "Canada strongly supports the right to the highest attainable standard of health including the right to make informed choices about one's own sexual and reproductive health across the life cycles. Services, which include safe, reliable, and high quality family planning methods as well as information, education and counselling, and services to deal with the causes and consequences of unsafe abortions, are all essential parts of a comprehensive health care program."

"It is vital that we engage young people in planning and decision making, that they have access to information and services including a full range of contraceptives that enable them to make healthy decisions about their reproductive and sexual lives," he said. Finally, the Canadian ambassador instructed all countries to improve access to abortion. (Lifesite News 25/03/04)

See Laurin's full address on-line @ http://www.un.int/canada/s-23mar2004laurin.htm