Stefano Gennarini, J.D. Vice President for the Center of Legal Studies | The Center for Family and Human Rights

The United Nations General Assembly recently witnessed a significant intervention from Burundi's Ambassador, Zéphyrin Maniratanga. Representing the small African nation, Maniratanga took a firm stance against abortion and emphasized the importance of family protection.

In his address to the General Assembly, Maniratanga stated, “We do not agree that abortion can be characterized as safe.” He advocated for Burundi’s laws safeguarding unborn children and urged other countries to uphold family values. He reminded the assembly of the 1994 ICPD conference agreement, asserting that nations have the right to legislate on abortion without external interference. "Abortion always ends the life of one human being and wounds a mother for the rest of her life," he said.

Maniratanga expressed concerns over terms like “sexual and reproductive health,” which he sees as euphemisms for abortion. He called on the UN system to respect national laws and criticized Western nations for manipulating resolutions to promote contentious social norms. Specifically, he targeted European sponsors of an anti-extrajudicial execution resolution for including language about sexual orientation and gender identity. According to him, these concepts are vague and lack international legal standing.

Other delegates shared similar reservations regarding language related to gender and LGBT issues. An Egyptian delegate noted their country's "persistent objection" to such terms in international human rights discussions. Delegates from Belarus, Nigeria, and Niger also recorded their dissent against new norms they view as outside established international law.

Maniratanga chaired the third committee where most resolutions were debated last month. His delegation was instrumental in ensuring that a landmark resolution on family did not include any references related to abortion.

Following this resolution's adoption, Maniratanga highlighted Burundi’s accession to the Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family—a move aligned with initiatives expected during a potential second Trump administration term. He underscored global challenges like declining fertility rates and aging populations, advocating for family-centered solutions.