Provider at UN -2nd Post

Renee Chelian’s latest post:

I am so grateful, first as a woman, then a mother, and as an abortion provider and a US citizen, to have the privilege to be here in Geneva at the UN. I have met so many wonderful people representing a number of US NGO's who share the same dedication and compassion for human rights abuses as I do about abortion provision for women. I have learned more than I ever expected and I will continue to work on this important and overdue human rights work. 

 Abortion is legal in the US and protected under the Constitution of The United States of America. So, as an abortion provider, I, and my colleagues have the right to be safe!  We have the right to provide medical services to women who seek our care without harassment or intimidation—for us and our families. 

 Our patients, the women who seek our services and the people who accompany them, have the right to access all reproductive health care free from harassment and intimidation from anti abortion protestors. 

 I, along with the CRR attorneys who are here (Cynthia Sooho, Ximena Andion and Michelle Mohaved) have talked with UN members of the Human Rights Committee.  We have met with Special Rapporteur's on Health, Torture (shackling of women prisoners while giving birth), and on the situation of Human Rights Defenders. There have been side events held (like the one CRR held with Amnesty International and The Woodhull Freedom Foundation) on issues ranging from the right to housing to torture and racial profiling.  All of these issues are important human rights issues happening in the United States today.

Our intention is to explain our issues within the Human Rights framework. Hopefully as we continue to describe our experiences, and all of the issues that the US Human Rights Network have brought up, the public will come to understand the idea of a Civil Society and Human Rights Issues in a more open and positive way.

Of course, there is opposition to any suggestions from the UN and the majority of those who oppose it in the US are the right—the far right. The Heritage Foundation is here.  We have heard quotes from militia members, anti-abortion spokespersons and many Republicans including the Tea Party people.

Several of us gave testimony to the UN Commission on Human Rights all week and then the US will have its Universal Public Review.  Countries that want to speak have to sign up for the opportunity and, as you can imagine, those countries that are the most critical of the US have been working hard to ensure that they are on the list early. Of course there are countries who are unfriendly to the US and want to use the time to criticize the US.  The UN, from what I have observed, has done everything to ensure that the procedure happens properly.

The Human Rights review is a process new to most people in the US and many citizens have no idea about it nor how to be involved. But we must let the US government know that we care about human rights and we want them to take the suggestions seriously. The question of why the US or its people have not plugged into the UN are long and complicated, but it is our responsibility to do all that we can NOW to share with our communities. The US will respond in March (dates unknown at this time) back here in Geneva. The US response will officially state what suggestions or recommendations the US accepts and what they will look into.

The US is up for review again in 4 years and I plan to be more prepared for the next review and to help educate as many people as I can before that time.  This is the beginning of a new partnership with CRR for me  to educate all those interested in reproductive health issues and to join them in the fabulous work they have been doing on behalf of women and abortion care providers. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT for all those interested in human rights to make their voices heard before March.  Any of the groups that are part of the NGO - US Human Rights network can be contacted on what we can do.

I had an opportunity to say thank you to this community of human rights workers for their work. They had only the most supportive and positive comments to me and to our field. I am so grateful to be the first abortion care worker speaking at UN. We have been talking about work that can be done over the next four years. I personally would love to see some fund-raising to create more awareness so I am hoping some of us can meet with CRR to talk more. This was a project funded by CRR knowing they would see no outcome now but a long term effort to make real social change for us and our patients. As I wrap my head around this fully I am even more grateful for this organization that is so much more than our attorneys. I was so proud of us this entire week and the work we do. I know this is a beginning here but after the US elections this week it may be easier to influence the rest of the world before the US.

I hope that we can teach those who care about health care, abortion rights for women and providers, and all those who believe in human rights about this process. All of our voices need to be heard, as we know all opposition of the UN Universal Periodic Review process will be very vocal. 

Human Rights are quite simple and impact all human beings on this earth. It is very difficult for me to rationally understand why anyone would oppose this most basic concept.  But of course, I think we as abortion providers are familiar with hate and fear in the US.

I am on a computer in the UN in Geneva Switzerland.  I am in the Serpentine lounge (what a funny name for a coffee shop) but the wall to wall windows look out at Lake Geneva with the Swiss Alps in the background, and right now, the sun is starting to go down and the color on the mountains is so absolutely beautiful, it is breathtaking---who could not be for human rights for all?