Canada
Conservative MP Mark Warawa (Langley-Aldgergrove) gave notice of introducing M-77, a motion condemning gendercide. In 2012, Warawa brought forth a motion condemning sex-selective abortion, but it was ruled non-votable. Warawa says “the three most deadliest words in the world are ‘it’s a girl’,” and points to polls that show 92 per cent of Canadians are opposed to the practice of sex-selective abortion … Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Malcolm Rowe to the Supreme Court of Canada. During parliamentary hearings on Rowe’s appointment, the judge was asked by Conservative MP Michael Cooper (St. Albert – Edmonton) about his judicial philosophy and he admitted he favours judicial activism: “It is our responsibility to encroach on the authority of Parliament.” Campaign Life Coalition issued a press release condemning Rowe’s appointment, saying, “It seems like the Supreme Court justice will be yet another judicial activist, who will ignore the law in order to push Trudeau’s ‘values’ on our society” … Campaign Life Coalition National News reported that “unfortunately, there was no discussion of life and family issues” during the Nov. 9 Conservative Party leadership debate in Saskatoon … Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia-Lambton) introduced C-277, “Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act,” to direct the government to come up with a plan to provide high quality palliative care in Canada. The first hour of debate was scheduled for Nov. 23 … Trudeau appointed Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault (Edmonton Centre) as his Special Adviser on LGBTQ2 issues. At the same time, he announced the government intends to repeal section 159 of the Criminal Code outlawing consensual anal sex between partners of the ages 16-18 … The newly formed Stop the Sex-Ed Agenda Party ran candidates in two Ontario by-elections on Nov. 17. Elizabeth de Viel Castel, daughter of former Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux, finished fifth with 399 votes (1.32 per cent), while party leader Queenie Yu earned 76 votes in Niagara-West Glanbrook, good for 0.23 per cent.
United States
Newly re-elected House Speaker Paul Ryan says Congressional Republicans will put forth a bill defunding Planned Parenthood for President Donald Trump to sign in the new year. At a press briefing Ryan was asked about defunding the abortion organization. Ryan said, “We’ve already shown what we believe with respect to funding Planned Parenthood. We put a bill on President Obama’s desk in reconciliation. Our position has not changed” … Republican Indiana state legislator Curt Nisly said he will introduce “The Protection at Conception Act” in January, a bill that would criminalize all abortion. It would be a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, and if passed would likely end up before the Supreme Court of the United States. Nisly said his “goal is to treat the death of an unborn child like you would any other human being. As an elected official, I will continue to support pro-life policies seeking to preserve the dignity of all human life and provide a voice for the voiceless.” The Indiana chapter of American Civil Liberties Union criticized Nisly’s plan as “unconstitutional” while Hoosiers for Life supported the bill.
International
The Daily Telegraph reported that Mandy Sanghera, a human rights activist and a founder of the Foreign Office and Home Office’s joint forced marriage unit, said the Crown Prosecution Service refused to pursue a case involving a Muslim woman whose family forced her to abort her baby for being a girl. When the unnamed woman said she wanted to prosecute, the CPS refused to press charges saying it was a “family matter” despite the fact the United Kingdom has a law against sex-selective abortion … The minority Irish Fine Gael government punted the issue of abortion to a extraordinary Citizens’ Assembly which is considering a range of issues including housing and climate change. Among the items the government is asking the 99-member Assembly to examine is the future of the Eighth Amendment of the country’s constitution which recognizes preborn children have a right to life. The European Human Rights Council has pressed the island nation to scrap its pro-life laws and pro-life groups are concerned that the government could use the Assembly’s recommendation as cover to cave to international pressure. Maria Madise, the international director for the London-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said, “We want organizations and people from all over the world – especially those of Irish descent – to tell the Irish government how dreadful it would be to see the protection that Ireland is well known for providing the unborn damaged in any way.” Submissions can made until Dec. 16 … Patriarch Kirill, leader the 200-million strong Russian Orthodox Church, told Russia Today that anti-discrimination laws supporting homosexuality and transgenderism are “at odds with the moral nature of human beings.” He warned that if we deem “that which is evil fit for commendation and applause, the prophet’s words will apply to us, ‘Woe to those who call evil ‘good’ and good ‘evil,’ who put darkness for light, and light for darkness’.”