Media Release 14th December 2017
The End of Life Choice bill passed its first reading on13th December. This is a breach of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Article 3 states:-
“Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”
The preamble to the Declaration states, “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”
Our right to life is therefore inalienable, which means that our right to life may not be taken from us nor may we give it up.
The Crimes Act 1961 prohibits aiding and abetting in suicide and homicide. These laws are immutable and are there to protect the right to life of every human being from birth to natural death.
Our human rights including our right to life are conferred on us by our Creator at conception. The End of Life Choice bill is an intolerable threat to our inalienable right to life. The bill claims that we have a human right to give up our right to life by authorising a doctor to assist in our suicide or to murder us with a lethal injection.
Parliament was in breach of the Declaration of Human Rights by even debating this contentious bill. The breach of the Declaration and the threat to our right to life is now of the utmost gravity, as Parliament has by sending the bill to the Justice Select Committee, consented to engage in serious consideration of the bill’s proposal to authorise doctors to kill their patients or assist in their suicide.
New Zealand, it is time to take decisive action to uphold a culture of life and to vigorously oppose a culture of death.
This bill is a threat to the right to life of every citizen, it should be of the greatest concern to every citizen who is concerned with upholding the human rights of the most vulnerable members of our community, the aged, the disabled and the aged.
Right to Life applauds the forty-four MPs who courageously defended life by voting against the contentious End of Life Choice bill at its first reading. They deserve the gratitude and support of the community.
Right to Life encourages concerned citizens to submit a written submission opposing this bill to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee at Parliament Building Wellington.
Ken Orr
Spokesperson,
Right to Life.
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