FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The Geneva Consensus Declaration, a pro-life coalition of nations that acknowledge that there is no international right to abortion, is holding its first-ever dedicated event at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week on Wednesday, the Daily Signal can first report.
Representatives from the U.S. government and some of the 43 participating nations will be in attendance.
The Geneva Consensus Declaration “seeks to expand health and thriving for women and protect the sovereign right of nations to support health, life, and family through national policy and legislation.”
The U.S. assumed the position of secretariat in June, replacing Hungary.
The declaration was established under the first Trump administration with the U.S. as secretariat, but the Biden administration left the coalition of pro-life countries. The U.S. rejoined after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, and the departments of Health and Human Services and State jointly lead the administration’s effort with the HHS Office of Global Affairs housing the secretariat.
Bethany Kozma, director of HHS’ Office of Global Affairs, will give a speech outlining the next chapter of the declaration following the United States’ assumption of the secretariat from Hungary. HHS Senior Adviser Natalie Dodson will discuss the administration’s efforts to advance the declaration’s principles domestically.
“We have countries from different regions of the world, with different histories, cultures, and perspectives,” Kozma will say, according to remarks obtained by the Daily Signal.
“But we have chosen to come together because there are some things we fundamentally agree on,” she continues. “Life is worthy of protection. Women and girls deserve the opportunity to achieve optimal health throughout their lives. The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society. And sovereign nations have the right to make decisions consistent with their own laws, policies, and values.”
Kozma will thank Hungary for its leadership, and say the U.S. now has the responsibility to build on it.
“World leaders are gathered here in New York this week, and enormous attention will be paid to what happens inside the United Nations. But again, I would ask people to look across the street. Because something important is happening here, too,” her prepared remarks say. “Countries are choosing to stand together.”
“We do not have to agree on everything. We do not have to have identical cultures, identical laws, or identical policies. But we can stand together on the principles we do share.”
Kozma will invite other countries who are not members to join the declaration. The latest country to join was Argentina in August.
“There is a place for you in this coalition,” she said. “The United States is proud to be back, and we are honored to serve as the Secretariat.”
Dodson will draw a contrast between the Biden and Trump administrations’ understandings of women, according to her prepared remarks.
“In sharp contrast to the Biden Administration, which failed to muster a comprehensible explanation for what a woman is, the Trump Administration recognizes the unique importance of women and mothers and their critical role in society,” her prepared remarks say. “Without women and mothers, the pillars of the GCD could not stand.”
HHS has acted on the declaration by ending aborted fetal tissue research, instituting conscience protections from abortion, and rejecting physician-assisted suicide, she will say.
“By safeguarding religious freedom, conscience protections, and parental rights, the Trump Administration supports families and parents who seek to raise their children without undue political interference,” her remarks say.
“What began as a small group of nations in 2020 has now grown to over 40, and we look forward to welcoming many more partners as we strive to protect women, children, and families,” Dodson will conclude.
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[ H/T The Daily Signal ]
