This is an archived version of the old European Humanist Federation (EHF) website. In December 2022 the European Humanist Federation entered into administration, and the digital assets (including this website) were granted to Humanists International, Inc. This website is intended to be a public archive of the previous work of the EHF and it will not be updated, and will only receive minimal and essential maintenance. Please direct any queries to [email protected]. Humanists International, Inc. has agreed to continue some of the work previously undertaken by EHF, for more information see here.
Reason. Freedom. Solidarity.
Donate Join
Home
What we do
Campaigns
Opposing the anti-choice initiative “One of Us”

Opposing the anti-choice initiative “One of Us”

In 2014, the EHF campaigned towards EU decision-makers to oppose One of Us, the new European anti-choice offensive on research and maternal health.

One of Us was a European petition requesting the “protection of the human embryo” in Europe and the end of EU funding for “activities that assume or carry out the destruction of human embryos”. More specifically, it called for the end of EU funding for human embryonic stem cells (hESC) research and for NGOs which provide sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services in developing countries.

Because they reached the required number of signatures – 1 million – to be officially presented to European institutions, the organisors presented their request at the European Parliament (EP) on 10 April 2014, in a public hearing . They were rejected by both the EP and the European Commission, on fair grounds. In spite of this clear opposition, the One of Us organisors turned into a federation and have kept lobbying with similar demands since then.

In 2014, the EHF  mobilised with other human rights organisations to oppose this initiative and to guarantee freedom of research in Europe and safeguard SRHR services in developing countries. More specifically, we worked ahead the public hearing to :

  • Provide EU decision-makers and citizens with objective and detailed information on One of Us,
  • Mobilise pro-choice Members of the European Parliament to speak out against One of Us
  • Alert the media on the extremist religious lobbying acting at the EU level.

Behind the European Citizen’s Initiative “One of Us” : 2 popes & 1 million Europeans choose to abandon fight against maternal mortality – EPF

This initiative was funded by the Italian anti-choice organization Fondazione Vita Nova (50 000 euros). It was officially supported by Pope Francis[2] and was represented by Patrick Gregor Puppinck, Director of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), an Evangelical anti-choice NGO based in Strasbourg (France). The ECLJ is the European part of the American Centre for Law and Justice and has specialized in litigation at the European Court of Human Rights where it attempts to limit recognition of LGBT’s and reproductive rights. Many national “One of Us” partners were local anti-abortion movements and this initiative has received clear support from bishops’ representatives at the European level (COMECE).

Furthermore, the organisers of this initiative  misled their supporters with an incorrect reading of the EU treaties and a manipulation of legal instruments, ignoring EU’s commitment to reach Millennium Development Goals.

Download the PDF version!

Read more about the key underlying issues related to “One of Us”:

Media coverage

Belgium

http://www.lacapitale.be/981391/article/2014-04-09/17-million-d-europeens-contre-la-recherche-sur-les-embryons-humains

http://www.lanouvellegazette.be/981391/article/2014-04-09/17-million-d-europeens-contre-la-recherche-sur-les-embryons-humains

http://www.alterechos.be/?p=breves&d=i&c=a&art_id=23736&listby=day&art_date=2014_04_10

“Le droit à l’avortement peut-il être remis en cause?” – Forum du Midi- RTBF radio (BE) 10 April

“Embryons humains“ – L’Expresso – Matin première | La Première RTBF 11 April

“Controverse sur le statut de l’embryon. Une initiative citoyenne européenne « anti-choix » auditionnée jeudi“- Le Soir 9 April (article not available online)

http://www.rtbf.be/info/monde/detail_inquietude-sur-le-sort-d-une-initiative-citoyenne-sur-la-recherche-embryonnaire?id=8243413

EU

http://euobserver.com/news/123822

http://europolitics.info/health-consumers/meps-discuss-one-us-petition

http://europolitics.info/health-consumers/one-us-reopens-stem-cell-pandoras-box

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/news/worrying-start-european-citizens%E2%80%99-initiative

International

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/world/europe/european-union-debates-initiative-on-embryo-protection.html

http://news.sciencemag.org/europe/2014/04/pro-life-citizens-initiative-worries-e.u.-scientists

Ireland

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0410/607927-stem-cell-research/

Germany

http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/eu-strife-over-petition-seeking-ban-on-stem-cell-abortion-funding_330104.html

Sweden

http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/abortmotstandare-kampanjar-i-eu_3450824.svd

Denmark

http://www.altinget.dk/eu/artikel/abortmodstandere-presser-eu-paa-stamceller-og-udviklingshjaelp

Spain

http://www.elconfidencial.com/ultima-hora-en-vivo/2014-04-10/debaten-en-el-pe-la-iniciativa-contra-investigacion-con-celulas-embrionarias_228312/

http://www.euroefe.com/3799_asuntos-sociales-y-juridicos/2492898_debaten-en-el-pe-la-iniciativa-contra-investigacion-con-celulas-embrionarias.html

http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20140410/54405674512/debaten-en-el-pe-la-iniciativa-contra-investigacion-con-celulas-embrionarias.html

http://www.abc.es/sociedad/20140411/abci-iniciativa-nosotros-oreja-201404102148.html

http://noticias.lainformacion.com/asuntos-sociales/aborto/nace-una-federacion-europea-para-defender-la-vida-el-colofon-de-la-carrera-de-mayor-oreja-en-el-parlamento-europeo_L3QHGaqWNlB7xO7IGHUDE/

http://sociedad.elpais.com/sociedad/2014/04/10/actualidad/1397159003_423986.html

http://noticias.terra.es/mundo/europa/la-vida-de-la-persona-comienza-desde-su-concepcion,a6556f4b02c45410VgnVCM5000009ccceb0aRCRD.html

http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Debaten-PE-iniciativa-investigacion-embrionarias_0_248125563.html

Italy

http://www.avvenire.it/Vita/Pagine/uno-di-noi-incontra-le-istituzioni-europee.aspx

http://www.eunews.it/2014/04/10/uno-di-loro/14180

UK

http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2014/04/10/comment-women-are-paying-for-their-abortion-complacency

Netherlands

http://www.refdag.nl/nieuws/politiek/europees_parlement_botst_opnieuw_over_abortus_tijdens_hoorzitting_1_819460?localLinksEnabled=false

http://www.opzij.nl/Nieuws-Opinie/Nieuws-Opinie-Artikel/Burgerinitiatief-One-of-Us-zegt-weg-met-baas-in-eigen-buik.htm

Hungary

http://www.hirado.hu/2014/04/10/kozmeghallgatast-tartott-az-ep-az-egy-kozulunk-kezdemenyezesrol/

Austria

http://www.kathweb.at/site/nachrichten/database/61693.html

Finland

http://blogit.iltalehti.fi/sirpa-pietikainen/2014/04/10/kansalaisaloite-uhkaa-naisten-oikeutta-omaan-terveyteensa/

http://www.ts.fi/uutiset/ulkomaat/617029/Euroopan+parlamentin+kasittelyyn+kansalaisaloite+ihmisalkioiden+suojasta

France

“Cellules souches: le progrès menacé par les ténèbres” – Mediapart 8 April

Poland

http://www.naszdziennik.pl/polska-kraj/74193,odroczona-decyzja-o-jednym-z-nas.html

Share Tweet

Related Information

  • Open letter: States must integrate the needs of CSOs into their policies

    The following letter, signed by over 50 European networks and national platforms, was sent to president of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen...

    Read more

  • “We are missing out the voices of people who have had an abortion” – Interview with Eva De Goeij

    In these challenging times, access to contraception and abortion are among the most vulnerable rights. Shortage in production of supplies and stock-outs...

    Read more

  • EHF and Humanists Sweden welcome European Court of Human Rights decision on case of Swedish midwives

    On 11 March, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) declined to take up the case of two Swedish midwives who argued that being denied midwife jobs...

    Read more
All our campaigns