TheGeneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women's Health and Strengthening the Family is ananti-abortion international document created in 2020 and signed at that time by about 30 largely illiberal or authoritarian governments.[1] The declaration "defends the unborn and reiterates the vital importance of the family."[2] There are 40 signatories as of 2025[update].[3]
It was initially cosponsored in 2020 by Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Uganda, and the United States.[4] Brazil eventually withdrew from the document and Guatemala was added as a cosponsor.[5][6][7][8] Representatives from 34 countries signed the document on October 22, 2020. Burundi and Chad are among the most recent signatories.[9]
Initiated by U.S. Secretary of StateMike Pompeo, the document is not related to theUnited Nations' Geneva Consensus Foundation or to otherGeneva-based institutions and was not signed in Geneva due to COVID-19 restrictions.[10][4] Described as "Pompeo's project",[10] the declaration was submitted by U.S. ambassadorKelly Craft to theUN General Assembly under agenda item 131 for December 2020.[citation needed] While reaffirming the vital role women play in families and pregnancy, it also supports women’s rights and participation in political affairs and prioritizes “equal access to quality education, economic resources, and political participation as well as equal opportunities with men and boys for employment, leadership and decision-making at all levels.”[4] Protection for the inherent value of every human life, the family unit, “complete physical, mental and social well-being,” and holistic, specialized healthcare key components of the document.[4]
A commitment to prevent access toabortion, where that is the position of a nation's law, is central to the declaration.[10] The persons signing the statement "[r]eaffirm [inter alia] that there is no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion, consistent with the long-standing international consensus that each nation has the sovereign right to implement programs and activities consistent with their laws and policies ... ."[4] Rather, the Declaration specifies the United Nations should therefore respect national laws and policies on abortion.[11]
On January 28, 2021, U.S. presidentJoe Biden removed the United States from the declaration.[8][12] President Biden continued to encourage other states, such as Burkina Faso and Benin, to withdraw as well.[13] These nations permit abortion only in certain circumstances. These decisions prompted U.S. lawmakers to express concern for the new administration's preservations of families and individual well-being.[13] On January 24, 2025,Marco Rubio announced the United States' intention under thesecond presidency of Donald Trump to rejoin the Geneva Consensus Declaration.[14] On January 27, Dorothy Fink, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced that the U.S. had rejoined the declaration.
The declaration was signed byIván Duque ofColombia, but was withdrawn byGustavo Petro shortly after taking office as president.[15] On January 17, 2023, Brazil presidentLula da Silva removed Brazil from the declaration.[16]
The declaration was signed by unspecified "ministers and high representatives of Governments" from theBahrain,Belarus,Benin,Brazil,Burkina Faso,Cameroon,Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo,Djibouti,Egypt,Eswatini,The Gambia,Georgia,Haiti,Hungary,Indonesia,Iraq,Kenya,Kuwait,Libya,Nauru,Niger,Oman,Pakistan,Paraguay,Poland,Saudi Arabia,Senegal,South Sudan,Sudan,Uganda,United Arab Emirates,United States, andZambia.[17] As the signatories were unspecified, there is no evidence that the signatories were empowered to bind any country.[18]
Many have noted the document's position as a statement primarily against the right to an abortion. Egyptian NGONazra for Feminist Studies described the declaration as "an international attack on women, gender, and sexuality",[10] andAmnesty International USA said the signatories were "willingly endangering people's health and lives".[19] Critics have accused the signatories of being motivated by a desire to undermine established international institutions, though the document's stated purpose emphasizes the preservation of national sovereignty in deciding a state's own public health policies.[10] The push for sovereign rights comes amidst increased global pressure to support an international right to abortion.
Many note that most of the signatories come fromilliberal,authoritarian, orautocratic governments.[1][10] Additionally, the signatory governments predominantly subscribe to more religious viewpoints.[2][10]