Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International Law
International human rights instruments and jurisprudence radiate an understanding of international law as also serving to protect fundamental rights and the interests of the individual. The idea that human rights provide a credible framework for constructing common norms among nations and across cul...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
| Published: |
North-West University
2011-08-01
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| Series: | Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://v-drpl-lnx1.nwu.ac.za/webfm_send/26559 |
| _version_ | 1819154408917696512 |
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| author | SA de Freitas GA Myburgh |
| author_facet | SA de Freitas GA Myburgh |
| author_sort | SA de Freitas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | International human rights instruments and jurisprudence radiate an understanding of international law as also serving to protect fundamental rights and the interests of the individual. The idea that human rights provide a credible framework for constructing common norms among nations and across cultures is both powerful and attractive. If the protection of being human serves as the common denominator in human rights discussion, and if human rights are deeply inclusive, despite being culturally and historically diverse, then a failure to deliberate on the legal status and protection of the unborn may be seen as a failure to extend respect where it is due. Such deliberation is required, irrespective of the fact that jurisprudential debate on the unborn and on abortion is complex and controversial. The protection of human life, well-being, and dignity are essential aims of the United Nations Charter and the international system created to implement it. Although there have been collective efforts resulting in substantial development in international human rights law, the international community has not approached the legal status and protection of the unborn as a matter of urgency – this, while much has been accomplished regarding women, children, animals and cloning. This article therefore argues for the development of a deliberative framework so as to further the recognition (not necessarily in an absolute sense) of the unborn in international law, bearing in mind that opposition to abortion does not of itself constitute an attack on a woman's right to respect for privacy in her life. The article also sets out what such deliberation on the legal status and protection of the unborn entails, against the background of a procedurally-rational approach. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T15:20:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c5dde0683464d25bc2b02fb9e19c48d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1727-3781 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T15:20:37Z |
| publishDate | 2011-08-01 |
| publisher | North-West University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c5dde0683464d25bc2b02fb9e19c48d2022-12-21T18:21:38ZafrNorth-West UniversityPotchefstroom Electronic Law Journal1727-37812011-08-01145837Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International LawSA de FreitasGA MyburghInternational human rights instruments and jurisprudence radiate an understanding of international law as also serving to protect fundamental rights and the interests of the individual. The idea that human rights provide a credible framework for constructing common norms among nations and across cultures is both powerful and attractive. If the protection of being human serves as the common denominator in human rights discussion, and if human rights are deeply inclusive, despite being culturally and historically diverse, then a failure to deliberate on the legal status and protection of the unborn may be seen as a failure to extend respect where it is due. Such deliberation is required, irrespective of the fact that jurisprudential debate on the unborn and on abortion is complex and controversial. The protection of human life, well-being, and dignity are essential aims of the United Nations Charter and the international system created to implement it. Although there have been collective efforts resulting in substantial development in international human rights law, the international community has not approached the legal status and protection of the unborn as a matter of urgency – this, while much has been accomplished regarding women, children, animals and cloning. This article therefore argues for the development of a deliberative framework so as to further the recognition (not necessarily in an absolute sense) of the unborn in international law, bearing in mind that opposition to abortion does not of itself constitute an attack on a woman's right to respect for privacy in her life. The article also sets out what such deliberation on the legal status and protection of the unborn entails, against the background of a procedurally-rational approach.http://v-drpl-lnx1.nwu.ac.za/webfm_send/26559abortioninternational lawfoetushumanityhuman rightsprotection of the unborninternational human rightsright to lifesex-selective abortionfundamental rightsunbornhuman rights jurisprudence |
| spellingShingle | SA de Freitas GA Myburgh Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International Law Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal abortion international law foetus humanity human rights protection of the unborn international human rights right to life sex-selective abortion fundamental rights unborn human rights jurisprudence |
| title | Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International Law |
| title_full | Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International Law |
| title_fullStr | Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International Law |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International Law |
| title_short | Seeking Deliberation on the Unborn in International Law |
| title_sort | seeking deliberation on the unborn in international law |
| topic | abortion international law foetus humanity human rights protection of the unborn international human rights right to life sex-selective abortion fundamental rights unborn human rights jurisprudence |
| url | http://v-drpl-lnx1.nwu.ac.za/webfm_send/26559 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sadefreitas seekingdeliberationontheunbornininternationallaw AT gamyburgh seekingdeliberationontheunbornininternationallaw |