FWI Policy Briefs

FAMILY

FWI Resource Guide to U.N. Consensus Language on Family Issues. This valuable guide contains consensus language from major UN treaties and documents that is supportive of the family. Topics are organized alphabetically to help you quickly find key UN provisions from past UN documents that can be used to influence current documents and governmental policies under negotiation. See the table of contents for a list of topics covered. See also the section on negotiation tips for ideas on how to analyze UN documents.

The Family as a Protective Factor for Violence against Women (FWI Policy Brief)  An important measure any State can take that would protect women and girls is to promote strong and healthy family life. Decades of research demonstrate that women who are married and girls who live with their married parents are less likely to experience domestic violence, other crime and child abuse. Unfortunately, a narrative often advanced is the claim that marriages and families are a main source of violence against women and children and that a married woman may be more at risk for violence than a single woman. This narrative, though oft repeated, is completely unfounded. While certainly some women and children are abused in a married family setting, overwhelmingly the data show that, overall, marriage and family are significant protective factors in preventing violence against women and girls.

The Anti-Family, Anti-Life UN Agenda As Revealed in the ICPD Review “Outcome Documents” and “Follow-ups.” (FWI Report)  This document with its accompanying chart reveals a highly elaborate and deceptive plan concocted by UNFPA to advance abortion and controversial sexual rights in contravention of many UN Member State laws. Working in concert with International Planned Parenthood (IPPF), the World Health Organization, and a number of UN member states, UNFPA’s plan was to circumvent the standard full-body UN Member State negotiation process for the 20-year review of the International Covenant on Population and Development (ICPD). They did this by lobbying to get the UN General Assembly to pass a resolution calling for an operational review for ICPD that UNFPA could control. They also convinced States to forego the traditional transparent negotiations by all States, and instead, for the 20-year ICPD review, allow UNFPA to organize the regional and thematic reviews away from UN experts. The end goals of UNFPA and its partners were, and continue to be, to establish an unfettered international right to abortion, to ensure the indoctrination of children with harmful comprehensive sexuality education, and to change the traditional sex and gender norms of all societies. Nations should beware that UNFPA is now working on a similar plan for the 25-year review of ICPD.

Binding Obligation of States to Protect the Family (FWI Policy Brief) This Policy Brief is a compilation of UN consensus language from binding UN treaties and other important UN documents that shows the obligation of Member States to support and protect the family.

An Analysis of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda: The Hidden Threats to Life, Family and Children. (FWI Policy Brief) This analysis of the SDGs and the UN’s 2030 Agenda was created to help UN Member States understand many of the hidden threats contained in the Agenda and to provide suggestions for counteracting these threats. The report begins with a brief summary of the general nature of the 2030 Agenda and then presents an in-depth analysis of SDG goals, targets, and indicators that can easily be used to advance controversial sexual rights relating to abortion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and explicit and harmful sexuality education for children.

The UN Doha Declaration. This is one of the most important United Nations family documents in over a generation. It is part of the UN’s recognition of the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and reaffirms the UN’s historic commitment to protecting and promoting the family. All too often, UN bureaucrats and UN committees, in concert with anti-family non-governmental organizations, try to push an anti-family agenda in their dealings with individual countries and at various UN meetings. The Doha Declaration is an invaluable tool in stopping these efforts.

Outcomes According to Family Structure. (FWI Policy Brief) Social science research has conclusively proven that a strong family based on marriage between a man and a woman is the optimum environment to protect, nourish and develop individuals. This policy brief contains a collection of these statistics based on various family forms.

World Family Map Report by Child Trends. (Institute for Family Studies) The World Family Map Project monitors global changes in the areas of family structure, family socioeconomics, family processes, and family culture, focusing on 16 specific indicators selected by an expert group because of their known relationships to child outcomes in the research literature. Each annual report of the project provides the latest data on these indicators, as well as an original essay focusing on one aspect of the family and how it relates to child well-being in different parts of the world. In both the indicators and the essay, the highest quality data available are shared for countries that are representative of each region of the world. Scholars around the globe contribute to the project as advisors and analysts, stimulating a large community of researchers to improve data and research on families and children.

The FamilyFacts.org Database. (Heritage Foundation) This site is sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and provides data on the family and religious practice with an analysis of the vital roles of each in maintaining civil society in America. Charts, briefs, reports, and videos are organized in eight major topics, from Marriage & Family to Economic Well-Being to Community Involvement. The site also offers a set of more than 3,000 findings related to family and religious practice from scholarly journals and papers.

Various Forms of the Family. (FWI Policy Brief) The phrase “various forms of the family” has become one of the most divisive and controversial terms in UN negotiations. This is because many nations now understand that the term is being actively used by sexual rights advocacy groups to achieve government recognition of their sexual lifestyles or their controversial family living arrangements.

The Family & Sustainable Development:  Strong Families – Prosperous Nations.  (FWI Short Film) This short film provides an overview of how the family is essential to the development of nations, eradication of poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, and multiple other facets in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Since governments can never adequately compensate for the irreplaceable role of the family, nations have a vested interest in protecting this natural and fundamental unit of society.

LIFE ISSUES

Abortion. (FWI Policy Brief) This policy brief documents the multiple negative impacts abortion has on the mother and explains the terminology and different types of abortions.

Human Rights Defenders or LGBT/Abortion Activists? (FWI Policy Brief) The term “human rights defender” is increasingly appearing in UN resolutions, declarations, reports, and conference outcome documents.  Nations should beware that this term is deliberately being used by sexual rights activists as a euphemism to promote LGBT and abortion rights.  The question, “Who is a Defender?” is the question Member States need to ask when negotiating any provision referring to “human rights defenders.” This policy brief delves into why UN Member States should reject any references to “human rights defenders.”

The Relentless Push to Create an “International Right” to Abortion. (FWI Policy Brief) Since 1994, abortion advocates have attempted to establish a broad international human right to abortion on demand.  What they got instead, through heated negotiations during the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), is a prohibition on promoting abortion for family planning and encouragement by the United Nations body to avoid abortion altogether, especially unsafe abortions performed to save the mother.

Confronting the Myths About Maternal Mortality and Abortion. (FWI Policy Brief) Abortion advocates claim there is a connection between maternal mortality and restrictive abortion laws. Research shows that liberal abortion laws do not have a noticeable effect on decreasing maternal mortality whereas improving the quality of health care clearly does. This policy brief exposes the myths of maternal mortality and abortion.

The Maputo Protocol (FWI Policy Brief) The Maputo Protocol is an assault on the African family and unborn children, and where instituted fully will contribute to the continued breakdown of the traditional family resulting in myriad of negative consequences to men, women and children throughout Africa.

Why States Should Keep “Reproductive Rights” Out of the SDGs (FWI Policy Brief) This policy brief provides 15 reasons why UN Member States should refuse to allow the dangerous and undefined term “reproductive rights” into documents under negotiation.

Note: The term “Reproductive Rights” is a common euphemism used to promote abortion at the United Nations. Unfortunately, the UN 2030 Agenda adopted “Reproductive Rights” as part of Sustainable Development goal five. This brief provides 15 reasons why “Reproductive Rights” should have been omitted from the SDGs.

MARRIAGE

Eight Reasons to Defend Man/Woman Marriage. (FWI Policy Brief) This policy brief presents eight compelling reasons why marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the future of every society and is worth defending.

Outcomes According to Family Structure. (FWI Policy Brief) Social science research has conclusively proven that a strong family based on marriage between a man and a woman is the optimum environment to protect, nourish and develop individuals. This policy brief contains a collection of these statistics based on various family forms.

U.S. Supreme Court Amicus Brief Submitted by Major Religious Organizations. (Amicus Brief) This brief was filed by various religious denominations including the National Association of Evangelicals, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Assemblies of God and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The brief states, “Notwithstanding our theological differences, we are united in declaring that the traditional institution of marriage is indispensable to the welfare of the American family and society.”

Family Watch International Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Amicus Brief)  “…special consideration must be given to the states’ interests in the well-being of children, who are uniquely vulnerable and have little recourse against harm. Given the mounting evidence of harmful outcomes in children raised in households with same-sex parents, state laws restricting marriage to opposite-sex partners have a rational basis, and it would be imprudent to restrict the states from limiting marriage to opposite-sex partners for the well-being of children.”

Brief of Amicus Curiae – 35 Comparative Law Scholars in Support of Gary R. Herbert, in His Official Capacity as Governor of Utah. (Amicus Brief) In October 2014 the U.S. Supreme Court unexpectedly declined to consider any of the five separate appeals brought by states seeking to overturn lower court rulings that would impose homosexual marriage on their citizens. As a result, judicial stays or orders suspending enforcement of lower court decisions that had temporarily blocked homosexual marriages in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin were lifted. Family Watch International funded this amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court by 35 comparative law scholars (from Europe, Central and South America, and Oceania) in support of the appeal filed by the Governor of Utah. This brief argued, among other points, that the tenth circuit ruling in the Utah case is out of step with international norms that recognize a legitimate policy basis for opposite-gender marriage laws. The brief also argued that the Utah case is inconsistent with international tribunals and foreign courts, which generally have refused to judicially mandate same-sex marriages and deferred to legislatures to regulate same-sex unions.

What Same-sex Marriage has Done to Massachusetts. This report by a leading pro-marriage group in Massachusetts summarizes the major damage that has already been done to schools, parents’ rights, businesses, religious institutions, government finances and in other ways in Massachusetts since four activist judges imposed same-sex marriage on the people of that state.

The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Parenting. This is the first comprehensive scholarly effort to determine the cost to the taxpayers from the fragmentation of the family in the U.S. Its conservative estimate is at least $112 billion annually. Some of the factors leading to increased divorce and unwed parenting result in a changing perception and understanding of the social institution of marriage. The loss of the “social goods” from marriage is largely what is costing these tax dollars. But these negative influences on the institution are minor compared to the radical redefinition of the social institution that would result from legalizing same-sex marriage.  We can reasonably expect that the costs from such an action would be much greater.

Genderless Marriage, Institutional Realities, and Judicial Elision. Originally published in the Duke University Law Journal, this article is especially valuable because it identifies, examines and thoroughly refutes each of the arguments commonly made by those advocating legalization of same-sex marriage. The author, Monte Stewart, is an internationally recognized scholar on marriage law and policy. He clerked for the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, has served as a U.S. Attorney, taught law and been appointed a Special Assistant State Attorney General.

The Effects of Marriage on Health: A Synthesis of Recent Research Evidence. This report by the United States Department of Health and Human Services concludes that “A burgeoning literature suggests that marriage may have a wide range of benefits, including improvements in individuals’ economic well-being, mental and physical health, and the well-being of their children.” It summarizes the literature in an easy to understand way.

PARENTS

The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Parenting. This is the first comprehensive scholarly effort to determine the cost to the taxpayers from the fragmentation of the family in the U.S. Its conservative estimate is at least $112 billion annually. Some of the factors leading to increased divorce and unwed parenting result in a changing perception and understanding of the social institution of marriage. The loss of the “social goods” from marriage is largely what is costing these tax dollars. But these negative influences on the institution are minor compared to the radical redefinition of the social institution that would result from legalizing same-sex marriage.  We can reasonably expect that the costs from such an action would be much greater.

Current UN Issues Regarding Children, Parents, and Religious Freedom – by Bruce C. Hafen, Emeritus Dean and Professor of Law, Brigham Young University. Presented in Mesa, Arizona, January 21, 2016. Prof. Hafen’s remarks target three issues: (1) child dependency vs. child autonomy, (2) rights of protection vs. rights of choice, and (3) objective vs. subjective measures of a child’s capacity.

See also:  Children

CHILDREN

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. (FWI Policy Brief) This UN treaty, ratified by all UN Member States except the United States, Somalia and South Sudan, is undermining parental rights around the world.

A Declaration on the Rights of Children and Families:  A Call from Children of the World. (FWI Petition)  This Declaration was presented by a delegation of children to UN diplomats at a United Nations meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday, September 12, 2014.  The Declaration states that each child has a right to:  Life, A Family, A Married Mother and Father, The Protection and Guidance of Their Parents,  an education, a Religion, Innocence and Childhood, and that the Protection of Children Requires the Protection of the Family.

International Planned Parenthood Federation & Children’s “Right” to Sex. (FWI Policy Brief) International Planned Parenthood Federation seeks to establish “sexual rights” as internationally protected human rights, including a right to sexual pleasure for children from birth. This policy brief exposes IPPF and their blatant attempts to sexualize children and youth.

See also: SEX / SEXUALITY EDUCATION

Abort Planned Parenthood: End Their Empire of Abortion, Deception, Fraud, and the Sexualization of Children. (FWI Special Report) This detailed report provides evidence regarding Planned Parenthood’s many questionable and harmful activities both in the U.S. and internationally.

See also: SEX / SEXUALITY EDUCATION

OHCHR Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. (FWI Policy Brief) This is an in depth analysis of the report on children’s health issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report actually attempts to establish sexual and reproductive health “rights” for children, pushes “comprehensive sexuality education” for children, facilitates abortion and abortion-related services for children, downplays and undermines the rights and roles of families, including parents, in educating and raising their children, and undermines the role religious beliefs and traditions play in the raising of children.

The Kinsey Institute Exposed: A Warning to Parents and Governments Throughout the World by the UN Family Rights Caucus. (FWI Policy Brief) This brief will show how the past and present actions, goals, and aims of the Kinsey Institute merit condemnation and censure rather than the legitimacy, prestige and access that UN consultative status affords them and which enables them to perpetuate their harmful work on a much larger world stage.

International Planned Parenthood Federation & Children’s “Right” to Sex. (FWI Policy Brief) International Planned Parenthood Federation seeks to establish “sexual rights” as internationally protected human rights, including a right to sexual pleasure for children from birth. This policy brief exposes IPPF and their blatant attempts to sexualize children and youth.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Sexual Rights vs Sexual Health. (FWI Policy Brief) This brief exposes comprehensive sexuality education programs that seek to change society by changing sexual and gender norms. These dangerous programs teach youth to advocate for their sexual rights and have an almost obsessive focus on sexual pleasure, instructing children and youth at the earliest ages on how to obtain sexual pleasure in a variety of ways. Some programs even encourage sexual exploration for children as young as age five. For a more detailed report click here.

Ultra Vires Acts by UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. (Policy Brief) This Report exposes how the CRC committee is acting in ways that are harmful to children. It documents the actions of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child charged with overseeing the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Particular attention is given to past ultra vires (beyond its authority) acts by the Committee. The Report notes with concern that many CRC acts can be viewed as being (a) contrary to the principle of sovereign equality of UN member States (Article 2 of the UN Charter); (2) beyond the mandate of the Committee; (3) contrary to or not based on intergovernmental consensus.

World Family Map Report by Child Trends. The World Family Map Project monitors global changes in the areas of family structure, family socioeconomics, family processes, and family culture, focusing on 16 specific indicators selected by an expert group because of their known relationships to child outcomes in the research literature. Each annual report of the project provides the latest data on these indicators, as well as an original essay focusing on one aspect of the family and how it relates to child well-being in different parts of the world. In both the indicators and the essay, the highest quality data available are shared for countries that are representative of each region of the world. Scholars around the globe contribute to the project as advisors and analysts, stimulating a large community of researchers to improve data and research on families and children.

Current UN Issues Regarding Children, Parents, and Religious Freedom – by Bruce C. Hafen, Emeritus Dean and Professor of Law, Brigham Young University.  Presented in Mesa, Arizona, January 21, 2016. Prof. Hafen’s remarks target three issues: (1) child dependency vs. child autonomy, (2) rights of protection vs. rights of choice, and (3) objective vs. subjective measures of a child’s capacity.

See also:  Parents

SEX / SEXUALITY EDUCATION

Re-Examining the Evidence for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Schools: A Global Research Review (The Institute for Research & Evaluation)  This research review found that in applying meaningful standards of effectiveness—criteria that have scientific validity and practical utility for policymakers and parents—to sex education outcomes produces a very different pattern of evidence for school-based CSE than what is typically reported by other research reviews that employ lax definitions of effectiveness. Using this more-credible approach, the claims that school-based CSE has been proven effective and AE is ineffective are not supported by 120 of the strongest and most recent outcome studies of sex education worldwide, the same studies that have been relied upon by the U.S. government and UNESCO in their extensive reviews of CSE research. Three decades of research indicate that comprehensive sex education has not been an effective public health strategy in schools around the world, has shown far more evidence of failure than success, and has produced a concerning number of harmful impacts. The evidence for abstinence education effectiveness in the U.S., though limited, appears more promising—enough to justify additional research.

International Planned Parenthood Federation & Children’s “Right” to Sex. (FWI Policy Brief) International Planned Parenthood Federation seeks to establish “sexual rights” as internationally protected human rights, including a right to sexual pleasure for children from birth. This policy brief exposes IPPF and their blatant attempts to sexualize children and youth.

Protect Your Children, Protect Your Families  (FWI Resource Tool)  This packet is intended to provide factual information regarding comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), the number one tool of the global sexual rights movement. CSE seeks to change society as we know it by sexualizing children, redefining the family, and changing societal norms regarding sex and gender. The enclosed information is designed to show that various UN entities and NGOs – organizations that most governments trust and even look to for guidance and technical support – are actually the perpetrators of this dangerous sexual rights agenda that is spread primarily through the vehicle of comprehensive sexuality education programs in schools around the world. Leading on the list of UN entities pushing this agenda are the World Health Organization, UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and, especially, International
Planned Parenthood Federation.

The Status of “Sexuality Education” Under International Law (FWI Policy Brief)  Comprehensive sexuality education is one of the most controversial terms at the United Nations, and fights over CSE have contributed in large part to UN documents being withdrawn from negotiations because States bitterly disagreed.  Since UN agencies and their allies that promote CSE have been so unsuccessful in getting the body of the UN to openly and willingly adopt CSE as an international right, CSE advocates have resorted to interpreting language such as “education on sexual and reproductive health,” or “inclusive education” to encompass a right to CSE or to be defined as CSE.  Family Watch has created this policy brief to provide context and clarifications.

The Deceptive “Eastern and Southern African (ESA) Commitment” on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) (FWI Policy Brief)  UN agencies, their allied organizations, and several Western governments are using deceptive strategies to further their radical sexual rights agenda by facilitating multilateral government “commitment” documents to promote comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for young children. This strategy of using CSE “commitment” or “declaration” documents has been implemented in Eastern and Southern Africa and in the Latin American and Caribbean region. All countries should be alert to this tactic.

Abort Planned Parenthood: End Their Empire of Abortion, Deception, Fraud, and the Sexualization of Children. (FWI Special Report) This detailed report provides evidence regarding Planned Parenthood’s many questionable and harmful activities both in the U.S. and internationally.

Protecting Children and the Family from the Global Sexual Rights Revolution. (FWI Presentation by Sharon Slater) Presented at Warsaw University Marriage Conference September 29, 2016, this paper provides a broad overview of the global sexual rights revolution that seeks to fundamentally change society as we know it by sexualizing children, redefining the family, and changing societal norms regarding gender and sexual issues. It identifies some of the entities and actors methodically working to advance a calculated, highly controversial sexual rights agenda, as well as some of the main tools used by sexual rights activists. Finally, this paper will show how children and youth are being groomed by sexual rights activists to advance this sexual rights revolution.

The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education. (FWI Policy Brief) Rather than focus on the legitimate education needs of the world’s children as required by his mandate, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education abused his position and has attempted to unilaterally establish a new controversial right to comprehensive sexuality education, thereby bypassing the UN Member State negotiation process.

The International Guidelines on Sexuality Education. (FWI Policy Brief) This policy brief analyzes the original 2009 sexual rights-based publication issued by UNESCO in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO. It was intended to drive sex education programs taught to children in schools worldwide. It is very offensive and is contrary to what most parents would want their children exposed to. The original Guidelines have since been revised due to public outcry, but you can read them in their entirety here.

SEXUAL RIGHTS

Sexual Rights Defined. (FWI Policy Brief) “Sexual rights” is a controversial, elastic term that is the Trojan horse of the sexual rights movement. There is no international consensus on the definition of the term, but if is accepted in UN documents, there is potential for enormous damage to societies, families, and individuals — especially children.

Protecting Children and the Family from the Global Sexual Rights Revolution. (FWI Presentation by Sharon Slater) This brief provides a broad overview of the global sexual rights revolution that seeks to fundamentally change society as we know it by sexualizing children, redefining the family, and changing societal norms regarding gender and sexual issues. It identifies some of the entities and actors methodically working to advance a calculated, highly controversial sexual rights agenda, as well as some of the main tools used by sexual rights activists. Finally, it will show how children and youth are being groomed by sexual rights activists to advance this sexual rights revolution.

Yogyakarta Principles. (FWI Policy Brief) This policy brief is an expose of the “analysis” of the international homosexual activist community claiming that international law makes the expression of one’s sexual orientation, no matter what it is, a fundamental “human right.”

International Planned Parenthood Federation & Children’s “Right” to Sex. (FWI Policy Brief) International Planned Parenthood Federation seeks to establish “sexual rights” as internationally protected human rights, including a right to sexual pleasure for children from birth. This policy brief exposes IPPF and their blatant attempts to sexualize children and youth.

Cultural Imperialism: The Sexual Rights Agenda. (FWI Documentary) This film is a hard-hitting expose on how Western donor nations are using financial aid to force smaller nations to comply with a radical sexual rights agenda. In the film, African and Caribbean representatives at the UN speak out about how they are being bullied by the West into accepting legalized prostitution and special homosexual rights in their countries, despite overwhelming opposition from their people. The film shows how this imposition of sexual rights is eroding the religious and cultural values of these countries and destroying their families. Throughout the film, you will also follow the story of three AIDS orphan siblings who lost their brother and both parents to AIDS. These children speak out at the United Nations against the Western-based sexuality education that is sexualizing children throughout the world.

Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality.” (FWI Policy Brief) The Commissioner’s report has little to do with maternal mortality and morbidity, and instead, is a thinly veiled attempt to establish highly controversial sexual rights as international human rights. The phrase “sexual and reproductive health rights” is repeated 29 times, even though this controversial phrase has been rejected by UN Member States every time it has been proposed in UN negotiations.

OHCHR Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. (FWI Policy Brief) This is an in depth analysis of the report on children’s health issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report actually attempts to establish sexual and reproductive health “rights” for children, pushes “comprehensive sexuality education” for children, facilitates abortion and abortion-related services for children, downplays and undermines the rights and roles of families, including parents, in educating and raising their children, and undermines the role religious beliefs and traditions play in the raising of children.

OHCHR Report on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (FWI Policy Brief) In November 2011 the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report addressing “Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.” Unfortunately, rather than focus on preventing violence against LGBT people, which was the intent of the Human Rights Council’s mandate, the report builds on the Commissioner’s 2010-2011 strategic plan to have the world “embrace sexual minorities.” The report does this by falsely claiming that international human rights law requires UN Member States to mainstream acceptance of LGBT behavior in every aspect of society, allegedly to prevent “discrimination.”

Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. (FWI Policy Brief) In November of 2011 the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report addressing “Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.”  Unfortunately, rather than focus on preventing violence against LGBT people, which was the intent of the Human Rights Council’s mandate, the report builds on the Commissioner’s 2010-2011 strategic plan to have the world “embrace sexual minorities.” The report does this by falsely claiming that international human rights law requires UN Member States to mainstream acceptance of LGBT behavior in every aspect of society, allegedly to prevent “discrimination.”

Abuse of Power: The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education. (FWI Policy Brief) Rather than focus on the legitimate education needs of the world’s children as required by his mandate, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education abused his position and has attempted to unilaterally establish a new controversial right to comprehensive sexuality education, thereby bypassing the UN Member State negotiation process.

The International Guidelines on Sexuality Education. (FWI Policy Brief) This policy brief analyzes the original 2009 sexual rights-based publication issued by UNESCO in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO. It was intended to drive sex education programs taught to children in schools worldwide. It is very offensive and is contrary to what most parents would want their children exposed to. The original Guidelines have since been revised due to public outcry, but you can read them in their entirety here.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Laws Banning Sexual Orientation Change Therapy are Harmful and Violate Fundamental Human Rights. (FWI Policy Brief) “Sexual Orientation Change Efforts” (SOCE), a term used to describe therapeutic approaches to help people with unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA), has become increasingly controversial in recent years. This is because activists opposing SOCE therapy falsely claim it is ineffective and harmful. This brief summarizes pertinent research and shows that there is no ethical or scientific basis for limiting or banning therapy that has helped countless people with unwanted same-sex attraction.

Unwanted Same-sex Attraction Can be Successfully Treated. (FWI Policy Brief) Same-sex attraction is not fixed and unchangeable. There is a growing number of individuals who are being successfully treated for unwanted same-sex attraction. This policy brief explains why homosexual activists continue to attack those who help reorient individuals who seek help to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction.

What You Need to Know About Homosexuality. (FWI Policy Brief) Issues related to homosexuality and so-called “homosexual rights” are driving much of the current worldwide assault on marriage, the family and family related issues.  This policy brief gives you basic facts and  information you must know.

16 Facts on Gender Confusion. (FWI)  With all the heated debate that has now erupted on this topic, one thing has become abundantly clear—there is a tremendous amount of confusion about gender confusion.  Largely lacking in this debate on both sides of the issue has been any recognition of many of the fundamental facts related to gender-identity issues. Family Watch International’s summary, “16 Facts on Gender Confusion,” provides an extensive list of these important facts that are often ignored.

Evidence Shows Sexual Orientation Can Change: Debunking the Myth of “Immutability” (Family Research Council)

Understanding Same-Sex Attraction. (FWI Documentary) This documentary is an eye-opening experience for many as it presents the research data e showing that no one is “born gay” and that many people with unwanted same-sex attraction have been able to change.  The film includes interviews with top experts in the field, and powerful testimonials from four men who speak honestly, openly and compellingly about what it was like for them to develop same-sex attraction and live the homosexual lifestyle.  They then discuss their experiences with therapy that helped them to develop a healthy heterosexual sexual orientation.

Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (American Psychological Association Report) 

Protect Client and Therapist Freedom of Choice Regarding Sexual Orientation Change Efforts  An excellent Q and A with facts and research regarding sexual orientation, therapy, and change efforts by Family Research Council.

Professional Care for Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction: What Does the Research Say?

“What Research Shows” Executive Summary. “What Research Shows” is the most comprehensive scholarly review ever done of more than 125 years of clinical experience and research into the nature of homosexuality, its treatment, and the many health problems associated with the homosexual lifestyle. The research and clinical experience show conclusively that homosexuals are not “born that way,” that it can often be successfully treated, that the therapy is not harmful, and that there is a wide range of mental and physical health problems associated with the homosexual lifestyle.

Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological and Social Sciences. Authored by Drs. Lawrence Mayer and Paul McHugh, this report is the most thorough, expert and current review of the scientific literature and clinical reports on homosexuality. Major findings: there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that homosexuals are “born that way” and cannot change; especially among adolescents there is solid evidence that sexual orientation is fluid for many people and that most adolescents experiencing same sex attraction outgrow it by adulthood; compared to heterosexuals, homosexuals are between two and three times more likely to have been sexually abused; and compared to heterosexuals, homosexuals suffer a higher rate of mental and physical problems.

Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological and Social Sciences, Executive Summary.

New Atlantis Rebuttal to Attacks on Mayer and McHugh Review.

Understanding Transgender Issues: Suicide Risk. (FWI Policy Brief) Transgender activists assert that affirming the preferred “gender identity” of transgender persons and providing them with access to cross-sex hormones and surgeries is essential to preventing them from committing suicide. Parents of gender-confused children are often pressured to collude with their child’s self-declared “gender identity” fantasy and are accused of contributing to their child’s suicidality if they do not. However, there is no research showing that either cross-sex social affirmation or medical procedures have reduced suicides among those who identify as transgender. In fact, key studies have provided some evidence that social, medical and surgical affirmation of cross-sex identities might actually increase suicidality instead.

Gender Agenda Documentary

Amicus Brief of Walt Heyer

Understanding Gender Confusion  (FWI Documentary – 10 min. clip)  

Gender Dysphoria in Children and Suppression of Debate. Michelle A. Cretella, M.D., former president of the American College of Pediatricians explains gender dysphoria in children as a psychological condition in which a child experiences marked incongruence between his experienced gender and the gender associated with his biological sex. Gender dysphoria resolves in the vast majority of patients by late adolescence. But an unscientific and untested treatment standard is emerging that involves puberty suppressing drugs followed by the use of cross-sex hormones—a combination that will result in the sterility of minors. The protocol is rooted in an unscientific gender ideology, lacks an evidence base, and violates the longstanding ethical principle of “First do no harm.”

Gender Dysphoria in Children  (American College of Pediatricians)

GENDER:  The Threat to Children, Families & States (American College of Pediatricians)  

Gender Ideology Harms Children: Position statement of the American College of Pediatricians. This statement summarizes the threats that the transgender movement and gender ideology pose to children. It is authored by three recognized experts in the field: Dr. Michelle Cretella, a pediatrician and president of the College; Dr. Quenton Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist and vice president of the College; and Dr. Paul McHugh, a psychiatrist and former psychiatrist in chief at Johns Hopkins University.

When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment. This video presentation by Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., the author of a book by the same title, is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to truly understand the transgender movement and gender ideology. It will be especially informative for those who want to know how to deal with these issues in the public policy arena. In this video presentation, he summarizes the major findings and points in his book.

Transgender Ideology is Riddled With Contradictions. Here Are the Big Ones. In this essay by Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., some of the illogical claims and contradictions of the transgender movement are revealed in a clear and concise way.

Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological and Social Sciences. Authored by Drs. Lawrence Mayer and Paul McHugh, this report is the most thorough, expert and current review of the scientific literature and clinical reports on homosexuality. Major findings: there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that homosexuals are “born that way” and cannot change; especially among adolescents there is solid evidence that sexual orientation is fluid for many people and that most adolescents experiencing same-sex attraction outgrow it by adulthood; compared to heterosexuals, homosexuals are between two and three times more likely to have been sexually abused; and compared to heterosexuals, homosexuals suffer a higher rate of mental and physical problems.

Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological and Social Sciences, Executive Summary

New Atlantis Rebuttal to Attacks on Mayer and McHugh Review

16 Facts About Gender Confusion. Family Watch International has prepared this list of 16 key points that everyone who wants to understand transgenderism or who has to deal with issues related to gender ideology must be aware of. It includes a number of links to sources of additional information.

I’m a Pediatrician. How Gender Ideology Has Infiltrated My Field and Produced Large Scale Child Abuse. This article by internationally recognized expert on child health and transgenderism, Dr. Michelle Cretella, is a damning indictment of the current movement to affirm children in their gender confusion. Dr. Cretella, a pediatrician and president of the American College of Pediatricians describes how children are being put at great risk by the radical gender ideology that is being embraced by many in the medical field. Dr. Cretella shows how this movement contradicts relevant scientific research to the detriment of the well-being of children.

The Dangers of Transgender Ideology. Dr. Michelle Cretella, president of the American College of Pediatricians presents the medical facts regarding gender dysphoria and debunks the popular myths regarding gender and transgenderism in this short video.

Letter to the Editor: “Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society* Clinical Practice Guideline”   Childhood gender dysphoria does not become a medical (endocrine) condition unless professionals make it one by using puberty blockers and “high dose cross sex” hormones to prevent normal physical development. This chemical treatment has significant consequences that “include potential sterility, sexual dysfunction, thromboembolic and cardiovascular disease, and malignancy.” It also requires lifelong chemical dependency to maintain the “therapy.” Michael K. Laidlaw, et al., Letter to the Editor: “Endocrine Treatment of Gender- Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2018).

50 Years of Sex Changes, Mental Disorders and Too Many Suicides. This is a review of the rise of transgenderism and the harm it has caused to so many people by Walt Heyer–someone who has lived through much of it. As a young man Mr. Heyer underwent surgery to “transition” to female. But after eight years of living as a woman, he realized the harm this path had caused and transitioned back to his male biological sex. Mr. Heyer is a recognized expert in one of the darkest sides of the transgender movement, the plight of those who, like himself, tried to transition and then came to regret that decision and tried to transition back. See also Walt Heyer’s website at SexChangeRegret.com, which contains testimonials of others who have regretted their attempts to transition to the opposite gender.

Rationale for Opposition to Proposed Ban on “Conversion” Therapy. (FWI Policy Brief) This document consists of two parts. Part I outlines multiple harms that will be created if a therapy ban is adopted. Part II provides facts and information debunking the many misleading and false claims being made by those advocating for a therapy ban.

Laws Banning Sexual Orientation Change Therapy are Harmful and Violate Fundamental Human Rights. (FWI Policy Brief) “Sexual Orientation Change Efforts” (SOCE), a term used to describe therapeutic approaches to help people with unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA), has become increasingly controversial in recent years. This is because activists opposing SOCE therapy falsely claim it is ineffective and harmful. This brief summarizes pertinent research and shows that there is no ethical or scientific basis for limiting or banning therapy that has helped countless people with unwanted same-sex attraction.

Letter Urging Legislators to Oppose All Conversion Therapy Bans  (American College of Pediatricians)  Over 70,000 health professionals oppose laws that require affirming children’s nontraditional gender identity without extensive assessment and exploration. Research suggests that affirmation increases persistence, sending children down a path of dangerous hormones and surgeries. Therapists must be allowed to investigate possible psychodynamic and social factors behind a discordant gender identity. Providing alternative ways to ease dysphoria in this context is not conversion therapy and must not be banned.

TEMPLATE Letter Urging Legislators to Oppose All Conversion Therapy Bans  (FWI Tool)

Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (American Psychological Association Report) 

Professional Care for Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction: What Does the Research Say?

Protect Client and Therapist Freedom of Choice Regarding Sexual Orientation Change Efforts  An excellent Q and A with facts and research regarding sexual orientation, therapy, and change efforts by Family Research Council.

Suicide or transition: The only options for gender dysphoric kids?

Trans Kids It’s Time to Talk (Channel 4 UK Documentary)

50 Years of Sex Changes, Mental Disorders and Too Many Suicides. This is a review of the rise of transgenderism and the harm it has caused to so many people by Walt Heyer–someone who has lived through much of it. As a young man Mr. Heyer underwent surgery to “transition” to female. But after eight years of living as a woman, he realized the harm this path had caused and transitioned back to his male biological sex. Mr. Heyer is a recognized expert in one of the darkest sides of the transgender movement, the plight of those who, like himself, tried to transition and then came to regret that decision and tried to transition back. See also Walt Heyer’s website at SexChangeRegret.com, which contains testimonials of others who have regretted their attempts to transition to the opposite gender.

Understanding Gender Confusion  (FWI Documentary – 10 min. clip)  

16 Facts About Gender Confusion. Family Watch International has prepared this list of 16 key points that everyone who wants to understand transgenderism or who has to deal with issues related to gender ideology must be aware of. It includes a number of links to sources of additional information.

For more information, news, and testimonies on Change Therapy or Change Therapy Bans please visit our Therapy Ban resource page at familywatch.org/TherapyBan

PORNOGRAPHY

Pornography is Destructive to Individuals & Society. (FWI Policy Brief) Pornography is a growing scourge that can lead to addiction and deviant behaviors that in turn can destroy families and can pose a danger to individuals and society.  This policy brief provides an overview of the problem.

HIV / AIDS

The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights. (FWI Policy Brief) The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights extend far beyond internationally recognized human rights and seek to impose controversial policies that would weaken the institution of the family. Ironically, the Guidelines recommend protecting behaviors that actually fuel the AIDS epidemic.

Cultural Imperialism: The Sexual Rights Agenda (FWI Documentary), a hard-hitting documentary exposing how wealthy countries and the United Nations, under the guise of preventing AIDS, are actually spreading AIDS through their sexual rights approach. The film addresses how the condom approach has failed to stop the spread of AIDS and how donor countries including the United States are blackmailing poor countries by withholding aid unless these developing nations implement laws and policies to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. Learn also how children are being sexualized through comprehensive sexuality education programs supported by the Obama administration and several agencies of the United Nations in cooperation with several other wealthy countries and International Planned Parenthood. Throughout the film you will also follow the story of three AIDS orphan siblings who lost their brother and both parents to AIDS. These children speak out at the United Nations against the Western-based sexuality education that is sexualizing children throughout the world.

UNITED NATIONS

FWI Resource Guide to U.N. Consensus Language on Family Issues. This valuable guide contains consensus language from major UN treaties and documents that is supportive of the family.

An Analysis of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda: The Hidden Threats to Life, Family and Children. (FWI Policy Brief) This analysis of the SDGs and the UN’s 2030 Agenda was created to help UN Member States understand many of the hidden threats contained in the Agenda and to provide suggestions for counteracting these threats.

The Anti-Family, Anti-Life UN Agenda As Revealed in the ICPD Review “Outcome Documents” and “Follow-ups.” (FWI Report)   This document with its accompanying chart reveals a highly elaborate and deceptive plan concocted by UNFPA to advance abortion and controversial sexual rights in contravention of many UN Member State laws. Working in concert with International Planned Parenthood (IPPF), the World Health Organization, and a number of UN member states, UNFPA’s plan was to circumvent the standard full-body UN Member State negotiation process for the 20-year review of the International Covenant on Population and Development (ICPD). They did this by lobbying to get the UN General Assembly to pass a resolution calling for an operational review for ICPD that UNFPA could control. They also convinced States to forego the traditional transparent negotiations by all States, and instead, for the 20-year ICPD review, allow UNFPA to organize the regional and thematic reviews away from UN experts. The end goals of UNFPA and its partners were, and continue to be, to establish an unfettered international right to abortion, to ensure the indoctrination of children with harmful comprehensive sexuality education, and to change the traditional sex and gender norms of all societies. Nations should beware that UNFPA is now working on a similar plan for the 25-year review of ICPD.

Protecting Children and the Family from the Global Sexual Rights Revolution. (FWI Presentation by Sharon Slater) Presented at Warsaw University Marriage Conference September 29, 2016, this pape provides a broad overview of the global sexual rights revolution that seeks to fundamentally change society as we know it by sexualizing children, redefining the family, and changing societal norms regarding gender and sexual issues. It identifies some of the entities and actors methodically working to advance a calculated, highly controversial sexual rights agenda, as well as some of the main tools used by sexual rights activists. Finally, this paper will show how children and youth are being groomed by sexual rights activists to advance this sexual rights revolution.

Various Forms of the Family. (FWI Policy Brief) The phrase “various forms of the family” has become one of the most divisive and controversial terms in UN negotiations. This is because many nations now understand that the term is being actively used by sexual rights advocacy groups to achieve government recognition of their sexual lifestyles or their controversial family living arrangements.

Binding Obligation of States to Protect the Family. (FWI Policy Brief) This Policy Brief is a compilation of UN consensus language from binding UN treaties and other important UN documents that shows the obligation of Member States to support and protect the family.

Threats to National Sovereignty: UN Entities Overstepping Their Mandates. (FWI Policy Brief) The right of UN Member States to national sovereignty is increasingly being undermined by the actions of rogue UN agencies, Special Rapporteurs and treaty monitoring bodies that are attempting to create new rights to which UN Member States have not consensually agreed.

Wrongheaded UNAIDS Prevention Policies vs. Evidence-Based Solutions. (FWI Policy Brief) Prevention strategies promoted by United Nations agencies and driven by sexual rights activists actually fuel the AIDS pandemic rather than prevent the spread of HIV. Prevention strategies should focus on behavioral changes including fidelity, partner reduction and the delay of sexual debut. This policy brief examines the myths and facts of UNAIDS prevention policies.

The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights. (FWI Policy Brief)The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights extend far beyond internationally recognized human rights and seek to impose controversial policies that would weaken the institution of the family. Ironically, the Guidelines recommend protecting behaviors that actually fuel the AIDS epidemic.

The Family & Sustainable Development:  Strong Families – Prosperous Nations. (FWI Short Film) This short film provides an overview of how the family is essential to the development of nations, eradication of poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, and multiple other facets in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Since governments can never adequately compensate for the irreplaceable role of the family, nations have a vested interest in protecting this natural and fundamental unit of society.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. (FWI Policy Brief) This UN treaty, ratified by all UN Member States except the United States, Somalia and South Sudan, is undermining parental rights around the world.

OHCHR Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. (FWI Policy Brief) This is an in depth analysis of the report on children’s health issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report actually attempts to establish sexual and reproductive health “rights” for children, pushes “comprehensive sexuality education” for children, facilitates abortion and abortion-related services for children, downplays and undermines the rights and roles of families, including parents, in educating and raising their children, and undermines the role religious beliefs and traditions play in the raising of children.

The UN Doha Declaration. This is one of the most important United Nations family documents in over a generation. It is part of the UN’s recognition of the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and reaffirms the UN’s historic commitment to protecting and promoting the family. All too often, UN bureaucrats and UN committees, in concert with anti-family non-governmental organizations, try to push an anti-family agenda in their dealings with individual countries and at various UN meetings. The Doha Declaration is an invaluable tool in stopping these efforts.

The Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality.” (FWI Policy Brief) The Commissioner’s report has little to do with maternal mortality and morbidity, and instead, is a thinly veiled attempt to establish highly controversial sexual rights as international human rights. The phrase “sexual and reproductive health rights” is repeated 29 times, even though this controversial phrase has been rejected by UN Member States every time it has been proposed in UN negotiations.

Ultra Vires Acts by UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Policy Brief) This Report exposes how the CRC committee is acting in ways that are harmful to children. It documents the actions of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child charged with overseeing the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Particular attention is given to past ultra vires (beyond its authority) acts by the Committee. The Report notes with concern that many CRC acts can be viewed as being (a) contrary to the principle of sovereign equality of UN member States (Article 2 of the UN Charter); (2) beyond the mandate of the Committee; (3) contrary to or not based on intergovernmental consensus.

The Rise of Faux Rights: How the UN went from recognizing inherent freedoms to creating its own rights by Meghan Grizzle Fischer. (ADF White Paper) This is an outstanding paper published by Alliance Defending Freedom that examines how the UN promotes “sexual and reproductive rights,” including abortion and comprehensive sexuality education, while at the same time disparaging the exercise of fundamental rights, such as parental rights, and impugning cultural and religious values.

FWI Resource Guide to U.N. Consensus Language on Family Issues. This valuable guide contains consensus language from major UN treaties and documents that is supportive of the family.

OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING THE FAMILY

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)  (FWI Policy Brief)

The Evolution of the Family in Europe 2007. Prepared by the International Policy Institute, this study provides an overview of the problems and pressures facing the family in Europe along with some recommendations about what can and should be done to protect and promote families as an answer to many of Europe’s social problems.

Do Fathers Matter uniquely for Adolescent Wellbeing of their Children? This research brief summarizes the findings of literally hundreds of academic studies that show that fathers, as well as mothers are critical in the wellbeing and healthy development of children at all ages.

The Shift and the Denial: Scholarly Attitudes toward Family Change, 1977-2002. Two noted researchers document the growing consensus over the past two decades that family structure, particularly the presence of both a mother and a father, are essential to the best development of children.  They also document the disturbing development of activist researchers who deny or try to confuse this growing evidence.