Leo van Doesburg

The issue of abortion came again in the forefront recently.  In the Polish Parliament, there was  a debate on a  Bill for a str icter ban on abortion. Of course, the pro-ab ortionists used this opportunity to criticize th is effort and to frame the people who want to protect the life of the unborn . I nterestingly, they are also  openly proclaiming that abortion is an EU comp etence  ne glecting the legal limitation s of the EU. One week before , ano ther meeting was org anized in the European Parliament by  the S&D Group where they discussed about what to do with  doctors or midwifes who can not perform abortions be cause of their conscience. The freedo m to choose does not seem to be valid for doctors with an other worldview.  That's why they are  p ushing them to act against  the ir conscience. The pro-abortionists or the so-called, "freedom to choose" movement showed its real face going aga inst f reedom and against democr...

The 18 th of October is the 10 th EU Anti Trafficking day. This  day is an opportunity to reflect on our anti-trafficking policies and a call for more targeted action. Last Tuesday, as General Secretary of the European Parliament Working Group on Human Dignity, I was involved in organizing an event on Human Dignity with the title "Combating Human Trafficking”. It was a very fruitful meeting that showed that there is substantial interest across political groups in the European Parliament on this issue. The event was hosted by MEPs Bastiaan Belder (ECR,  Chair of the Steering Committe of the Working Group ) and Diane Dodds (NA). Keynote speakers were: Lord Maurice Morrow  (Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly)  who tabled the latest law on prostitution in Northern Ireland based on criminalizing the client, Maria Vassiliadou, (EU anti-trafficking coordinator) and Frits Rouvoet (Director of Brightfame Foundation) who helps prostitutes in Amsterdam to leave prosti...

ECPM MEP Branislav Skripek (ECR) organized a press conference yesterday in the European Parliament that focused on developments in Syria after the Turkish invasion. Speakers besides Mr. Skripek w ere: Saleh Muslim vice-president from the Kurdis h Party in S yria and David Vergili from the European Sy riac Union. You can read the full press release here .

Yesterday, as Secretary General of the European Parliament Working Group on Human Dignity, I helped to organize (together with the offices of MEPs Bas Belder and Luigi Morgano) and participated in an event of the Working Group  with the title "Refugees and Human Dignity". It was a very successful event  that offered to all participants new insights on the situation of refugees in Europe. Seven Members of the European Parliament as well as representatives of different NGOs, Parliamentarian assistants and experts participated to this meeting. You can read below the official press release that was issued after the event.

More than 550 participants joined the "international forum on Cooperation of politicans and civil society to protect Christian values”   Last week, After the 5th Ukrainian Prayer Brea k fast , around 550 p oliticians, repres entatives of NGOs, and churches gathered toget her around the international forum on the "Cooperation of Politicians and Civil Society in the Promotion of Christian Values on the International Arena". The forum was organised by ECPM and the faction al Parliamentary Group "for s pirituality, morality and health for the Ukraine" . Distinguished speakers and experts from all over the world, as well as local contributors discussed on the issue of the Promotion of Christian Values and the ways the collaboration between decision makers, academics and civil society can become more effective. On the final day of the conference, participants signed the "Declaration on the Establishment of a "European Christian Coalition"....

The issue of euthanasia is becoming more and more relevant in Europe today. As Secretary General of the Working Gr oup for H uman Dignit y , on behalf of the ir members, I organized an  event last mont h where all participants noted that the elderly and terminally ill should be treated with respect and human dignity. Unfortunately, i n Belgium, euthanasia was also seen as a part of palliative care, focusing on the so-called "dignity to die". Also t he country where I come from, the Netherlands, has become a "champion" for euthanasia, becoming the f irst countr y that legalized euthanasia . This article, which was written with the kind help of the  De Nederlandse Patiëntenverening , the Italian Matchman News and my assistant L efteris Ka loterakis, shows how this issue has evolved in the public discourse and how the practice of euthanasia threatens the life and human dignity of thousands of my compatriots.

On the 26 th of April, I had the privilege to meet in the European Parliament in Brussels, students from the European University of Rome. The European University of Rome is a private, legally recognized, Catholic University which is part of a big network of universities widespread in many countries throughout the world. The University’s mission is to form in its students independent personalities that will be driven by Christian principles.