5,000 Join March for Life in Berlin
HLI
October 27, 2013
Around 5,000 pro-lifers gathered for the March for Life in Berlin, Germany before the Chancellor’s Office on September 21, 2013 – just one day before the national elections – in order to draw awareness to “the dignity of man and the right to life.” Though there are laws to prevent abortions, there have been over 1.5 million registered abortions in Germany since 2000, but many estimate the real number of abortions much higher than the official state figure.
The March was organized by “Bundesverband Lebensrecht,” an important alliance of 14 organizations that focus on different pro-life areas. At the end was released the Berlin Declaration on the Protection of the Unborn, which states in part:
- Every person, whether born or unborn, has the right to life and respect for their dignity.
- Every person is equally valuable, regardless of the stage of development.
- The obligation to protect the state applies to each individual. Human dignity and the right to life is independent of any third-party decision.
The declaration demands, among other things, a prohibition on genetic testing for the purpose of aborting the disabled, the end of taxpayer funded abortions and the end of assisted suicide and euthanasia.
We know from the past that the enemies of life can become violent at pro-life rallies in Europe. Fortunately, pre-emptive action on the part of the local police prevented an occurrence of violence. Hats off to them!