US and European NGOs Arrive in Kosovo     4/9/2008
Experts in International Social Policy Warn about Problems with Draft Constitution

Washington, D.C. — A team of legal and human rights experts arrives in Pristina, Kosovo this week to meet with top government officials and religious leaders about the draft constitution. The team comes from some of the most influential non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the United States and Europe that focus on social policies related to constitutional and international law, human rights and international institutions.

The group is concerned that aspects of the draft constitution could be misinterpreted to promote special rights for “sexual orientation” leading to same-sex “marriage”; remove any ability of Kosovo to determine its own moral values relating to sexual behavior; lead to a claim of a right to abortion; violate the rights of conscience of Kosovar professionals; and limit speech, media, assembly, and association, preventing any public expression of unpopular viewpoints – the viewpoints that most need constitutional protection.

The team plans to meet with senior government officials and hold a press conference on Friday. The team will present a petition signed by 50 groups from the US and Europe that outlines many concerns about the language of the draft constitution. On Sunday the group will meet with religious leaders.

The team consists of:

• Glen Lavy, Senior Vice President of the Alliance Defense Fund, one of the largest public interest law firms in the United States.

• Susan Yoshihara, President of the International Organizations Research Group at Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute.

• Christine Dupuis, Co-Founder of the Chrétiens Démocrates Fédéraux, Belgium, International Relations Director for Action pour la famille-Actie, and Board Member of the European Christian Political Movement.

• Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America, the largest public policy women’s group in the United States.

• Stephen Bartulica, Educational Initiative for Central and Eastern Europe, Austria, and former diplomat with the Croatian Foreign Ministry.

• Antun Lisec, Director of Human Life International, Croatia, a medical doctor.

• Carol Soelberg, President United Families International, which provides social science to strengthen policies on marriage, family and life. Carol is the mother of thirteen children and grandmother of thirty-six.

• Other NGOs with the delegation include the Alliance of Romania's Families and Advocates Europe, which trains lawyers to promote the rule of law and ethics.

The team’s purpose is to comment on the substance of the constitution, not to address the question of independence.

For Information Contact:
Natalie Bell
(202) 488-7000
media.cwfa.org

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