In November of 2008, World Youth Alliance Europe was invited to spoke to the Oireachtas – Irish Parliament Sub-committee on Ireland’s Future in the European Union. Today, on behalf of our members around the world, we reiterate our statement in support of the Irish people’s desire to uphold and respect human dignity and life.

Article 40 reaffirms that all human beings are equal before the law and that human life will be protected from conception to death. This article ensures that the human person is the center and focal point of law and policy. It is evidence that the Irish people understand that the intrinsic dignity of every human life is the foundation of human rights and of the right to life. We believe that the European Union as a whole can benefit from knowledge of the Irish Constitution, and use it as a guide for developing a philosophy of human rights and a body of human rights law that takes human dignity as its starting point. 

 

 François Jacob, WYA Europe director, invited to speak at the Irish Parliament, November 2008

World Youth Alliance recognizes that the Decision of the European Council to respect the Irish Constitution in matters of life and family is a starting point for promoting a “common understanding” of human rights that reaffirms the dignity and worth of the human person and creates the necessary conditions for human flourishing. We hope that this is a sign of future efforts to respect the traditions and cultures of Member States within this common understanding of the human person.