Archbishop Paul Gallagher, reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to advancing women’s dignity and equality while firmly rejecting abortion as a “false solution”
Newsroom (24/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a powerful address to the United Nations marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states, reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to advancing women’s dignity and equality while firmly rejecting abortion as a “false solution” to women’s challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the Holy See, Gallagher emphasized that true equality for women hinges on respecting the dignity of all human life, “from the unborn to the elderly.” He underscored that the right to life is the foundation of all other fundamental rights, a principle he described as non-negotiable.
“Women’s equality cannot be achieved unless the dignity of all people is respected, especially the most fragile and vulnerable,” Gallagher, a native of Liverpool, England, told the UN assembly.
Health Care and Maternal Mortality
Gallagher called for urgent improvements in maternal health care, noting that while maternal mortality rates have declined since 1990, progress has stagnated in recent years. He advocated for expanded access to prenatal care, skilled birth attendants, and robust health care infrastructure, while explicitly rejecting abortion as a means to address maternal health challenges.
“False solutions such as abortion must be rejected,” he said, urging nations to prioritize comprehensive health care systems that support pregnant women and their unborn children.
Gallagher’s remarks come amid ongoing global debates over reproductive rights, with recent estimates from the Guttmacher Institute and World Health Organization indicating that approximately 73 million induced abortions occur worldwide each year, based on data from 2015–2019. This translates to an average global abortion rate of 39 per 1,000 women aged 15–49, with around 61% of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion during that period. The rates remain highest in regions like Africa and the Middle East, where restrictive laws often correlate with higher incidences of unsafe procedures, according to WHO analyses. Despite a slight decline in the global unintended pregnancy rate from 79 to 64 per 1,000 women over the past three decades, experts warn that stalled progress in contraception access and health equity continues to drive these figures.
A Call to Avoid Divisive Issues
The archbishop cautioned against focusing on “divisive issues” that do not genuinely advance women’s well-being. Instead, he urged UN member states to honor their commitments under the 1995 Beijing Declaration, a landmark agreement adopted by 189 countries to promote women’s rights globally.
Gallagher highlighted persistent challenges that continue to undermine women’s equality, including higher rates of extreme poverty among women, barriers to quality education, and wage disparities in the workforce. These conditions, he argued, prevent women from fully realizing their potential and achieving equal dignity in all spheres of life.
Violence Against Women: A Global Concern
In a stark warning, Gallagher described the ongoing prevalence of violence against women and girls as “deeply alarming.” He condemned all forms of violence, whether occurring in domestic settings, during human trafficking, or in conflict zones, calling such acts “an affront to their dignity and a grave injustice.”
The archbishop also pointed to the role of technology in exacerbating certain forms of abuse, as well as practices like prenatal sex selection and female infanticide, which he noted result in the loss of millions of “missing girls” each year. These acts, condemned in the Beijing Declaration, remain a significant barrier to gender equality, he said.
“Any form of violence against women and girls is unacceptable and must be combated,” Gallagher insisted.
A Continued Commitment
The Vatican’s address underscored its unwavering commitment to the principles of the Beijing Declaration while advocating for a holistic approach to women’s rights rooted in the protection of human dignity at all stages of life. Gallagher’s remarks served as both a call to action and a reminder of the moral framework guiding the Holy See’s stance on global gender issues.
As the UN reflects on three decades of progress and challenges since the Beijing conference, the Vatican’s message reinforces the need for unified efforts to address systemic inequalities while safeguarding the sanctity of life.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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