Greetings and Welcome,
I am thankful for this opportunity. I stand before you as a representative of the Youth for Life Jamaica movement. Youth for Life Jamaica is a Christian organization that has arisen as a response to recommendations of the Abortion Policy Review Committee for the legalization of abortion in Jamaica.

We are a distinctively a youth group, and our goal has been “to mobilize the Christian youth of Jamaica to boldly and creatively influence the members of the Jamaican Parliament to vote against the legalization of abortion in Jamaica, and to awaken the consciences of the youth to the sacredness of human life.”

We are convinced in our reasoning and conscience, that the medical, philosophical, political, psychological and biblical arguments concerning abortion are more to its disgrace than favour. Therefore we stand united as Christian youths in the firm belief that abortion is an altogether unjustifiable act, and an injustice against humanity that we absolutely oppose.

Abortion is an Injustice Against Young Women.
We are not naïve of the circumstances within which Jamaican women have to live and raise children, many of which are unplanned for and unsupported by their fathers. These circumstances are also the very reason which the Abortion Policy Review Committee implicitly cited to explain the high incidences of abortion in Jamaica.

It is clear to us that abortion is not the essential demand of Jamaican women, but is instead a ruthless response to a harsh socio-economic problem that does not cater to the specific needs of women in our society.

Jamaican women need respect, equal pay as their male colleagues, and maternity leave without fear of losing their jobs. Jamaican women need a government that enforces child-support payments, and which seeks creative ways to empower young women. They need opportunities. Jamaican women need love not abortion. And to legalize abortion, would be a falsehood against them.

Human Beings
The science of fetology has shown us that they have their own heart- in fact, all their own organs. They can suck their thumb. And when they are ripped apart limb, by limb in an abortion, they feel pain.

Abortion is an Injustice Against Human Beings
The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which we are signatory declares:

Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.

Therefore a woman’s right to choose must be limited by a child’s right to live.
If we set a principal as a society that human life is dispensable when it becomes 1) too costly, 2) inconvenient, 3) a representative of bad personal experience or whatever it may be, we are establishing the foundations on which anarchy will build its castle.

Jamaican Youth Do Not Need Abortion
We, the members of Youth for Life Jamaica are standing firm in the conviction that the youth of Jamaica do not need abortion. We are confident that we speak for our generation in the recognition that abortion is never of benefit to any country. Since we are the current and next generation of young parents, we will be the ones negatively affected by the legalization of abortion and our children will be the victims.

Our Commitment
As we go forward, we are committed to an island wide campaign of signing petitions to show our government that young people do not want abortion thrust upon them. Our ministry of educational outreach to youth groups on the sanctity of life is a core of our work to wake up the next generation to keep abortion out of our land. Our Voice will be heard through the media, petitions and a peaceful protest march.

As the future Generation we intend to move Jamaica towards creating a culture of life and forming a society that address the particular needs of our citizens which starts by preserving the fundamental right to life of our most valuable citizens. Choose life Jamaica so that we and our descendants may live!

Blessings and Love Jamaica

Youth for Life
www.youthforlifeja.com
youthforlife_ ja@ yahoo.com