Around
the world, celebrations were held on March 25th, the
International Day of the Unborn Child, to celebrate the inherent human dignity
of the unborn child. Pro-life advocates marked the day with marches, liturgies,
demonstrations, and events to demonstrate support for laws and policies that protect the
unborn child from abortion and offer care and support for his or her mother.
Pope John Paul II first
initiated the day of remembrance, which coincides with Feast of the
Annunciation, celebrating the moment when the angel Gabriel announced to the
Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, and now all faiths
participate. El Salvador was the first country to officially recognize a “Day
of the Right to Be Born” in 1993 while the first “Day of the Unborn” was
officially recognized in Argentina in 1999. In
2003, the first Provida International Congress in Madrid, with representation
from over 20 countries in Europe and the Americas, institutionalized March 25th
as the International Day of Life.
The International Day of the
Unborn Child has grown rapidly, with celebrations held throughout the month of
March and official government recognition growing. Celebrations in Chile were
given an official recognition as legislation marking the day was passed last
fall. White roses were handed out to pregnant women in Santiagoas
a symbol of the unborn child’s purity and to honor pregnant women while raising awareness about the
importance of caring for and protecting expectant mothers. The foundation Chile
Unido, which provides assistance to pregnant women from pregnancy to the baby’s
first year, helped to orchestrate
the initiative.
Romania held its
largest March for Life to date to in celebration of new life, with events in 40
cities. The theme of the March was “Adoption, the noble choice”. The goal of
the March according to a press release is “to set these thoughts in the
Romanians’ hearts. If we succeed in sending a message to society that our
country needs an adoption culture, this will lead the nation to a culture of life.”
The events were organized and coordinated largely by the pro-life student
organization Studenti pentru Viata, with strong support from the Romanian
Orthodox Church. “The Pro Life Week” also included many side events, such as
pro-life movie screenings, exhibitions, conferences and support groups for
adoptive parents. Additionally, the Romanian government organized a forum on
adoption with officials from the Romanian Office for Adoptions, MPs and experts
in adoption issues.
Commemorations of the day included events in Australia, Austria, Argentina,
Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Israel,
Italy, Nicaragua, Poland, Peru, Paraguay, the Philippines, Slovakia, Spain,
Uruguay, the United States, and the United Kingdom.