US Ratification of CEDAW: Worldwide Impact

Earlier this year, we sent you an update on the United Nations treaty for women – called the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and why we oppose its ratification. The United States of America is one of the few countries of the world that has not ratified this treaty.  By so doing other countries resist ratification protecting untold numbers of families around the world  from the affects of this treaty.  Unfortunately, due to the new US administration’s support of the treaty, CEDAW is once again passing through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and on its way to the Senate floor for ratification. Your support is needed in stopping this international treaty from becoming national law.

CEDAW Background

CEDAW was first sent to the U.S. for ratification during the Carter administration and has since reappeared numerous times in the Senate. The last unsuccessful attempt to ratify CEDAW was in 2002. During the debates in the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the committee added several RUDs-standing for reservations, understandings and declarations-that limited the scope of the convention in regards to abortion, paid maternity, and female military combat. Yet, some argued that these stipulations still exposed the government to too much external oversight and control, while others argued the stipulations undermined the intentions of the treaty. As a result, the treaty never reached the Senate floor for ratification.

Now with the change of administration, a new attempt at ratification has begun again. Already approved in the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee, the treaty is now under discussion in the Senate Foreign Relations full committee, where Senator John Kerry, D-MA, seeks to strip the treaty of the stipulations established in 2002 and pass the treaty onto the Senate floor for ratification without any protection for U.S. sovereignty.

What is CEDAW

CEDAW is promoted as a tool to end abuses against women and girls, such as trafficking in women, sex-selective abortion, infanticide, domestic violence, genital mutilation and other acts of violence and discrimination against women.  It works by requiring ratifying nations to file reports outlining how they are complying with the treaty. The reports are reviewed by 23 individuals elected by the states that have ratified the treaty. As the United States has refused to ratify the treaty, this committee consists of representatives of foreign governments.   This committee provides guidelines to countries and enforces them through economic pressure or threat of international law.

Radical women’s rights advocates have used this treaty to push the passage and enforcement of laws in the countries that have ratified the treaty. In fact, according to Human Rights Brief, “some countries have incorporated provisions of the treaty directly into their national law, and courts have cited CEDAW in decisions ranging from requiring protection from domestic violence to enabling women to inherit property.”

Dangers of CEDAW

The treaty poses an unseen, yet very real threat. Yes, many of the rights CEDAW promotes are central to the promotion of women’s rights throughout the world. However, as with much UN legislation, the danger lies in how the treaty can and is being utilized by radical feminists. Rather than simply protecting unborn babies from sex-selective abortion, the treaty has been interpreted to give women of all ages the right to state-sanctioned, and funded, abortions. In other countries, the treaty, promoted as a stay against sex-trafficking, has been used to push for laws legalizing prostitution. Although designed to protect women’s rights, it is being used to promote practices that directly undermine the importance of women in society and the traditional structures designed to protect them.

The dangers of CEDAW, therefore, clearly outweigh the benefits. The United States already has laws in place to protect the women’s rights outlined in the treaty. However, by ratifying the treaty, the U.S. subordinates the Constitution to international law and exposes us to oversight and regulation by an unaccountable UN committee with a radical agenda. The members of the CEDAW committee are given power and authority over treaty countries without an appeal process, subjecting all U.S. legislation to the CEDAW committee’s radical agenda and loose interpretation of the treaty. This is a direct threat to U.S. sovereignty.

UFIs position

Please understand that UFI does not sanction or endorse any of the horrific violent crimes committed against women around the world that CEDAW promises to eradicate. However, we strongly oppose the imposition of a UN committee’s radical agenda on the U.S. and particularly on developing countries highly vulnerable to the political pressure of the international community.

What you can do

The U.S. Senate must not ratify CEDAW! If the United States reverses its position and ratifies the treaty, the Constitution of the United States will be subordinate to the dictates of unaccountable international bureaucrats pursuing a radical feminist agenda without adding any additional protection for women around the world.

International supporters of the family should raise their objections by letting the U.S. Government know that you do not support ratification of CEDAW. Please contact the U.S. Mission to the UN by emailing Ambassador Susan Rice at www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov

American citizens should contact their senators to voice their opposition to ratification of this disastrous treaty. Contact them by clicking here and locating your senator.

Sincerely,
United Families International

Note From President Mike Duff

As this edition of the UFI Weekly Alert clearly shows, the fight to save the family is escalating.  A once dead treaty, negotiated more than three decades ago and pronounced as to radical to ratify, again threatens us all.  At UFI we are rising to the fight with expanded programs and reinvigorated dedication to protect the family as the fundamental unit of society.  But we can’t defeat a well funded, aggressive, opposition without your help.  The halls of the UN are far from you front door, but the impact will hit directly in your family room.

Please send us your contribution today to preserve the Constitution of the United States as a model for international liberty and to protect the true rights of women everywhere. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100, or whatever you can afford is needed now more than ever!  Can we count on you?

Michael N. Duff
President
United Families International

Click here to contribue $25, $50, or even $100 NOW!

UN President Says Homosexuality is “not really acceptable”

During a press conference prior to the opening of the 64^th UN General Assembly, the new President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Ali Abdussalam Treki of Libya, was quoted calling homosexuality “not really acceptable.” International homosexual and human rights groups were swift to respond

The comment came in response to a journalists question about his position regarding the “Declaration for the Universal Decriminalisation of Homosexuality,” passed last December. Treki said:

That matter is very sensitive, very touchy. As a Muslim, I am not in favor of it . . . it is not accepted by the majority of countries. My opinion is not in favor of this matter at all. I think it’s not really acceptable by our religion, our tradition.

It is not acceptable in the majority of the world. And there are some countries that allow that, thinking it is a kind of democracy . . . I think it is not.

The backlash in the homosexual rights community was immediate and pronounced. Members of the human rights organization, EveryOne Group are appealing to the General Secretary and the Security Council to have Treki removed from office and his statements stigmatized.

In the U.S., Republican House Representative, Ileana Rosa-Letinen of Florida, released a statement attacking Treki and the UN:

The anti-gay bigotry spewed by this Qaddafi shill demonstrates once again that the UN has been hijacked by advocates of hate and intolerance. Likewise, the leadership of the UN Development Program is held by the Iranian regime, which denies the presence of gays in Iran even as it murders them and other innocent citizens.

The International Lesbian & Gay Association (ILGA), one of the leading international homosexualist lobby groups, also released a statement saying, “The worrying and serious implications of this attitude, coming from the new head of an institution which is supposed to regard human rights – all human rights – as the most sacred value, cannot be overstated.”

The UN declaration Treki was responding to was made official in December of last year and is currently signed by 66 of the UN’s 192 member states, Libya not included. U.S. President Barack Obama signed the declaration this March. Those opposed to the declaration express concern that it would pressure countries into adopting or expanding same-sex marriage and further efforts to normalize homosexuality.

From this perspective, Treki’s concern seems legitimate and non-inflammatory. Yet those who have been using the UN to promote their radical agenda clearly have reason to respond vehemently to the President of the UN undermining the universality of such initiatives.

Three States Work to Defend Marriage

Although the pro-family movement made great strides defending traditional marriage last election in states like California and Arizona, the battle is still not over. Come November, voters will need to vote against three new homosexual rights initiatives in Washington, Maine, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. This legislation is in new form but poses the same threat to the traditional definition of marriage. So here is a rundown of the legislation and where you can go to get involved.

Washington: Referendum 71

Referndum 71, to be voted on this November, allows voters to confirm or reject the expansion of domestic partnership rights to include all the rights previously designated only for traditional marriage.

When the expansion, SB 5688, was signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire on May 18, 2009, the pro-family organization, Protect Marriage Washington, moved to action and organized efforts to gather the required 120,577 signatures to get the legislation onto the ballot for the public to actually vote on this redefinition of marriage.

According to Protect Marriage Washington, the expansion of domestic partnership rights in Senate Bill 5688 is the clearly the “last step before full civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples in the state.” The bill clearly sets the ground work for such a redefinition of marriage by including the phrase, “marriage shall apply equally to state registered Domestic Partnerships” over a hundred times. The Senate bill would also “redefine terms such as ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ to be interpreted as gender neutral,” exposing Washington to litigation by same-sex partners demanding the courts overturn the state’s Defense of Marriage Act.

To help in opposing this threat to traditional marriage, visit http://protectmarriagewa.com/.

Maine: Question 1

Similarly in Maine, proponents of traditional marriage have rallied together signatures to demand a vote on new legislation in Maine that would essentially “neuter marriage in the state.” The bill, LD 1020, “would remove the provision of Maine law that currently prohibits same-sex marriage, and would redefine marriage as a legal union between two people who may or may not be of the same sex.” The legislation was scheduled to take effect on Sept. 12 but thanks to the efforts of various pro-family organizations, the legislation will now be put to public vote.

According to Stand for Marriage Main, a Yes vote on Question 1 will prevent LD 1020 from ever becoming law, by “preventing homosexual marriage in Maine and preserving traditional marriage as the law. A Yes vote also maintains all the rights and benefits that same-sex couples now enjoy under Maine’s domestic partners law.”

For more information, visit: http://www.standformarriagemaine.com/

Kalamzoo, Michigan: Special Rights Discrimination

Finally, in Michigan, a single city ordinance is also taking center stage in the homosexual rights debate. The Kalamazoo city ordinance for Special Rights Discrimination that “outlaws employment, housing and public-accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identification, “ took effect July 9 but was quickly suspended when, once again, pro-family initiatives gathered enough signatures to put the legislation to public vote.

Proponents of the antidiscrimination ordinance, argue that if approved the legislation would do nothing more than make “it a city infraction to discriminate in housing, employment or access to public accommodations based on a person’s sexual identity or gender identification.”

However, local group Kalamazoo Citizens Voting No to Special Rights Discrimination, who are organizing opposition to the legislation, disagree. The legislation would undoubtedly result in reverse discrimination through which schools, businesses, and religions would be legislated into accepting homosexual conduct. As Kalamazoo Citizens Voting No to Special Rights Discrimination argue, “Sexual orientation ordinances are used to discriminate against individuals and organizations who don’t support homosexual activists’ political agenda.”

For more information on the impact of this antidiscrimination legislation visit: http://www.responsiblevoters.org/Default.aspx

The Time To Stand For The Family Is Now!

Join Voice of the Nation today as they talk with United Families International President Michael N. Duff about the urgent need to stand for the family.  Everyday new attacks on the family surface and we cannot stand aside any longer.  President Duff is leading UFI in new directions to take an even bigger stand for the family and he needs your help!  Learn how you can make a difference for the future of the family!

Michael N. Duff has spent his professional career in government, politics, international trade, economics, and pro-family advocacy.  He has
experience in the United States Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and was appointed by former Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush to work in their administrations.  He also served under Vice President Dan Quayle on the National Space Council.  Mike has managed political campaigns for various elected offices and operates a government relations consulting firm.  He and his wife Kandi have been married 26 years, are the parents of six children, and grandparents of one.

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President’s Spotlight

United Families International In A Changing World

My life changed a few weeks ago.  It did so in an inevitable manner, the same way it has happened for millions of other people, through all generations of time.

I saw the change coming.  I tried even to defend myself through obfuscation.  “I am not old enough to have children this age.  These are my wife’s children from her first marriage,” I stated many times, leaving out the part about being the first husband.  Despite these protestations, after 26 years of marriage, I was certifiably different!  I was an old man!  I was…..a grandfather!

The truth is that despite the fact that I am now different, there is a part of me that is pleased.  I am proud to have a good son with a beautiful wife who together, have through the proper manner, marriage, brought joy to my life and added to the rising generation.

But my life is different in other ways too.  In fact, the whole world and the lives of the billions of us that inhabit it are different, when compared to the world our fathers knew.

In our father’s world, the family was the fundamental unit of society.  The marriage of a man and a woman was reverentially and legally sanctified so that a new generation could, in an orderly and civil fashion, be born, educated, and trained ( the term used was “raised”) to interact socially and economically in peace as they eventually assumed their responsibility to run the world.

Words like accountability, responsibility, civility, duty, honor, integrity, fidelity, education, justice, and spirituality had meaning.  Nations and governments were formed to protect and promote the institutions of family and marriage, and the best interests of those acting to honor and uphold them.

The new world my granddaughter was born into is vastly different.  In this world, no one is to be held accountable for their actions or decisions.  You are only responsible to yourself and your own whims.  Civility is gone because if someone disagrees with you, you are offended and they are bigots and haters.  A person’s only duty is to be politically correct.  Honor is only paid to those resources, namely money, which allows you to pursue your whims.  Integrity means your publicist can issue an apology without actually admitting any wrong doing. Fidelity? Oh, heck, just love the one you are with.  Shunning enlightenment, knowledge, and truth, today’s society seeks diplomas and degrees without the burden of being educated.  The concept of equal justice for all has been superseded by a legal system wherein the players who can get the laws written their way win, ignoring that which is just.  Spirituality is to be mocked and driven out of public life.

Indeed, today’s popular culture advocates that what is wrong is right, and what is right is wrong.  This leaves us at an historic crossroads. For the first time in human history, an entire generation is being urged to come together into a global society whose values are in direct conflict with their own best interests.

Social scientists have been researching and documenting the impact of these societal changes.  Their data supports what you, as a supporter of United Families International (UFI), believe; that individuals, communities, and nations benefit by honoring and sustaining the institutions of marriage and family.

For all of my adult life, I have been personally and professionally involved in domestic policy, international relations, trade, economics, politics, and family advocacy, preparing for, and participating in the fight to preserve the family.  Now, I am pleased, as the new President of UFI, to implement plans and programs to make our organization the premier family advocacy group in the world.

By developing chapters in nations around the world, we will educate people that marriage and family are to be highly valued. Soon, you will see United Families USA, United Families Canada and similar chapters in nations around the world.  To increase our ability to positively impact local affairs, state, provincial, and regional chapters will be formed.

Through the influence of UFI chapter supporters, the domestic family policies of many nations will be enhanced. Then, these nations will send delegations to the United Nations (UN) intent on working with UFI and our coalition partners to secure their national sovereignty, protect and promote the family as the fundamental unit of society, and create a culture of life, protecting the unborn, the innocent, and the aged.

You will see our new legal affairs team intervening to stem the actions of activist judges and agenda-driven radicals intent on destroying the legal underpinnings of marriage and family.  You will see UFI offer more social science research data to policy makers, educators, and the public-at-large illustrating the positive impacts of pro-family policies on every individual, community, and nation.

You may already have seen aspects of our expanded domestic and international educational outreach program featuring; our electronic newsletter UFI Daily Update, highlighting family related news items of interest from around the world circulated to UFI supporters and policymakers; the aggressive distribution of UFI’s message via daily blogging, Twitter, Face book, You tube, and other social networking tools; and UFI Weekly Alerts, electronic issue alerts that explain in detail issues and actions critical in the fight to protect the family.  We will instigate high profile, multimedia education campaigns featuring sympathetic policy makers, policy experts, and social scientists educating the public on the distinct advantages of pro-family policies.

We will continue to support the growth of the world renowned Stay Alive AIDS prevention and education program. Nothing can be more important to our organization than to re-institute the family as the cornerstone of life for children orphaned and victimized by the ravages of the AIDS epidemic in various countries in Africa and around the world.

To facilitate the implementation of these aggressive plans, we have already formulated organizational governance and operations enhancements. These include a comprehensive fundraising program designed to fully fund the increase in annual program activities.  We will also establish an endowment fund to ensure the financial viability of UFI into the future.

As President of UFI, neither I nor my team of dedicated professionals can carry the fight alone. As our radical opposition increases, we are forced to increase activities at the international, national, and state/provincial levels of UFI.  Won’t you please lend us your heart, your hands, and your financial support?

In the weeks and months ahead, your local chapters will notify you of issues impacting your family directly and how you can take action. We will show you how to share your views with local and national policy makers. We will share information with you that makes it easy to teach your friends and neighbors why supporting the family is beneficial.

Please gather your family and consider what level of commitment you can make to ensure the benefits of strong families for generations to come.  As you look into their faces, you will have a renewed understanding of why it is so important to support UFI today! After all, one day your children will compare their world to that which their fathers left them.  What kind of a world will it be said you left them?

You can make an online donation of $25, $50, $100, $500 or or whatever you can afford now.  Or if you prefer print this form and mail a check, or donate using PayPal.  Your contribution is needed now more than ever!  Can we count on you?

WHAT’S AT STAKE IN THE ATTACK ON DOMA (part 2)

As the Obama Administration has failed in its responsibility to adequately defend DOMA in court, and as the president has called for the repeal of DOMA, the need for urgent action is clear.  If you don’t stand and help in the fight who will? Mike Duff, President United Families International

Join Voice of the Nation Thursday as Guest Bill Duncan of the Marriage Law Foundation talks about the Defense of Marriage Act.  What is the Defense of Marriage Act?  Why is it so important?  What are the current attacks on DOMA and what can you do to protect it?

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WHAT’S AT STAKE IN THE ATTACK ON DOMA?

by William C. Duncan, Marriage Law Foundation

Those who are pushing a redefinition of marriage in the United States promote an ideology that says when it comes to marriage, all adult relationships are the same and that adult desires are more important than children’s needs. A corollary to this idea is that anyone who disagrees is a bigot. When you see the world in this way, you are likely to believe that anything that advances your goal is permissible no matter how radical. The current legal attack on the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a good illustration.

DOMA Background

DOMA was overwhelmingly approved by Congress (and signed by President Bill Clinton) in 1996. At that time, at the order of the Hawaii Supreme Court, a trial court in Honolulu was deciding whether that state’s marriage law was constitutional. A decision to redefine marriage there, many activists were claiming, would mean that every state would have to recognize same-sex marriages contracted there.

Thus, the need for DOMA. This legislation has two parts. The first makes clear that whenever federal law mentions marriage it means the union of a man and a woman. The second makes clear that no state will be forced to recognize a same-sex marriage contracted in another state.

Lawsuit Attacks on DOMA

It is this first part that is being attacked in two separate lawsuits, both arising from Massachusetts-the first state to have legally redefined marriage, by court order.

The first lawsuit was brought by the group behind the lawsuit that resulted in same-sex marriage in Massachusetts; Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD). This new lawsuit argues that DOMA is unconstitutional because same-sex couples legally married in Massachusetts cannot get marriage benefits (like Social Security death benefits, or government employment compensation) under federal law.

The second lawsuit is brought by the state of Massachusetts itself. The state, it seems, is perturbed that it cannot unilaterally change federal law to adapt to Massachusetts’s new definition of marriage. This suit argues that it is unconstitutional for the government to define marriage in a way different than the state of Massachusetts. The state says it is harmed because when it administers federal laws like Medicare (and, of course, federal tax money) it has to do it in a way it believes is “discriminatory.”

DOMA and the Administration

The current presidential Administration has announced that it would like to see DOMA repealed. Just this week, a number of Democrats in the House of Representatives announced they would be introducing legislation to do just. Unlike the Massachusetts lawsuits, however, the repeal would apply to both parts of DOMA.

Another legal attack on DOMA was recently turned back. This one was brought by a same-sex couple in California who argued that it was unconstitutional for one state to not recognize a same-sex marriage from another. Their lawsuit was disfavored by activist groups because they felt it was premature. Many of the legal arguments made in the case were flawed as well, so it was quickly dismissed.

Interestingly, though, it was not the case but the federal government’s role in it that made headlines. Early in the suit, the federal Department of Justice had filed a submission to the court that pointed out that DOMA served important government interests. The DOJ noted that marriage is society’s best way of protecting a child’s opportunity to know and be raised by his or her own mother and father-certainly a vital interest. This is also an interest that has been recognized as a valid justification for state marriage laws by the highest courts of New York, Maryland and Washington. The argument did not go over well with activist groups and the media who complained that the argument was “hurtful.”

Thus, the next time the DOJ had to file a brief in the case, the arguments in favor of a child-centered view of marriage had disappeared. In fact, they were expressly repudiated. Instead, the brief announced that the Administration thought DOMA was a bad idea and made clear it was only defending the current marriage law reluctantly. This kind of attempt to undermine marriage laws by attorneys who are supposed to be defending them is not new. The attorneys general of California and Connecticut also refused to offer robust defenses of their states’ marriage laws and the attorney general of Iowa did not even bother to participate in a lawsuit challenging that state’s law.

Consequences of Losing DOMA

These attacks on DOMA undermine not only the law itself, they distort the meaning of constitutional provisions, threaten the separation of powers, and threaten to harm marriage.  If the marriage definition provision of DOMA is lost, a new definition of marriage imposed by courts and legislatures in a handful of states would apply to all federal laws that reference marriage.  All without input from the taxpayers in other states who would be helping to cover those costs.

While a state can decide on its own laws, it has no “right” to demand federal funding to cover the costs of those decisions. If Massachusetts were really concerned about federalism, perhaps it could argue that the federal government ought to get out of the business of providing funding for a myriad of social programs, rather than argue (as it is in this case) that Massachusetts should be able to set the conditions for receiving federal money.

It would also put the federal government in the position of endorsing the idea that marriage is just about adult choices and that men and women, mothers and fathers, are essentially interchangeable.

If Congress were to repeal both parts of DOMA, other states’ definitions of marriage could be threatened. It is probably the case that a state could refuse to recognize another state’s same-sex marriage even without DOMA, but DOMA makes that clear as a matter of federal law. Doing so decreases the likelihood that a state or federal court would find a spurious “right” to have a same-sex marriage recognized by other states.

A repeal of DOMA could embolden some judges and legislators who would see it as a sign that the political will to resist importation of same-sex marriages across state borders is flagging. The majority of states with state marriage amendments would be protected but the states without such amendments would be particularly vulnerable.

There is also no telling whether a federal court might decide to create a “constitutional” mandate to recognize same-sex marriages even for states with marriage amendments.

Marriage is worth protecting and because this is so, DOMA is worth preserving as well.

Sincerely,
United Families International

Note From President Mike Duff

This alert demonstrates the onerous nature of legal and legislative attacks on marriage.  As the Obama Administration has failed in its responsibility to adequately defend DOMA in court, and as the president has called for the repeal of DOMA, the need for urgent action is clear.  If you don’t stand and help in the fight who will?

With the help of Bill Duncan and the Marriage Law Foundation and others, we are formulating aggressive and effective legal intervention to defend marriage and family where others have refused.  But this is expensive we need your financial help NOW!  Waiting until next week or next month means that we can not act in time.  Won’t you help?  Your contribution of $25, $50, $100, or whatever you can afford is needed now more than ever!  Can we count on you?

Michael N. Duff
United Families International

Click here to contribue $25, $50, or even $100 NOW!

United Families International Stands for Marriage in Albania

United Families International has joined with others in an effort to stand for marriage in Albania.  The Albanian government has announced that it will file legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in the country and the Albanian pro-family movement has asked for our help.  United Families along with other pro-family groups call on the Albanian government to listen to the voice of the people and the nation’s religious leaders and withdrawal its proposal to legalize same-sex marriage.  A petition supporting traditional marriage signed by pro-family organizations from around the globe is being submitted to the Albanian governments in hopes of swaying their decision to legalize same-sex marriages.

To view the petition click here – http://unitedfamilies.org/downloads/AlbanianPetition.pdf

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: September 11, 2009
CONTACT: MIKE DUFF
(O)(877)435-7834
e-mail:mduff@unitedfamilies.org

DUFF NAMED PRESIDENT OF UNITED FAMILIES INTERNATIONAL

Gilbert, AZ—The Board of Directors of the international pro-family advocacy group United Families International (UFI) has appointed Michael N. Duff as President of the organization.  Duff will bring his extensive experience in government, politics, and family advocacy to bear in directing the international group.

“Mike brings years of experience in domestic and international government relations to UFI,” said Carol Soelberg past UFI President. “His experience working in both bodies of the U.S. Congress, as an appointee in two presidential administrations, and as a government relations professional, will make UFI an even more effective voice for the family at the United Nations and around the world.”

UFI is committed to protect the institutions of the family and marriage from the growing cultural and legal threats they face today.  UFI accomplishes that mission primarily through educating the public, policy makers, and the media about these underlying threats and the negative impacts they have on individuals, cultures, nations and the global community.  They also conduct legal research, help shape public opinion, and support policies and legislation that will strengthen the family and marriage.

“The society we live in today is in turmoil, with constantly shifting values.  Radical voices advocate one thing or another in betrayal of time-tested standards of behavior.  The moorings of our society have been badly shaken,” said Duff.

“We look forward to working with all responsible citizens and government officials to promote measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society,” Duff added. “The vast body of social science research clearly illustrates the impacts to our society of destabilized families.  No individual, community or nation is immune to these forces.  Each of us has a compelling interest in securing a stable future for all families,” concluded Duff.

Duff is from Blackfoot, Idaho and has been married to his wife Kandi for 26 years.  They are the parents of six children and grandparents of one.  They provide foster care to many children in need.

UFI MISSION

The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and should be valued and protected accordingly.  United Families International seeks to strengthen families by promoting:

• Family:  respect for existing law, political structure, religion and cultural norms that preserve the family.

• Marriage:  respect for marriage between man and women founded on chastity before marriage and fidelity in marriage.

• Life:  respect for the sanctity of human life including unborn children.

• Parents:  respect for the right and obligation of parent to love protect, provide for and teach their children.  And,

• Sovereignty:  respect for the sovereign rights of each individual nation as we work in the world community to protect the common good of individual families.

CORE ISSUES

FAMILY
The family is the fundamental unit of society and the foundation of civilization.  It is under attack as never before.

MARRIAGE
Marriage between a man and a woman is an essential element of creation and the critical foundation of the family.  Traditional marriage is in danger both culturally and legally.

PARENTING AND PARENTHOOD
Despite misguided cultural movements to the contrary, parents have the right and obligation to love, protect, and teach their children.

HUMAN SEXUALITY
Contrary to popular culture, the greatest fulfillment and peace in life is based on abstinence before marriage and fidelity in marriage.

SANCTITY OF LIFE
Human life, including that of unborn infants, is sacred and merits respect and protection.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious faith and its expression preserve values fundamental to the family and society.  Such expression should not be infringed upon.

UNITED NATIONS, NATIONAL, AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY
National sovereignty is being eroded by expanding bureaucratic activity internationally and in the United Nations.  National sovereignty is likewise being eroded by increasing federal encroachment.

COURTS AND JUDICIAL ACTIVISM
Unelected and activist judges are imposing their liberal agenda on the nation, in conflict with the Constitutional balance of powers.

MASS MEDIA
Modern mass media are waging a cultural war against the family and the values that support it.

CALL TO ACTION
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Your Support Is Needed

As the season ends, it is apparent that the work of defending families has never been so relevant. The blatant attempt at the United Nations and around the world to promote the pervasive and expansive use of abortion has kept us very busy, as has the continued attacks on marriage, parental rights and national sovereignty.

It is no secret that the current United States leadership has affected everyday business at the United Nations. What was previously difficult to achieve, is now a concerted effort that has allowed the floodgates of anti-family policies to begin to open.  We have been at the United Nations fighting, but we need your help to keep that movement at bay.

United Families International, a premier international family organization, has fought for the family for over 30 years. The family is
the fundamental unit of society and deserves protection from destructive policies.

There is no doubt that the voice of the family is needed now more
than ever. This year has been more challenging than most. However, the leadership that United Families has proven to be effective, even in these difficult times of adversity.

As we prepare for the next season of work, we reflect on the leadership brought to you so far this year. United Families has dug in deep to continue our legacy of working to protect the family and the valuable benefits it brings to society. This list is a shortened version, but will give you an idea of why your support now – for our continued work is so necessary:

1.    Distributed hundreds of our valuable Guides to Family Issues full of social science research.

2.    Participated in several United Nations conferences where we helped to educated delegates and attendees.

3.    Partnered with the World Congress of Families V, in Amsterda, where United Families facilitated a session, hosted a booth and shared literature and educational materials with hundreds of attendees from around the world.

4.    Sent over two million emails educating readers on important and timely issues, and motivated readers like you to become involved and make a difference.

5.    Educated and informed you on issues like the U.S. Healthcare Reform, Strong Families Promote Good Fiscal Policy, Attacks on Marriage, Your Parental Rights Under Attack, The Harms of Pornography, and more.

6.    Kept you updated on important news from around the globe using our weekly email alerts, Facebook, Twitter, Voice of the Nation talk radio, and the United Families Blog.

7.    Distributed our valuable United Nations Negotiating Guide to eager recipients. The Negotiating Guide is considered the leading source of pro-family language used for UN documents and treaties.

8.    Worked and collaborated with national and international coalition members to unify efforts to protect the family.

9.    Promoted the work of our affiliate chapters.  UFI’s message reaches untold numbers around the world.

10.    UFI continues to strengthen our educational Stay Alive HIV/AIDS prevention program.  A highly anticipated 5 in 1 manual, expert evaluation program and a new Stay Alive Executive Board organization have all contributed to an expanded effort to reach African families suffering with the AIDS epidemic.

In order to continue our work, we need your financial backing.

Our work at United Families increases everyday.  The social and political pressures to radically reforme the family and values that uphold the family are under attack as never before.  As a consequence activites levels that were good enough in the past are no longer good enough to continue the fight into the future.  We recognize that donors want their money spent on the issues that affect them and their families.  At United Families, every dollar of your donation is used judiciously to continue the fight against the forces that seek to destroy the family.

We depend completely on individual donors – like you. We are planning our strategy for the coming year and need your support.

Fighting against abortion is not free.
Fighting against the radical homosexual political adgenda is not free
Fighting to preserve the rights of the family is not free.

Please make a donation today of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1000.  Your contributions will be used to fight marriage amendment battles, file amicus briefs in parental rights cases, and work with pro-family countries at the UN to stop the abortion rights and gay rights agendas.

Please help us today!  We know these issues are important to you.

We know you want to decide how to raise your children.

We know you do not want gay marriage taught in schools.

We know you do not want total access to abortion.

We know you want to enjoy religious freedom.

These are freedoms that come at a price.  The opposition is very well funded and well organized.  Your support will help us fight against them.  Donate $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1000 to United Families today.

You can make an online donation of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1000, call our office at (877) 435-7834, print this form and mail a check, or donate using PayPal.  Please make a generous donation today.

Together, we can truly make a difference.

Sincerely,
United Families International

United Families to Speak At Smart Girl Summit 2009

Friday September 18th United Families will be speaking at Smart Girl Summit 2009 in Nashville Tennessee.  The summit will focus on how women can make a difference in America.  Jennifer Stinson, a UFI representative, will focus her speech on why what happens at the United Nations matters.  In her speech she will expose some of the hidden agenda’s of the UN and what we can do to make a difference.

Other speakers at the event will include Liz Cheney, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, and Michelle Malkin.

If you are interested in attending please click HERE!

Can’t get to Nashville for the Summit?

Smart Girl Politics will be broadcasting the summit LIVE.  To find out more information about viewing the broadcast click HERE.

Parents Made a Difference

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has!”
- Margaret Mead

Join Voice of the Nation Thursday as they discuss President Obama’s Tuesday’s speech to the students of America.  Find out how the voice of concerned parents across the nation forced the President to change his speech’s content.

Guests will include concerned parents, teachers, and policy working discussing why the concerns around the president’s speech were valid.

Obama Broadcast In Schools Across the Nation Tuesday

Did you know?

On Tuesday at 12pm ET, September 8^th, US President Barak Obama will deliver a national address to the public school students of America.  According to the US Department of Education the president will challenge students to work hard, set education goals, and take responsibility for their learning.  This address will be broadcast from the White House into classrooms all across America.

This broadcast has caused quite an uproar from parents across the US who are concerned because this speech has not been screened for political content.  This speech has also not been reviewed by State Education Boards and local school boards which, under state laws, must approve curriculum.

Some schools have chosen to not show the broadcast due to the overwhelming opposition and concern of parents.  Some schools are allowing parents to pull their children out of class during the broadcast. Other schools are giving parents no options but to send their children to view this speech despite their personal concerns.

Obama’s recent “I Pledge” video being shown in a Utah Elementary school has caused some parents to be concerned about the content of the broadcast Tuesday.  Parents have taken offence to statements in the video such as that by Anthony Kiedis, of the band “Red Hot Chili Pepers,” saying “I pledge allegiance to the funk, to the united funk of funkadelica” and “I pledge to be of service to Barak Obama.”

This video has caused many parents to be concerned about the message Obama plans to send to the children of the US on Tuesday.

Parental Rights Under Attack in the United States and Around the Globe

Uncle Sam Wants You!!!  This familiar pre-World War I slogan has been used to encourage American citizens to sign up for active duty in order to protect their country from outside intruders.  In a recent twist, modern time governments, including the United States have moved in a radically different direction. Instead of Uncle Sam fighting outside intruders, we must all worry about the enemy within. Uncle Sam still wants you…but he is coming for you through your children.

PARENTAL RIGHTS ARE AT RISK

Parental rights are under attack around the globe.  The most recent developments are in the United States where the government is attacking parent’s rights from all sides.  The government family power grab is not a new concept. For decades the United Nations, a shill for the anti-family movement, has promoted policies that would destroy families from the inside out. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a prominent reminder of how the United Nations – a worldwide government system, can control you and your family.

Other examples of government overreach are H.R. 2343, the Education Begins At Home Act. This was proposed as a means to identify children with developmental problems.  Early intervention is certainly something we all support. However, upon reading the actual bill language it is realized that evaluations, drugs and treatment were all government mandates. Parents would have had no say in their children’s oversight and health care rights. It also mandated government home visits for monitoring purposes.

In 2008, H.R. 3289 – The Pre-K Act would have provided funding for voluntary pre-school in every state across the nation.  Again, seems harmless enough. However, the Pre-K Act provided curriculum dealing with non-academic issues like gender issues, environmentalism, multiculturalism and feminism.  At the time, Sen. Hillary Clinton was a proponent of the legislation that did not pass.

CONGRESS IS COMING TO CONTROL YOUR CHILDREN

Congress’ move toward the takeover of America’s children is chilling. After the 2008 election, the liberals have increased their efforts. A big push to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child has begun. UFI has warned you of the consequences of the US ratifying the treaty and has asked for your help in stopping this threat to the loss of parental rights and national sovereignty. The CRC is not the only proposal to be worried about.

The majority of liberals in Congress are working feverishly to ensure the passage of big government social programs by burying otherwise unacceptable language in top priority bills. This technique is used covertly by the current administration as a means to a political end; satisfy the liberal fringe while hiding controversial proposals from the masses.

The current Congress and President believe that government knows how to parent best. But they fear the people of the United States will rebel against too much government intrusion if their proposal becomes public. Parents might begin to hear about cases of restraining parental rights similar to the one example in Canada where a court overturned a father’s grounding of his 12-year old child, deeming it unfair to the child.

Unable to gain the support of the American People with legislation and treaties that will erode parental rights, the liberals new tactic of “hide and seek” is now playing out in HR 3200, the House version of the health care reform bill.

HIDE AND SEEK: READ THE HEALTHCARE BILL – PAGE 838

Everyday the momentum against the President’s Health Care bill becomes stronger.  The reason is simple; more and more people are actually reading the 1000 page bill.  H.R. 3200, the House version entitled, “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009″, is sponsored by several Congressmen, including John Dingell, Henry Waxman, and Charlie Rangel. Hidden within the bill on page 838, in Section 440 is this language titled – “Home Visitation Programs for Families with Young Children and Families Expecting Children,” The title, itself, should take your breath away. The text of the bill can be found at http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text

Deborah Stevenson, Executive Director of NHELD – National Home Education Legal Defense in her article warns readers that, “This section of the bill authorizes the provision of federal money to be given to  states on the condition that the states will develop certain programs that include “voluntary home visits” by government officials”. Her research is used throughout the remainder of this article and UFI commends NHELD for their work.

These government worker visits will be modeled on programs that:

“adhere to clear evidence-based models of home visitation that have demonstrated positive effects on important program-determined child and parenting outcomes, such as reducing abuse and neglect and improving child health and development”;

“establish appropriate linkages and referrals to other community resources and supports”;

“monitor fidelity of program implementation to ensure that services are delivered according to the specified model”;

“Provide parents with — knowledge of age-appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor domains.
- knowledge of realistic expectations of age-appropriate child  behaviors;
- knowledge of health and wellness issues for children and parents;
- modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices; and
- skills to recognize and seek help for issues related to health, developmental delays, and social, emotional, and behavioral skills.”

The intention is good, but the means and outcome will be devastating to parents, children and families. There are several provisions in the bill that call for alarm:

Information about you and your family will be gathered during the home visits and shall be shared with other government agencies, like adult and child protective services.

Reports are due back to the federal government on what was learned during the home visits, including who and what is happening in the privacy of your home; how your children are schooled, trained, are fed and any religious activities that go on in your home.

The strength of any program can always be found by the amount of money attached to it. In this case, funding is rather significant and increases over time, concluding that the program will grow over 5 years time.

$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2011
$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2012
$200,000,000 for fiscal year 2013
$250,000,000 for fiscal year 2014

STIMULUS STICKS IT TO PARENTS

States are scrambling for funds to balance their budgets and keep government programs working. HR 3200 promises stimulus funds to states that participate in the “voluntary” home visits. If states accept the money, they are then mandated by the U.S. federal government to be in your home.

There is a strong possibility that this will happen if the bill passes.

ACT NOW BEFORE THE BILL BECOMES LAW

Here’s what you can do:

1.) Don’t Give Up!!! – continue to contact your Members of Congress by phone, email and in person. Make your voice heard! Find your congressmen’s contact info by clicking here. – https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

2.) Keep updated on the facts and learn how to respond to the Deception, misinformation, and myths by checking out the following websites:
http://stoptheabortionmandate.com/get-the-facts/
http://www.cprights.org

3.) Attend town hall meetings and ask your member of Congress to oppose any bill that mandates abortion coverage and restricts parental rights. – The largest gathering against the health care bill will take place in D.C. on Sept. 12, 2009.

4.) Share with all your friends and family your concerns about parental rights being under attack in the Obamacare bill.

5.) Forward this alert to 5 of your friends and family so that they too can make a difference.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

If parental rights and the right to life are values you hold dear, you cannot afford to keep quiet! Please consider donating $25, $50, or even $100 so that UFI can continue educating hundreds of thousands of people about these important issues that impact the family!

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS Voice of the Nation TODAY!!!

Voice of the Nation talking about Obamacare

“At the heart of President Barack Obama’s health-care plan is an insurance program funded by taxpayers, administered by Washington, and open to everyone. Modeled on Medicare, this “public option” will soon become the single dominant health plan, which is its political purpose. It will restructure the practice of medicine in the process.” —Wall Street Journal

Join Voice of the Nation TODAY as they discuss President Obama’s plan to restructure healthcare on a national level.  What is nationalized healthcare and how it will affect each of us, our children and those we love most?  Is nationalizing your healthcare the answer?

Guest Dr. John Richard Ammon– This week Voice of the Nation will be talking with Dr. John Richard Ammon,  a Cardiac and Neurosurgical Anesthesiologist from Phoenix AZ.  Dr. Ammon is a former President of the American Board of Anesthesiologists and currently serves as a Faculty Member of University of Arizona for Anesthesiology.  He has also worked closely with Congressmen and Senators on the healthcare issues currently facing our nation.  Join Voice of the Nation as they talk with Dr. Ammon about the human side of the debate from a doctor/patient perspective.  Find out about not just the financial, but the human costs of socialized medicine.

TUNE IN HERE