WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s dangerous announcement of the Geneva Consensus Declaration. Such an effort would undercut the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and strip the fundamental rights of millions, especially women.

“I’m disturbed by today’s announcement that the Trump administration has decided to sign a declaration which supports restricting abortion and same-sex marriage. The Geneva Consensus Declaration attempts to undermine bedrock human rights agreements and women’s health and reproductive rights here at home and around the world. Fortunately, same-sex marriage and abortion remain legal in the United States. Despite the White House’s efforts, LGBT rights and women’s rights will always be human rights.”