Thousands march in support of life, family in El Salvador

San Salvador, El Salvador, Nov 7, 2018 / 16:13 pm

Thousands participated Nov. 3 in the "Family is Life" march in San Salvador, calling on authorities to end efforts to legalize abortion and implement gender ideology in schools.

The march, which organizers estimated drew around 5,000 people belonging to 70 organizations, began at the Salvador del Mundo (Savior of the World) Plaza and ended up in downtown San Salvador.

Julia Regina de Cardenal, the president of the Yes to Life Foundation, said that many people in El Salvador are "calling for the right of parents as the first and irreplaceable educators of our children to be respected in face of the threat of gender ideology that is advancing in the programs of this government."

Speaking to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language sister agency, she said that one of the threats being posed to strong families is the educational document "Comprehensive Sex Education," since "it encourages children, starting with preschool, to seek sexual pleasure individually or with another person."

She further warned that another danger for Salvadoran society "is the National Interagency Strategy for the Prevention of Pregnancy" sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund and the European Union. The program promotes contraception as one of the 'sexual and reproductive rights' for girls, without the knowledge of parents, she said.

Regina de Cardenal noted that "on February 3, 2019, we will have presidential elections, and we hope that the candidates see that these issues are important to the people."

The theme of the Nov. 3 march, she said, "is a message of unity and love, because it is proven that the intact family is key for development, as it provides greater stability, security and opportunities for the children and therefore to society."

She pointed to the correlation between broken families and gang activity among young people, stressing the value of strong families for the well-being of children.

Sara Larín, of the VIDA SV (Life El Salvador) platform, who also participated in the march, said that the event also sought to "celebrate life, family and values," as well as "to reclaim the right of parents to educate their own children."

Gender ideology, she said, "is a violation of the rights of children."
 
 
This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.