Buenos Aires, Argentina – August 10, 2026
Director Bethany Kozma, Secretary's Office of Global Affairs, delivered the following remarks at the ceremony marking Argentina's signing of the Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women's Health and Strengthening the Family.
AS DELIVERED
Good afternoon, thank you all for being here with us today at such an important event, honoring and celebrating Argentina's signing of this important international Declaration. The United States is so grateful for the friendship we share with Argentina, and we are thrilled to welcome your nation as a signatory to the Geneva Consensus Declaration. Argentina holds the special distinction of being the first nation to sign the Declaration since the United States assumed its role as the Secretariat of the Geneva Consensus Declaration.
A special thank you to Minister Quirno for hosting this event and to everyone who has worked so diligently to make this signing a reality. We are truly delighted to welcome Argentina into this group of nations dedicated to protecting life, national sovereignty, the family, motherhood, and women's health across the world. Argentina's participation strengthens this coalition and gives an even stronger voice to these principles throughout the Americas and on the international stage. Minister Quirno, I greatly appreciate your leadership and commitment to being the voice of the GCD in the Western Hemisphere.
The Geneva Consensus Declaration was established under the leadership of the first Trump Administration in 2020 as a joint initiative with 32 countries. Today, we can proudly say that it has grown to more than 40 nations deeply committed to its principles. This Declaration is a reaffirmation of what we all already know as Truth: The family is the foundational unit of society, and it deserves to be supported and protected; women's health is critical to thriving societies and deserves our attention; there is not, and has never been, an international right to abortion; mothers are the heartbeat of the home; and every nation has the right to make policies and decisions consistent with its own national laws—not those imposed on it by other nations or international bodies.
These principles matter because they recognize something very important: international cooperation should strengthen nations, not diminish their ability to govern themselves. Each country has its own history, its own laws, its own culture, and its own democratic institutions. The Geneva Consensus Declaration provides a framework for countries to work together while respecting those national differences and, more importantly, respecting each other's national sovereignty.
No single country can advance these principles alone. It takes governments willing to speak clearly, to stand together, and to support one another when these issues are debated in international forums. That is exactly what makes today's signing so meaningful.
In March of this year, Argentina co-sponsored with us an incredible side event at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, or CSW, in New York. This event, titled "Embracing the Social Significance of Motherhood through the Geneva Consensus Declaration," was a light in the midst of dark meetings where even the use of the word "mother" was frowned upon. Without Argentina's partnership and friendship, we would not be where we are today in fighting back against the harmful ideologies being pushed on the global stage. For that, we can thank both of our Presidents, President Trump and President Milei, for their leadership and their steadfast commitment to standing against these harmful ideologies and defending our shared values and for the leadership of Secretary Kennedy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Partnership is not simply about signing a document. It is about action. It is about having the courage to bring these principles into international conversations and ensuring that the voices of families, women, mothers, and sovereign nations are heard. It is about making sure that international institutions remain forums where countries can cooperate without surrendering their fundamental rights to determine their own policies.
It is an honor to stand alongside these individuals who share the values outlined in the Geneva Consensus Declaration, and I look forward to working with them in this strengthened partnership. Together, we can protect the family unit, support women and mothers, defend life, and guard national sovereignty across the U.N. and other international systems.
As we look ahead, I hope today's signing will be remembered as the beginning of an even stronger partnership. By standing together, supporting one another, and continuing to make our voices heard, we can ensure that these principles remain a meaningful part of the international conversation.
Thank you to everyone here, and to everyone who works day in and day out to make historic events like today's signing possible. We are truly grateful.
Thank you, Argentina, for joining the Geneva Consensus Declaration. I look forward to continuing our partnership on the global stage.
Label: Statement
OGA Office(s): Americas Regional Office