Reuters: U.S. isolated at U.N. over its concerns about abortion, refugees
“The United States found itself isolated in the 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Monday over Washington’s concerns about the promotion of abortion and a voluntary plan to address the global refugee crisis. … The United States was the only country to oppose the draft [annual resolution on the work of the U.N. refugee agency] last month when it was first negotiated and agreed by the General Assembly human rights committee. It said elements of the text ran counter to its sovereign interests, citing the global approach to refugees and migrants. … The United States also failed in a campaign, which started last month during negotiations on several draft resolutions in the General Assembly human rights committee, against references to ‘sexual and reproductive health’ and ‘sexual and reproductive health care services’…” (Nichols, 12/17).

Washington Post: U.S. alone in its opposition to parts of a U.N. draft resolution addressing violence against girls
“…In the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, the United States … was the only country that opposed nonbinding language in a draft resolution designed to tackle violence against girls and women, as well as sexual harassment. It was also almost alone in its opposition to language used in another draft resolution against early and forced marriage — only the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru felt comfortable with being on Washington’s side this time. … U.S. statements also indicated that there were concerns about the [violence against girls and women] resolution conflating ‘physical violence against women with sexual harassment.’ … While the United States was the only country opposed to language included in the resolution on violence against girls and women, it certainly wasn’t the only government opposed to encouraging abortions. Instead of putting the resolution into jeopardy, however, 31 other countries with the same view decided to abstain” (Noack, 12/18).