UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
|
| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
|
"ICPD 94"
March 1994
Number 13
Newsletter of the International Conference on Population and
Development
Cairo, Egypt, 5-13 September 1994
NEWS FROM THE NGOS
JAPAN'S NETWORK FOR WOMEN AND HEALTH, CAIRO '94
To increase the involvement of Japanese women in ICPD and its
preparatory process, a group of scholars, politicians, doctors,
journalists, and members of women's and environmental NGOs have
formed Japan's Network for Women and Health, Cairo '94. Organizers
believe it is essential that women play a central role in
policy-making in regard to population issues such as fertility,
ageing, women's labour, migrant workers, welfare and sexuality.
In the months before the Conference, the group plans to
conduct a number of activities to promote better public
understanding of reproductive health issues. Organizers hope to
ensure that the Government's national report and its delegation to
the Conference reflect Japanese women's perspectives.
The network has organized several symposia with panels and
guest speakers; a platform meeting is scheduled in March. The group
plans to send representatives to PrepCom III.
U.K. NGOS TAKE PART IN WORKSHOPS ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
To facilitate consultations with NGOs as part of the ICPD
preparatory process, the British Government last year set up the
NGO Forum ICPD Cairo 1994, under the aegis of the Overseas
Development Administration. Three workshops were organized: women
and population; primary health care, family planning and women's
reproductive rights; and population in the context of development.
Some 46 NGOs took part in the third session, held 11 November
1993. Working groups focused on population and development
interactions and relationships; structural adjustment programmes
and population; development, population and environment; and women
and development.
While the views expressed in these groups were diverse, two
concerns were widely shared. First, discussions of population
should move away from an exclusive emphasis on fertility; the focus
should also encompass the causes and consequences of population
growth, population and development relationships, and the causes
and alleviation of poverty. Second, structural adjustment
programmes should not preclude a development focus that gives
priority to the alleviation of poverty and inequality, empowers the
poor and guarantees the conditions through which women can exercise
their reproductive rights.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH CONFERENCE HELD IN RIO
The Reproductive Health and Justice: International Women's Health
Conference for Cairo '94 was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from
24-28 January. Following a number of regional and national women's
meetings on population and reproductive health issues in 1993, the
Conference was designed to produce specific strategy
recommendations for ICPD. Some 227 women from 79 countries took
part.
The conference adopted a Rio Statement, which voiced
opposition to population policies that do not address women's
rights to a secure livelihood and freedom from poverty and
oppression, or which do not respect women's rights to free,
informed choice and adequate health care. The statement declared
that quality reproductive health services should be available,
accessible and affordable; and abortion safe and legal. It also
urged Governments to redirect military expenditures to social
programmes, and recommended that the United Nations establish a
commission on women's reproductive rights.
***
For printed or electronic copies of the "ICPD 94" newsletter, in
English, French or Spanish, or further information, please contact:
ICPD Secretariat 220 E. 42nd Street, 22nd floor
New York, N.Y. 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 297-5244/5245
Media contact: (212) 297-5023/5030 or 5279
Fax: (212) 297-5250
E-mail: ryanw@unfpa.org or icpd@igc.apc.org
* *** *