SPEAKERS STRESS EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AS PRECONDITION FOR SUCCESS OF POPULATION STRATEGIES, AS DEBATE IN POPULATION COMMISSION CONTINUES

25 March 1999

Press Release
POP/717

SPEAKERS STRESS EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AS PRECONDITION FOR SUCCESS OF POPULATION STRATEGIES, AS DEBATE IN POPULATION COMMISSION CONTINUES

19990325 Commission Hears Call for Sexual, Reproductive Health Services To Be Provided to Young People in Confidential, Non-Judgemental Manner

The empowerment of women was a precondition for the success of population strategies, government representatives stressed this afternoon as the Commission on Population and Development continued preparations for the special session of the General Assembly that will review implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994).

Gender equality, equity and empowerment of women was of particular importance in implementing the Cairo Action Programme, the Ethiopian representative told the 47-member body. The fundamental change in women's political, social and economic status was the key to eliminating poverty and accelerating socio-economic development. Ethiopia's Constitution contained special provisions on the rights of Ethiopian women in the areas of food security, education, health and population polices.

The Government of Guinea had undertaken a far-reaching campaign to sensitize society to the detrimental effects of neglecting women's health, that country's representative said. Issues of family planning, sexually transmitted disease and the practice of genital mutilation should be incorporated into population and development programmes. To accelerate women's access to employment and substantial incomes, leading to greater representation in decision-making posts, further efforts were needed to provide the necessary professional training.

A representative of the Dutch Council on Youth and Population of the Netherlands presented the Commission with a "wish list" to be included in its final document. It said that at least 20 per cent of donor allocations for reproductive health programmes should be earmarked to meet the needs of adolescents. In addition, sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraceptives, should be provided to all young people in a confidential, accessible and non-judgemental manner.

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Those views were echoed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation whose representative said that young people today were the parents of tomorrow; their sexual health was a matter of concern for all societies. The Federation called on governments to ensure that young people had the same rights and access to sexual health care as married couples. Governments should, therefore, provide sex education as a mandatory part of school curriculums, as well as accessible and affordable quality sexual health services for young people.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Algeria, Romania, Peru, Uruguay, Panama, Pakistan, Benin and Iran. The observer of Palestine to the United Nations also spoke.

Also addressing the Commission were representatives of the following non-governmental organizations: Environmental Caucus; Centre for Development and Population Activities; AVSC International; Partners in Population and Development; and World Information Transfer, Inc.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 26 March, to continue its preparations for the special session of the General Assembly on implementation of the Cairo Programme of Action.

Commission Work Programme

The Commission on Population and Development met this afternoon to continue its session as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly for reviewing implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) (Cairo, 1994). (For background information, see Press Release POP/709 of 18 March.)

Statements

RACHIDA BENKHELIL (Algeria) said the 1990s had been characterized by a strengthening of population policies in Algeria. There had been a reduction in overall growth as well as in fertility. Family planning policies had been implemented as well as programmes to fight the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The study of Algeria's demographics had been improved by the formation of the National Council for Statistics, which had improved the amount and quality of data. Population policies only had meaning within the framework of the overall development strategy.

He added that the empowerment of women was also a precondition for population efforts. In Algeria, women were more present in decision-making posts. There was also increased social support for the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups in society. An area of priority in the ICPD five-year review should be to strengthen social, economic and cultural variables in determining proper population policies. Also, greater weight should be given to preventing mortality and morbidity, and there should be more efforts to promote secondary and primary education to foster better behaviour in the area of reproduction.

DOINA BOLOGA (Romania) associated herself with the statement delivered by the German representative yesterday, on behalf of the European Union. For Romania -- the country that hosted the first International Conference on Population in 1974 -- the ICPD was a milestone marking the change from a demographic to a democratic approach to population. The recent demographic evolution had been influenced by complex factors, including family planning freedom for couples, a housing crisis, changes in population behaviour with respect to family formation and dissolution, social instability and unemployment, and external migration.

Aware of the significant changes in the age structure of its population, the Romanian Government was currently embarking on reforms of the pension system and social assistance, she said. For the first time in history, Romania had witnessed migration from urban to rural areas, which was prompting attention to rural development programmes with integrated social and medical measures. Romania was also committed to safeguarding the human rights of women and girls through the implementation of gender-sensitive policies and legislation.

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She said her country's economic and social difficulties were strongly influencing the demographic indicators, as well as the population's health status. Health care services needed to be increased, amid scarce financial resources. That system was undergoing fundamental reforms, from a centralized State-owned system to a health insurance system. The State would continue to support a number of health related programmes, including on reproductive health and child care. Taking into account the expanding health care infrastructure, Romania needed temporary access to international assistance in order to implement the Cairo goals.

EDUARDO YONG MOTTA (Peru) said that Latin America and Peru had significantly advanced towards achieving the goals of the Cairo Conference. Peru was firmly committed to continue to work in a sustained manner within the sphere of population and development. The goal of its national population plan was to reinforce the incorporation of the demographic and population dimensions in the formulation of development plans and social and economic programmes, as well as in the national strategy for poverty eradication, and the promotion of women and human development. Statistical data was essential to focus on the population sectors, which should receive priority attention.

He said the integration of sexual and reproductive rights within the population and development programmes deserved special emphasis. Peru's population policy, particularly with respect to reproductive health and family planning, was based on unlimited support for the rights of individuals. In that regard, efforts were being made to forge strategic alliances with civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to improve the quality of reproductive health services aimed at meeting the goals of the ICPD Action Programme and reducing maternal mortality. A goal of the national population plan was to emphasize sexual education and promote healthy lifestyles among youths and adolescents.

Concerning HIV/AIDS, the Peruvian authorities continued to provide information about prevention through its policy of updating, training and sensitizing human resources to the problem. The country was also launching dissemination campaigns to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS, with emphasis on young people. It was challenged to convince all levels of its society that the concepts of demography, population, sexual and reproductive health, family planning and gender perspectives were synonymous with family, pregnancy, children, and ultimately, development.

MUNZER SHARIF, Deputy Health Minister, Observer Mission of Palestine, said the Palestinian Authority had given special attention to the promotion of women's issues in general and women's health in particular. That was emphasized in the Declaration of Independence of 1988, which clearly reinforced equality and non-discrimination in public rights for women and men. Although much progress had been made in the areas of population and development, there were still many constraints. The availability of resources

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was limited and there were also problems in regard to institutional management and technical capabilities.

The unfavourable political environment and the communication difficulties created by the Israeli authorities also hindered implementation of policies, he said. Despite that, the Health Ministry hoped to undertake the following activities: increase investment in training and adopt an integrated approach to training; expand reproductive health programmes; encourage the establishment of an NGO coalition to network with other NGOs at the regional and international level; and support the peace process in the establishment of an independent state.

BORIS E. SVETOGORSKY MARINO (Uruguay) said his country had made laudable efforts to fulfil the Cairo recommendations, particularly with respect to reformulating the relevant policies and ensuring adequate resources for development. While it did not have any major difficulties with regard to its annual population growth rates, bearing in mind the Cairo recommendations and population problems worldwide, Uruguay was committed to implement adequate national plans which directly linked the country's development with population resources and covered such fundamental aspects as education and reproductive health information for adolescents.

He said his country strove to make the best possible use of resources and technology, which was part of the strategic policy for countries like his, where population was in line with the size of the territory and natural resources. With the world population increasing by 86 million people each year, controlling that increase would be a key ingredient in programmes to meet the new challenges of the next century. Programmes in Uruguay had directly linked development concerns to population, in line with the Cairo recommendations. As a result, child mortality had been reduced by 20 per cent, two sexual and reproductive health projects had been established, and the Government had adopted a policy on sexual and reproductive health. That was an educational programme geared to low-income women who wanted access to contraceptives, which were provided free of charge by the Health Ministry.

Sexual training programmes for teachers were instituted last year in primary and secondary schools to help them inform young people about sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. Adolescent pregnancy prevention programmes were also created. Owing to the spread of AIDS, which affected some 16,000 people worldwide every day, Uruguay had implemented a national AIDS prevention programme. Yet despite such measures, the number of women infected with the disease had increased. The rise in the number of women heads of households made them an important part of national economic and political activities. Environmental degradation was another important focus of attention, at a time of increasing urbanization and exodus from rural areas.

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MARKELA CASTRO (Panama) said her country supported human development through the promotion of equality and strengthening the institutions of the family and the community. There was a need to pay special attention to fertility rates, especially in regard to youth and adolescents. Panama had recently established a national reproduction health commission which included indigenous groups, government officials and civil society.

Coordination and consultation were key concepts in her country's reproductive health policies, she said. The national plan of action for sexual health focused on: the needs of youth, family planning, abortion as a social problem with health implications, infertility and procreation, and the prevention of domestic and sexual violence. Preparations for the 2000 census had already begun. Based on recent research, there was a new strategic focus to improve the integral development of the population.

GHULAN SANDANI (Pakistan) said his was one of the most populous countries of the world. Its latest census showed a growth rate of 2.4 per cent per year. Population would remain a serious concern for Pakistan for the first half of the twenty-first century. The population issue was an integral part of the development policy of Pakistan, which sought to include a broad range of stakeholders in its consideration of that issue. National policies focused on providing universal access to reproductive health services. So far, total fertility rates had declined as well as mortality and morbidity rates. Reproductive health indicators, however, still needed to improve to meet international health standards. Efforts in that regard would continue. There was also a national action plan for the advancement of women.

Pakistan realized that all development efforts could not be done by the public sector and there was a need for greater involvement by civil society, he said. It also understood that further attention was needed by the donor community, which had not met its requirements. It would be difficult to maintain efforts in Pakistan due to economic restraints. It would be unfortunate if the achievements made over the last decade were allowed to fall back due to resource constraints. Despite those constraints, Pakistan intended to maintain the momentum of progress and to accelerate it. Its greatest challenges were to meet the crucial demands of family planning, infant mortality and education.

SOUROU G. CODJA (Benin) said the positive perception and increased interest of States and organizations in population issues was contributing to the process of taking account of the human dimension in all development efforts. Men and women, young and old, were at the centre of activities conducted daily by each of society's entities, and the progress of society depended on them. To give effect to the recommendations of various conferences, including the ICPD, Benin had adopted in 1996 a declaration on population policy, which laid down the priority areas and defined its goal of continually improving the standard of living.

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He said that by underlying the links between sustained growth and sustainable development, on the one hand, and demographic growth, the promotion of women and reproductive health, education, employment, and improved health and housing, on the other -- the ICPD outcome had provided a programme framework for activities. To better understand its population situation and correct unfavourable demographic trends, demographic surveys were being conducted and information and awareness campaigns had been organized. Training and research centres and had also been reinvigorated and fresh legislation had been adopted for that purpose.

In the area of international migration, he said his country had made enormous sacrifices since 1993 to receive and manage migrant flows stemming from the social crises in certain neighbouring countries. In that regard, the upcoming seminar on refugee resettlement would be valuable. The Government was also formulating a policy to take advantage of the human resource capital represented by nationals who had emigrated and could contribute to the country's development.

MEKONNEN MANYAZEWAL (Ethiopia) said that gender equality, equity and empowerment of women was of particular importance in implementing the Cairo Programme of Action. The fundamental change of their political, social and economic status was key to eliminating poverty and accelerating socio-economic development. That was clearly attested to by his country's constitution which contained special provisions on the rights of Ethiopian women as well as its policy on women, food security, education, health and population polices and programmes.

In regard to future actions on population, he said it was important to recognize the importance of balancing the amount of resources for reproductive health and for other health needs such as malaria and infectious diseases. There was also a need to take note of the important role of such sectors as food security, rural energy, rural water supply and appropriate technology in realizing the rights of rural women. In that regard, rural women should also have access to primary education. The international community would not be able to bring about improvements in the lives of rural women without improvements in the above sectors.

AMINATOU BARRY (Guinea) said that great efforts had been deployed by all countries to implement the Cairo goals. Her Government's population policy declaration was revised in 1996 in light of new data and the Cairo recommendations. The current version took into account reproductive health and the gender perspective, and was reflected in a national population programme approved by the Government in 1998. The programme comprised strategies for reproductive health, women's advancement, education, agricultural and rural development, protection of the environment and vulnerable groups of society, gathering data and the implementation of institutional mechanisms for coordinating population development activities.

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She said her Government had undertaken a far-reaching campaign to sensitize society to the detrimental effects to society of neglecting women's health. Still, much remained to be done. It should be stressed that population policies must be an integral part of a nation's development programmes, both domestic and global. In addition, greater efforts were needed in education, and the professional training of women aimed at accessing modern employment and substantial income and enhancing their decision-making power. The fight against sexually transmitted diseases and genital mutilation should be part of population and development programmes.

SEYED NEJAD HOSSEINIAN (Iran) said the first objective of the review process was to remain faithful to the Cairo Programme of Action. It was imperative for all to not miss the opportunity for genuine North-South partnership, which was the hallmark of the Cairo process. The question of population was not a numbers game, it was about human beings and it concerned families, individuals and sexuality, which played a role in all societies.

The treatment of such issues required commensurate consideration, he said. Population policies constituted an important element in the development efforts of all societies as well as their social and economic progress. Poverty eradication would help create the necessary social and economic conditions necessary to provide for health services on a mass scale. Population policies could not be limited to policies at the national level. Regional and international efforts were needed in a world characterized by globalization. Much more needed to be done in regard to economic assistance and resource mobilization.

FRANCIS EKON, of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, called on governments to adopt policies and legislation which ensured that young people had the same rights and access to sexual health care as married couples. They should also provide reliable and effective sexuality education in schools as a mandatory part of the school curriculum as well as accessible and affordable sexual health services of high quality for young people. It must be recognized that young people today were the parents of tomorrow and their sexual health was a matter of concern for all societies.

Unsafe abortion was one of several factors contributing to the 585,000 deaths of women each year from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, he said. A vast majority of those deaths were preventable. Many of the technologies that were needed to save those lives were not expensive to obtain. Urgent action was needed to address maternal mortality and morbidity within a reproductive health and rights framework. Women were entitled to the right to health protection when they risk their lives to give life. Also, it was necessary and urgent to help improve the status of rural women.

ROBIN TEURLINGS, of the Dutch Council on Youth and Population (Netherlands), said his organization was participating in the preparatory session in an attempt to have the points of the final youth document,

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elaborated at the first every Youth Forum at The Hague, into the final document of the preparatory committee. Included in the proposals was the wish that governments and civil society ensure that youth representatives were elected to all levels of governing bodies and school and university boards to advise on youth issues. It also requested governments and civil society to establish and facilitate youth councils and include youth in programme design, implementation and evaluation.

National plans for investing in young people must be developed and implemented with their full involvement, he said. Such plans should include education and sexual reproductive health information and services, among others. At least 20 per cent of donor allocations to reproductive health programmes must be earmarked to meet the needs of adolescents. Governments, youth organizations and NGOs must promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health rights of young people, inform them about their rights and give them the tools to exercise them. Sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraceptives, should be provided to all young people in a confidential, accessible and non-judgemental manner. Comprehensive sexual education must be included in school curriculums at all levels, and teachers must receive adequate training in that respect

ROSA MARIA VIDAL, Environmental Caucus, said that declines in fertility due to impaired reproduction and mortality caused by environmental pollutants should be a serious concern to governments. Reproduction was a matter of individual health and an indicator of environmental degradation. Efforts should also be made to address long-term health effects due to environmental pollution, particularly on the reproductive health of women and men. Gender equity was an important condition of sustainable development. Many types of environmental degradation disproportionately affected women and should be looked at from a gender perspective.

PEGGY CURLIN, Centre for Development and Population Activities, said her organization was implementing the Cairo Programme of Action through NGOs all over the world. The Cairo conference recognized the central role that women played in development as well as gender equality. The Hague Forum opened the process to youth and they made important suggestions and recommendations. It would be wise to seriously consider their input. The ICPD review allowed governments and NGOs to move forward with renewed partnership and trust. Efforts should be made to reach out to other members of civil society and include them in the review process.

RACHEL PINE, AVSC International, said her organization supported quality reproductive health and family planning services. There was a need to address important issues in regard to family planning and women's health. A whole range of options regarding reproductive health did not exist for many women because they did not have the required financial resources. There were a number of programmatic decisions that must be made by communities as well as governments to address that problem. Progress, however, was being made around

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the world. For example, clinics had changed the way they operated to ensure adequate counselling for women. There was a need for increased efforts to embrace the rights of women.

BALLA MUSA SILLA, Partners In Population and Development, said his was an intergovernmental organization devoted to South-South cooperation in the field of sustainable development. In Cairo, partners made a commitment to share expertise on population and reproductive health to improve the quality of life in developing countries. His organization worked to ensure the adequate dissemination of information in that regard. It had adopted five priority areas of work including: integration of family planning and reproductive health services; services for adolescents; HIV/AIDS prevention and care; and reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality. The promotion of gender perspectives has been adopted as cross-cutting priority.

CHRISTINE DURBAK, World Information Transfer, said that healthy children were the world's future. Societies should be aware of the needs of children and their cultures should not be a source of repression binding children to traditions. Meeting housing and food needs was expensive. However, governments needed to meet those needs in order to ensure that young people grew up to be productive members of society. The human health impact of environmental pollution was also a major concern. The deterioration of health around the world was due, in part, to pollution. Children were key in pursing a future of equity and social justice. Taking proper care of children's health was the most important investment that could be made in the world's future.

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