DECLARATION PROPOSED BY SOME PARTICIPANTS
This short declaration was drafted by a number of Conference participants from Latin America, with input from women from other regions. It was presented to the plenary on the last day for consideration and endorsement. However, because it had not been discussed by all participants and there was no time for sufficient discussion in plenary, no action was taken. (Many of the points made here are included in the Rio Statement
DRAFT DECLARATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON WOMEN'S HEALTH: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND JUSTICEWe are 227 women from all the continents who met at the "Reproductive Health and Justice" Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from January 24 to 28, 1994. In spite of this broad diversity of realities and experiences, we have reached consensus on the following issues.
The "sustainable human development models" that are currently proposed in the official documents of governments and international organizations need to be reflected in investments and social policies that guarantee the quality of life and well being of people, particularly of women and other groups that are discriminated against, whether by age, race, ethnicity, social class, sexual preference, nationality, or religion, and whether they live in urban or rural areas. This implies satisfying the basic needs and guaranteeing a dignified life for all human beings. Development should be sought for the people, rather than seeing population as a function of development. otherwise, certain groups and sectors will continue to be excluded, marginalized, and in some cases exterminated by the implementation of policies, such as structural adjustment policies, that are in contradiction to development objectives.
We reject population policies. * National and regional public policies must respond to the needs of human development, and all social and economic policies need to be integrated. Governments and international agencies must stop blaming women's fertility for poverty and for the environmental degradation of the planet.
Without this shift, it will not be possible for governments to reduce infant or maternal mortality- especially mortality resulting from unsafe abortion-as stated in the Regional Plans of Action on Population and Development. Neither will they be able to prevent the increase in mortality resulting from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. At the same time, it will not be possible to effectively affect the root causes and consequences of migration due to deterioration of economies, political conflicts, and the trafficking of people, especially women, girls, and adolescents.
Real political will to incorporate people into development implies modifying the existing gender inequity and guaranteeing women the full exercise of their sexual and reproductive rights, without imposing forced maternity or contraception, and guaranteeing access to legal and safe abortion for all women who request it. It also implies linking women's sexual and reproductive rights to the full exercise of their citizenship and to the social recognition of their autonomy. In addition, it requires formulating programs that encourage men to take responsibility for their role in parenthood and in contraception, and that change social attitudes and values that only recognize men's role as providers.
Evaluation of human development policies must include indicators that consider gender, race, ethnicity, social class, and sexual orientation. Organizations that represent the women's movement must be involved. At the same time, governments and international organizations must acknowledge
Governments and international organizations must understand that reproductive decisions are part of people's basic rights, and that their responsibility in this matter is only to provide the necessary services for people to exercise their right. The state must, therefore, guarantee information and education on sexuality and must provide the widest range of safe and effective contraceptives, free or at a subsidized price. It should eliminate public and private programs that only provide specific methods, especially if they are offered in a coercive way, and guarantee quality of care and freedom of choice. Governments must also recognize that contraceptives have to be considered elements of humanitarian aid during political conflict, including war.
Research in human reproduction, in both conception and contraception, must not use people as subjects, and must respect the ethical principles agreed to in international documents, especially those of Copenhagen and Helsinki.
It will not be possible to build and strengthen democracy without these conditions.
Gender equity, reproductive health, and justice will not be possible if the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development, to be held in Cairo in September 1994, does not address the demands and proposals presented by the women gathered here from all regions of the world, who are committed to constructing a future where well-being and happiness are ensured for all.
Rio de Janeiro
January 28, 1994* The participants, as well as the drafters of this statement, had strongly divergent views on whether to keep this sentence or not. the right of non-governmental organizations to monitor the agreements and commitments that they sign in Cairo.
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