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a source book of
important documents
and instruments that
impact on peoples'
health
Compiled by Lakshmi Menon
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WABA
World Alliance for
Breastfeeding Action
2000
People’s
Health Assembly
Healthy Documents
A Sourcebook of Important Documents and Instruments
that Impact on Peoples' Health
Compiled by
Lakshmi Menon
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)
Penang, Malaysia
December 2000
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the following organisations/institutions for their
assistance in information search
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Akshara: a Women's Resource Centre, Mumbai, India
Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW),
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Association for Consumers Action on Safety and Health (ACASH),
Mumbai
Centre for Education and Documentation (CED), Mumbai
CEHAT, Mumbai
Documentation, Research and Training Centre (DRTC), Mumbai
Health Education Library for People (HELP), Mumbai
Research Centre on Women's Studies, Mumbai
SNDT Women's University Library, Mumbai
The Urban Governance Initiative (TUGI-UNDP), Kuala Lumpur
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), Penang, Malaysia
And deep appreciation for suggestions and support to.
Anwar Fazal, Sarah Amin, Juliet Maben, Roshan Nair & PrabhakarNair
and to Abdul Razak for cover design
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Contents
Introduction
Medical Ethics
•
The Hippocratic Oath - by Hippocrates the Great, Alexandra, 3rd Century B.C.
Health Rights
•
Ukunda Declaration on Economic Policy and Health - Adopted by the Regional
Conference on Social Science and Medicine, Africa, September 1990
•
A Patient’s Bill of Rights - Adapted from American Hospital Association, 1973 by the
Association for Consumers’ Action on Safety and Health, Mumbai, India
UN Instruments
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Adopted by General Assembly Resolution
217 A (III) of 10 December 1948
Public Health
•
The Declaration of Alma Ata - Adopted by the International Conference on Primary
Health Care at Alma Ata, the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now Kazakhstan),
September 1978
•
Ottawa Charter on Health Promotion* - Issued by the Conference on Health
Promotion at Ottawa, Canada, 1986
•
Declaration on Occupational Health for All* - Adopted by the Second Meeting of the
WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health, Beijing, Peoples Republic of
China, October 1994
•
Jakarta Declaration on Health Promotion * - Adopted by the Fourth International
Conference on Health Promotion, at Jakarta, Indonesia, July 1997
•
Declaration of Personal Commitment - Adopted by the Forty-first World Health
Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, May 1998
•
People’s Health Charter - Adopted by the Indian People’s Health Assembly, Calcutta,
India, November 2000
* Contains only excerpts of the Declaration
UN Instruments
•
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees - Adopted by the United Nations
Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of Refugees on 28 July 1951
•
International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 2106 A (XX) of 21 December 1965
•
International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights - Adopted by
General Assembly Resolution 2200 A (XXI) of 16 December 1966
Health and Social Development
Declarations
UN Instruments
•
Declaration on the Right to Development
of 4 December 1986
•
The Rio Declaration - Adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development or the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 1992
•
Copenhagen Declaration - Adopted by the World Summit for Social Development,
Copenhagen, Denmark, 6-12 March 1995
•
The Istanbul Declaration
and Habitat Agenda (principles, commitments and
programme of action)- Adopted by the Second United Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II) at Istanbul, Turkey, June 1996
Adopted by General Resolution 411/128
Nutrition
Declarations & UN Instruments
•
Rome Declaration on Hunger - Adopted by the World Food Day Colloquium in Rome,
October 1982.
•
World Declaration on Nutrition - Adopted by the International Conference on
Nutrition, Rome, Italy, December 1992
•
Rome Declaration on World Food Security - Adopted by the World Food Summit at
Rome, Italy, November 1996
Children’s Health
•
Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding Adopted by the WHO/UNICEF policymakers’ meeting on Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A
Global Initiative at Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence, Italy on 30 July-1 August 1990
•
Children on the City Agenda: A New Vision for Urban Children and Families:
Strategies and Actions for Transforming Cities and Declaration - Issued by the
International Meeting of Mayors, Urban Planners and Policy Makers: Today 's
Children, Tomorrow’s Cities, Florence, Italy, 1992
UN Instruments
•
The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes - Adopted by the
World Health Organization, Geneva, 1981
•
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989
Women’s Health
•
Declaration for Women’s Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Health'i * - Issued by
the Reproductive Rights caucus at the NGO Forum and the 39l 5Session of the
Commission on the Status of Women, New York in March-April 1995
•
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action - Adopted by the Fourth World
Conference on Women, at Beijing, People’s Republic of China, September 1995
•
Human Rights For 21st Century from a Gender Perspective - Issued by the Latin
American and Caribbean women's organisation, CLADEM on the occasion of the 50th
Anniversary of the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights, December, 1998
UN Instruments
•
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women,
(CEDAW) - Adopted by General Assembly 34/180 of 18 December 1979
•
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action - Adopted by the United Nations World
Conference on Human Rights at Vienna, Austria on 25 June 1993
•
ICPD Preamble and Principles - Adopted by the International Conference on
Population and Development(ICPDf Cairo, Egypt 1994
•
Beijing Platform For Action: Strategic Objectives and Actions on Health and
Violence against Women Adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing,
People’s Republic of China, September 1995
Other documents to be included
Women’s Health
•
•
•
•
•
•
Women’s Voices ’94: Women’s Declaration on Population Policies (in
preparation for the 1994 1CPD
Declaration - Adopted by the Eight International Women and Health Meeting. Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, 1997
Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, Second World
Conference on Women, Nairobi, Kenya, 1985
Prembular Declaration and Regional Platform for Action - Adopted by Women in a
Changing World - Call for Action from an ECE Perspective
Bali Declaration on Population and Sustainable Development Adopted by the 4th
Asian and Pacific Population Conference. August 1992, Bali, Indonesia.
IPPF/FPA Vision 2000: The Delhi Declaration
Smoking Control
•
•
WHA 33.35 Resolution Adopted by the World Health Assembly, May 1980 concerning
health hazards and tobacco smoking
Recommendations of the WHO Expert Committee on Smoking Control
Introduction
As early as 1948. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed the
right to decent living standards and adequate health for all people. However,
a quarter century later, in 1974. the World Health Assembly noted such
glaring disparities in health and health services between countries that it
decided to hold an international conference specially on healthcare in 1978
at Alma Ata in the erstwhile USSR. The Alma Ata conference was attended
by delegations from 134 countries and by representatives of 67 United
Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations. The Conference set a
bold challenge of achieving health for all by the year 2000.
The year 2000 is now behind us. And as we look back, what do we see? The
path traversed since Alma Ata is littered with several more international
meetings on health and declarations and resolutions (which have even been
ratified by governments); but the target of Health for All is far from being
achieved. Not much seems to have changed for the people, especially for the
poor people in the devefoping countries. The situation is further worsening
with many countries allotting more funds for their defence budgets. An
increasina number of countries are meanwhile privatising their health
services, pushing these services beyond the reach of the common people.
As this People's Health Assembly is now looking at new strategies to remedy
the situation, it would be useful to examine some of these declarations and
resolutions and also the supporting instruments of the United Nations
ratified by various governments. At the end of this exercise, the question
we must be looking at critically is: "What is beyond this resolution? How do
we really reach healthcare to people at the grassroots? And what have we
learnt from our earlier experience?"
This publication, Healthy Documents, is a compilation of these resolutions,
declarations and charters which are arranged in seven categories: 1) Medical
Ethics, 2) Health Rights,
3) Public health, and 4) Health and Social
Development, 5) Nutrition, 6) Children's Health,
and 7) Women's Health.
Presented in a draft form, it includes declarations, resolutions and charters
adopted at the various international conferences. It also provides the
related UN instruments, such as international covenants, programmes and
platform of action which support these declarations. This compilation is by
no means complete. We request you to please send your comments and
suqqestions to enable the finalisation of this publication. Please send the
title of the declarations/resolutions/charters you think should be included
in this publication. Please give the full details of the declaration such as
name, place, and date of the conference. Also include the website the
declaration is available from. Please send your feedback to*.
Ms Lakshmi Menon. 5. Sheetal Palace 1st Road; T.P.S. IV. Bandra.
Mumbai - 400 050, India. Tel. (91-22) 642 3169 Fax: (91-22) 645 2994
E-mail: LM@im.eth.net
Or to,
Ms Sarah Amin,
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)
PO Box 1200, Penang 10850, Malaysia
Tel: 604-658 4816 Fax: 604-657 2655
E-mail: secr@waba.po.my Website: http://www.waba.org.br
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Medical Ethics
THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH
The Hippocratic Oath is one of the sixty books composing the Hippocratic Collection, or the
Corpus Hippocraticum, which was brought together and edited at the commencement of the
third century B.C. by a group of Alexandrian scholars. The Oath is a historic and important
document because it gives data relating to the constitution and teachings of the mystery of the
Greek physicians, the Companions of Aesculapius. It reveals the moral obligations, which the
members of the medical body took upon themselves in their relationship with their patients,
and among themselves as well as with the community at large.
“I swear by Apollo the physician, by Aesculapius, Hygeia, and Panacea and I take to witness
all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment the following
Oath:
“To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art;
to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him;
to look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without
fee or written promise;
to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who taught me and the disciples who have
enrolled themselves and have agreed to the rules of the profession, but to these alone, the
precepts and the instruction.
I will prescribe the regimen for the good of my patients according to my ability and my
judgment and never do harm to anyone.
To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice, which may cause his death.
Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my art.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this
operation to be performed by practitioners (speciabsts in this art).
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far
from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction, and especially from the pleasures of love with
women or with men. be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or outside of my
profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep
secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practise my art, respected by all men and
in all times;
But. if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.”
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Health Rights
THE UKUNDA DECLARATION OF ECONOMIC POLICY AND HEALTH
Adopted by the first African Regional Conference ofSocial Science and Medicine,
13th September 1990.
1. Africa’s recent colonial history, experience of capitalist underdevelopment, and more
recently recession, debt and the impact of structural adjustment policies (SAPs) have
severely affected the health status and survival chances of the overwhelming majority of
the population. There is accumulating evidence that the current economic crisis and
attendant responses (including SAPs) have severely hampered the ability of Africa’s
people, especially “vulnerable groups,” to maintain their already inadequate living
standards and minimal access to effective health and social services. In addition, the
gains of independence have already been largely eroded.
2. It is well organized that health (and disease) experience is the outcome of social,
economic, political and cultural influences. Much historical evidence exists to show that
without sustained improvements in socioeconomic conditions and consequent standards
of living. Advances in health are unlikely to be achieved and maintained.
3. Both as a result of the economic crisis and as a consequence of the SAPs, there are
growing sections of the population who have become marginalized, disempowered, and
are increasingly unable to meet their basic needs. These are primarily low paid workers
in the formal and informal sectors, a growing stratum of rural producers. Within these
groups, it is women and their dependents who have been most adversely affected. In
short, the greatest burden of these economic policies is being borne by those least capable
of shouldering it.
4. In response to this crisis, there has been increasingly widespread popular opposition in
the form of food riots, strikes, and other forms of protest. Advocacy initiatives such as
UNICEF’s Adjustment with a Human Face and the World Bank’s Social Dimensions of
Adjustment, have manifestly failed to address the underlying structural causes and have
not even succeeded in their objective of mitigating the effects of SAPs. Worse still, these
initiatives may have contributed to obscuring the fundamental bases of this crisis, and
thus further disempowered the most vulnerable.
5. The core of these “recovery” programmes posits export-led growth as a strategy not only
for resolving the short term economic crisis but also for creating the basis for future
sustained development. The experiences of the last decades demonstrate - even during
the long post war boom - the hollowness of this model. Indeed the pursuance of this
approach even in the rich countries, is leading to increasing stratification and the
impoverishment of significant strata within societies. Moreover, the unprecedented
accumulated debt, particularly of the USA, underscores the bankruptcy of this approach
and furthermore, cynically shifts the real burden of this debt to the underdeveloped world
through the agency of the IMF and the World Bank, to maintain the value of the dollar
and the high standard of living of the American middle class.
6. These policies have been implemented through the (sometimes unwilling) agency of
African governments. While these policies have had disastrous effects on the majority of
Africans, a few have benefited inter-alia, from trade liberalization, currency devaluation,
and reduction in the value of real wages. Moreover, these groups have been relatively
2
unaffected by sharp reductions in social sector spending because of the existence of
alternatives - e.g., private sector health, education and welfare services.
7. Within the health sector itself, important and promising initiatives such as primary' health
care (PHC) have not escaped the influence of “adjustment to the present reality.
Programmes such as the child survival initiative have been interpreted in a narrow and
overly technical way, and in many countries have been reduced to limited, vertical and
often externally funded immunization and rehydration programmes. Even such limited
interventions have been hampered in their implementation by the effect of the economic
crisis - lack of transport, spare parts, equipment, vaccines, drugs and not even salaries .
This situation has led to the devising and promotion of such initiatives as cost sharing
and the “Bamako Initiative" which putatively seek to generate income to “improve the
quality of services" and foster “community participation" in PHC. It is already becoming
apparent that such programmes are further aggravating inequity, particularly since the
distinction between willingness and ability to pay has not been addressed in policy
formulation. Although the implementation of such programmes will save costs m the
public sector, it is clear that the economic crisis and SAPs have resulted in the rapid
expansion of the private sector where foreign exchange consumption for often irrational
importations (unnecessary, expensive patent drugs for the last needy) dwarfs the income
generated through cost sharing initiatives in the public sector.
8. These limited technocratic and piecemeal approaches in the context of the crisis have led
to unprecedented and disturbing demographic changes. While reductions m infant
mortality (probably temporary) have been achieved in some countries, morbidity and
malnutrition rates have increased in most sub-saharan African countries and in some
where the recession has been most severe, even mortahty rates have started to rise.
Additionally, the crucial social mobilizing content of the PHC initiative which holds the
solution to some of these problems, appears to have been lost.
9. Clearly the long term solution to this crisis will require fundamental structural changes at
national and international levels. It
F is suggested that inter-alia, the following policy
options be seriously considered:
•
•
diversification of the productive base away from the legacy of the colonial past
development of indigenous technologies
•
emphasis on regional self-sufficiency in food
•
expenditure switching towards agriculture and social sectors
•
environmental protection
•
establishment of a debtor’s club that could in a united way argue from a position
of relative strength for debt repudiation
The adoption of the above policies will require political will on the part of African governments.
The best guarantee of such bold initiatives is the sustained pressure from the majonty who have
been so adversely affected in this crisis. For this process to be initiated and maintained,
fundamental democratization of the political and social structures in a prerequisite.
3
10. A minimum responsibility of health and social scientists is to facilitate the above
enterprise. While there arc a number of areas where research is necessary, it is our firm
belief that for any research to have any operational or political outcome, the objects of
research must become the subjects. Thus the definition of the research agenda and its
implementation and utilization must result from a democratic dialogue between
researchers and those most affected by the current crisis. Research areas should include a
focus on the evolving impact of the economic crisis and SAPs on:
•
living conditions of those most affected.
•
the development of cost recovery programmes and their effects on equity m
health services access, utilization and quality.
•
social stratification, integrity and social violence.
•
social organizations and community responses in health and development related
areas.
4
A PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Adapted from American Hospital Association, 1973 by the Association for Consumers'
Action on Safety and Health, Mumbai, India
1. A patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.
2. The patient has the right to obtain from his physician complete current
information concerning his diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms the
patient can be reasonably expected to understand.
3. The patient has the right to receive from the physician information necessary to
give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment.
4. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to
be informed of the medical consequences of his action.
5. The patient has the right to every consideration of his privacy concerning his own
medical care programme.
6. The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining
to his case should be treated as confidential.
7. The patient has the right to expect that within its capacity a hospital must make
reasonable response to the request of the patient for services.
8. The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of his
hospital to other health care and educational institutions in so far as his care is
concerned.
9. The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or
perform human experimentation affecting his care or treatment, the patient has the
right to refuse to participate in such research or projects.
10. The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care.
11 The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his bill
regardless of the source of payment.
12. The patient has the right to know what hospital rules and regulations apply to his
conduct as a patient.
All these activities must be conducted with an overriding concern for the patient, and
above all, the recognition of bis dignity as a human being. Success in achieving his
recognition assures success in the defence of the rights of the patient.
5
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948
Preamble
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Whereas disregard and contempt of human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which
have outraged and the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings
shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as
the highest aspiration of the common people.
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to
rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of
law.
Whereas the people of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in
fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of
men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in
larger freedom.
Whereas Member States have pledged to achieve in cooperation with the United Nations,
the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental
freedoms.
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest
importance for the full realization of this pledge.
Now therefore.
The General Assembly,
Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights a common standard of
achievement for all people and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of
society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to
promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and
international and observance, both among the people of Member States themselves and among
the people of territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 25
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of
himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and
necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment,
sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances
beyond his control. -
2.
Motherhood and childhood arc entitled to special care and assistance,
whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
All children.
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Public Health
DECLARATION OF ALMA ATA
Adopted by the International Conference on Primary Health Care at Alma Ata, the
Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now Kazakhstan), September 1978
I.
The Conference strongly reaffirms that health, which is a state of complete physical,
mental and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, is a
fundamental human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of
health is a most important world-wide social goal whose realization requires the
action of many other social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector.
II.
The existing gross inequahty in the health status of the people-particularly between
the developed and developing countries as well as within them-is politically, socially
and economically unacceptable and is, therefore, of common concern to all countries.
III.
Economic and social development, based on a New International Economic Order, is
of basic importance to the fullest attainment of health for all and to the reduction of
the gap between the health status of the developing and developed countries. The
promotion and protection of the health of the people is essential to sustained
economic and social development and contributes to a better quality of life and to
world peace.
IV.
The people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the
planning and implementation of their health care.
V.
Governments have a responsibility for the health of their people, which can be
fulfilled only by the provision of adequate health and social measures. A main social
target of governments, international organizations and the whole world community in
the coming decades should be the attainment by all peoples of the world by the year
2000 of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically
productive life. Primary health care is the key to attaining this target as part of
development in the spirit of social justice.
VI.
Primary health care is essential health care based on practical scientifically sound
and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to
individuals and famihes in the community through their full participation and at a
cost that the community and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their
development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. It forms an integral
part both of the country’s health system, of which it is the central function and main
focus, and of the overall social and economic development of the community. It is the
first level of contact of individuals, the family and community with the national
health system, bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and
work, and constitutes the first element of a continuing health care process.
VII.
Primary health care:
A.
Reflects and evolves from the economic conditions and sociocultural and political
characteristics of the country' and its communities and is based on the application of
the relevant results of social, biomedical and health services research and public
health experience;
Addresses the main health problems in the community, providing promotive,
preventative, curative, and rehabilitative services accordingly;
B.
7
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E.
F.
G.
Includes at least: education concerning prevailing health problems and the methods of
preventing and controlling them, promotion of food supply and proper nutrition; an
adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation; maternal and child health care,
including family planning; immunization against the major infectious diseases;
prevention and control of locally endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common
diseases and injuries; and provision of essential drugs;
Involves, in addition to the health sector, all related sectors and aspects of national
and community development: in particular agriculture, animal husbandry, food,
industry, education, housing, public works, communication and other sectors; and
demands the coordinated efforts of all those sectors;
Requires and promotes maximum community and individual self-reliance and
participation in planning, organization, operation and control of primary health care,
making fullest use of local, national and other available resources; and to this end
develops through appropriate education the ability of communities to participate;
Should be sustained by integrated, functional and mutually-supportive referral
systems, leading to the progressive improvement of comprehensive health of all, and
giving priority to those most in need;
Relies, at local and referral levels, on health workers, including physicians, nurses,
midwives, auxiliaries and community workers as applicable, as well as traditional
practitioners as needed, suitably trained-socially and technically-to work as a health
team and to respond to the expressed health needs of the community .
VIII.
All governments should formulate national policies, strategies and plans of action to
launch and sustain primary health care as part of a comprehensive national health
system and in coordination with other sectors. To this end, it will be necessary to
exercise political will, to mobilize the country’s resources and to use available
external resources rationally.
IX.
All countries should cooperate in a spirit of partnership and service to ensure primary
health care for all people since the attainment of health by people in any one country
directly concerns and benefits every other countiy. In this context the joint
WHO/UNICEF report on primary health care constitutes a solid basis for the further
development and operation of primary health care throughout the world.
X.
An acceptable level of health for all the people of the world by the year 2000 can be
attained through a fuller and better use of the world’s resources, a considerable part of
which is now spent on armaments and military conflicts. A genuine policy of
independence, peace, detente and disarmament could and should release additional
resources that could well be devoted to peaceful aims and in particular to the
acceleration of social and economic development of which primary health care, as an
essential part, should be allotted its proper share.
The International conference on Primary Health Care calls for urgent and effective national
and international action to develop and implement primary health care throughout the world
and particularly in developing countries in a spirit of technical cooperation and in keeping
with a New International Economic Order. It urges governments. WHO and UNICEF, and
other international organizations, as well as multilateral and bilateral agencies,
nongovernmental organizations, funding agencies, all health workers and the whole world
community to support national and international commitment to primary health care and to
channel increased technical and financial support to it, particularly in developing countries.
The Conference calls on all -the aforementioned to collaborate in introducing, developing and
maintaining primary health care in accordance with the spirit and content of this Declaration.
8
OTTAWA CHARTER ON HEALTH PROMOTION
Issued by the Conference on Health Promotion at Ottawa, Canada. 1986
[This conference mainly focused on the needs in industrialized countries, but also took into
account similar concerns in other regions. The Charter emphasized that promoting health is
more than just providing health services. Peace, housing, education, food, income, a
sustainable environment, social justice and equity are all necessary for achievement of health.
It calls for people to act as advocates for health through the addressing of political, economic,
social, cultural, environmental, behavioural and biological factors.]
Extracts from the Ottawa Charter
Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve,
their health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, an
individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to
change or cope with the environment. Health is, therefore, seen as a resource for everyday
life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal
resources, as well as physical capacities. Therefore, health promotion is not just the
responsibility of the health sector, but goes beyond healthy life-styles to well-being.
HEALTH PROMOTION ACTION MEANS.
Building healthy public policy Health promotion goes beyond health care. It puts health on
the agenda of policy makers in all sectors and at all levels. It directs policy makers to be
aware of the health consequences of their decisions and to accept their responsibilities for
health.
Health promotion policy combines diverse but complementary approaches including
legislation, fiscal measures, taxation and organizational change. It is coordinated action that
leads to health, income and social policies that foster greater equity. Joint action contributes
to ensuring saferand healthier goods and services healthier public services, and cleaner, more
enjoyable environments.
Health-promotion policy requires the identification of obstacles to the adoption of
healthy public policies in non-health sectors, and ways of removing them. The aim must be
to make the healthier choice the easier choice.
Creating supportive environments Health promotion generates living and working
conditions that are safe, stimulating, satisfying and enjoyable. Systematic assessment of the
health impact of a rapidly changing environment - particularly in areas of technology, work,
energy production and urbanization - is essential and must be followed by action to ensure
positive benefit to the health of the public. The protection of the natural and built
environments and the conservation of natural resources must be addressed in any health
promotion strategy.
Strengthening community action At the heart of this process is the empowerment of
communities, their ownership and control of their own endeavours and destinies. Community
development draws on existing human and material resources in the community to enhance
9
self-help and social support, and to develop flexible systems for strengthening public
participation and direction of health matters.
Developing personal skills Health promotion supports personal and social development
through providing information, education for health and enhancing life skills. By so doing, it
increases the options available to people to exercise more control over their health and
environment, and to make choices conducive to health. Enabling people to learn throughout
life, to prepare themselves for all of its stages and to cope with chronic illness and injuries is
essential. This has to be facilitated in school, home, work and community settings. Action is
required through educational, professional, commercial and voluntary bodies, and within the
institutions themselves.
Reorienting health services The responsibility for health promotion in health services is
shared among individuals, community groups, health professionals, health service institutions
and governments. They must work together towards a health care system that contributes to
the pursuit of health. Reorienting health services also requires stronger attention to health
research as well as changes in professional education and training. This must lead to a
change of attitude and organization of health services, which refocuses on the total needs of
the individual as a whole person.
10
declaration on occupational health for all
Adopted by the Second Meeting ofthe WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational
health held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, in October 1994.
[The meeting, which was attended by representatives of 31 WHO collaborating centers
from 27 countries, ILO, UNDP, and the International Commission on Occupational
Health (ICOH), developed a proposal for a Global Strategy on Occupational Health for
All]
The participants adopted a Declaration on Occupational Health for All, which underlines
that the fundamental right of each worker is the highest attainable standard of health . To
achieve this objective, access to occupational health services should be ensured for all
workers, irrespective of age, sex, nationality, type of employment, or size and location of
the workplace.
The Declaration emphasizes the occupational health is an important factor for sustainable
socioeconomic development, enabling workers to enjoy a healthy and productive life
throughout their active working years and beyond. It urges WHO Member States to
develop national policies and programmes for occupational health with appropriate legal
provisions and systems for enforcement and inspection by competent authorities. An
occupational health service should comprise, first of all, a multidisciplinary preventive
element including surveillance of the work environment and health of workers and,
where appropriate, relevant curative and health promotion components. The Declaration
encourages experts, appropriate professional bodies and other nongovernmental
organizations to participate in and give support to occupational health activities at all
levels.
II
JAKARTA DECLARATION ON LEADING HEALTH PROMOTION
INTO THE 21st CENTURY
Adopted by the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion, at Jakarta,
Indonesia in July 1997
The participants endorsed the information of a global alliance to advance the action set
out in the Declaration. Priorities for the alliance include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
raising awareness of the changing determinants of health;
supporting the development of collaboration and networks for health
development;
mobilizing resources for health promotion;
accumulating knowledge on best practice;
enabling shared learning;
promoting solidarity in action;
fostering transparency and public accountability in health promotion.
Priorities for Health Promotion in the 21st Century
Summarized from the Jakarta Declaration on Leading Health Promotion into the 21st
Century
Promote social responsibility for health
Decision-makers in both the public and private sectors must be firmly committed to
pursuing policies and practices that:
avoid harming the health of individuals;
protect the environment and ensure sustainable use of resources;
restrict production of and trade in inherently harmful goodsand substances;
safeguard people in the marketplace and in the workplace;
include equity-focused health impact assessments.
Increase investments for health development
A multisectoral approach is required.
Investments for health should reflect the needs of particular groups such as women,
children, older people, and indigenous, poor and marginalized populations.
12
■
Consolidate and expand partnerships for health
Health promotion requires partnerships between different sectors at all levels of
governance and society.
Existing partnerships need to be strengthened and the potential for new one explored.
Each partnership must be transparent, accountable and based on agreed ethical
principles, mutual understanding and respect. WHO guidelines should be adhered to.
Increase community cpacity and empower the individual
Improving the capacity of communities for health promotion requires practical
education, leadership training, and access to resources.
Empowering individuals demandsconsistent, reliable access to the decision-making
process and the skills and knowledge essential to effect change.
Traditional communication media and new information technology support these
processes. Social, cultural and spiritual resources need to be harassed in innovative
ways.
Secure an infrastructurefor health promotion
New funding mechanisms must be found at local, national, regional and global levels.
“Settings for health” represent the oiganizational base ofthe infiastructure.
Networks peed to be created to achieve intersectoral collaboration. They should
provide mutual assistance within and among countries and facilitate the exchange of
information.
13
DEC LARATION OF PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Adapted by the Forty-first World Health Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland in May 1998
We, the participants at the Technical Discussion on leadership development of health of all (held 1
Geneva on 5-7 May, 1998, during the Forty-first World Health Assembly), representing people from
many walks of life, including governments, nongovernmental organizations, universities, educational
institutions voluntary agencies and United Nations agencies, make the following d^laratiffli:
We believe (hat:
I.
♦
there is a need for greater concent and commitment to achieve the goal of health for all by
the year 2000 throng primary health care, among political, professional and community
leaders;
♦
higilding self-reliance and leadership capabilities at local level is the most important
ingredient fix' sustained development and progress in health;
♦
the development of tadership that can be sustained as a continuing process at all levels in
an important strategy to mobilize greater social and political commitmoit fix the total
health-for-all movement.
We therefore commit ourselves and urge others in leadership and other strategic positions
to adopt the following Five-paint personal Agenda far Action:
1. to injorm ourselves, our colleagues, fellow-workers, (XHumunity members and others
about the fundamental values, principles and processes to achieve health fix all by the
year 2000 though primary health care, and to generate a social conscience in people
regarding the health comfitions and needs of the imder-sarved, socially deprived and
vulnerable populatiOT groups.
2. to make a serious review of progress towards the specific targds set in om respective
countries, to identify where the critical needs and gaps are, and to provide leadership
in identifying and implementing corrective actions;
■ to
__ serve
____at prime
fix change,
3.
moversparticularly in areas which fell within our
respective roles, and to motivate others to accelerate the changes required in order to
achieve the goal of health for all ;
4. to develop and promote partnerships and new alliances of support fix health,
including the professional associations. mstitutioKs of higher education, religious
leaders, people’s organizations, concerned non-governmental organizations and
individuals, philanthropic groups, the private sector and the media;
5. to promote self-reliance and enable others, particularly within the home and at the
community level, to take greater responsibility for their own health and the health of
their commimities, through informing and educating them and developing their
leadership potential.
II.
We are convinced that additional courageous and innovative strategies and tactics will be
needed to ensure that all people of the world will be covered by primary health care.
Leadership development is one such strategy which provides new opportunities to inform
and communicate, to expand partnerships among people - people who are empowered
and motivated - who then take no new responsibilities for their health, the health of their
families and of their communities.
14
PEOPLE’S HEALTH CHARTER
Issued by the Indian People's Health Assembly, 2000
We the people of India, stand united in our condemnation of an iniquitous global sy stem that,
under the garb of "globalisation” seeks to heap unprecedented misery and destitution on the
overwhelming majority of the people on this globe. This system has systematically ravaged the
economies of poor nations in order to extract profits that nurture a handful of powerful nations
and corporations. The poor, across the globe, are being further marginalised as they are displaced
from home and hearth and alienated from their sources of livelihood as a result of die forces
unleashed by this system.
Standing in firm opposition to such a system we reafiirm our inalienable right to comprehensive
health care that includes food security; sustainable livelihood options
including, secure employment opportunities; access to housing, drinking water and sanitation;
and appropriate medical care for all; in sum - the right to HEALTH FOR
ALL, NOW!
The promises made to us by the international community in the Alma Ata declaration have been
systematically repudiated by the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO and its
predecessors, the World Health Organization, and by a government that functions under the
dictates of international Finance Capital.. The forces of’’globalization” through
measures such as the structural adjustment programme are targeting our resources - built up with
our labour, sweat and lives over the last fifty years - and placing them in the sendee of the global
"market” for extraction of super-profits. The benefits of the public sector health care institutions,
the public distribution system and other infrastructure - such as they were - have been taken away
from us. It is the ultimate irony that we are now blamed for our plight, with the argument that it is
our numbers and our propensity to multiply that is responsible for our poverty and deprivation.
We declare health as a justiciable right and demand the provision of basic health care as a
fundamental constitutional right of every one of us. We assert our right to take control of
our health in our own hands and for this the right to;
A truly decentralised system of local governance vested with adequate power and responsibilities
and provided with adequate finances;
A sustainable system of agriculture based on the principle pf "land to the tiller", linked to a
decentralized public distribution system that ensures that no one goes hungry;
Universal access to education, adequate and safe drinking water, and housing and sanitation
facilities;
A dignified and sustainable livelihood;
A clean and sustainable environment;
Drug industry geared to producing epidemiologically
Essential drugs at affordable cost;
15
A health care system which is responsive to the people's needs and whose control is vested in
peoples’ hands.
Further, we declare our firm opposition to:
Agricultural policies attuned to the needs of the ’’market" that ignore disaggregated and equitable
access to food
Destruction of our means to livelihood and appropriation, for private profit, of our natural
resource bases;
The conversion of Health to the mere provision of medical facilities and care that are technology
intensive, expensive, and accessible to a select few;
The retreat, by the government, from the principle of providing free medical care, through
reduction of public sector expenditure on medical care and introduction of user fees in public
sector medical institutions, that place an unacceptable burden on the poor;
The corporatization of medical care, state subsidies to the corporate sector in medical care, and
corporate sector health insurance;
Coercive population control and promotion of hazardous contraceptive technology;
The use of patent regimes to steal our traditional knowledge and to put medical technology^ and
drugs beyond our reach;
Institutionalization of divisive and oppressive forces in society, such as fundamentalism, caste,
patriarchy, and the attendant violence, which have destroyed our peace and fragmented our
solidarity.
In the light of the above we demand that:
1. The concept of comprehensive primary' health care, as envisioned in the Alma Ata Declaration
should form thefundamental basis for formulation of all policies related to
health care. The trend toyvards fragmentation of health delivery programmes through conduct of a
number of vertical programmes should be reversed. National health programmes be integrated
within the Primary Health Care system yvith decentralized planning, decision-making and
implementation.
Focus be shifted from bio-medical and individual based measures to social, ecological and
community based measures.
2. The primary medical care institutions including trained village health workers, sub-centres,
and the PHCs staffed by doctors and the entire range of community health
functionaries be placed under the direct administrative and financial control of the relevant level
panchayat raj institutions.
The overall infrastructure of the primary health care institutions be under the control of
panchayati raj and gram sabhas and provision of free and accessible secondary and
16
tertiary level care be under the control of Zilla Parishads, to be accessed primarily through
referrals from PHCs. The essential components of primary care should be:
Village level health care based on Village Health Workers selected by the community and
supported by the Gram Sabha / Panchayat and the Government health services;
Primary Health Centers and subcentres with adequate staff and supplies which provides quality
curative services at the primary health center level itself with good support from linkages;
A comprehensive structure for Primary Health Care in urban areas based on urban PHCs, health
posts and Communit}' Health Workers;
Enhanced content of Pnmary Health Care to mclude all measures which can be provided at the
PHC level even for less common or non-communicable diseases (e.g. epilepsy, hypertension,
arthritis, pre-eclampsia, skin diseases) and integrated relevant epidemiological and preventive
measures;
Surveillance centres at block level to monitor the local epedemiological situation and tertiary
care with all speciality services, availaible in every district.
3. A comprehensive medical care programme financed by the government to the extent of at least
5% of our GNP, of which at least half be disbursed to panchayati raj institutions to finance
primary level care. This be accompanied by transfer of responsibilities to PRIs to run major parts
of such a programme, along with measures to enhance capacities of PRIs to undertake the tasks
involved.
4. The policy of gradual privatization of government medical institutions, through mechanisms
such as introduction of user fees even for the poor, allowing private practice by Government
doctors, giving out PHCs on contract, etc. be abandoned forthwith. Failure to provide appropriate
medical care to a citizen by public health care institutions be made punishable by law.
5. A comprehensive need-based human power plan for the health sector be formulated that
addresses the requirement for creation of a much larger pool of paramedical functionaries and
basic doctors, in place of the present trend towards over-production of personnel trained in super
specialities. Major portions of undergraduate medical education, nursing as well as other
paramedical training be imparted in district level medical care institutions, as a necessary
complement to training provided in medical/nursing colleges and other training institutions. No
more new medical colleges to be opened in the private sector. Steps be taken forthwith to close
down private medical colleges charging fees higher than state colleges or taking any form of
donations, and to eliminate illegal private tuition by teachers in medical colleges. At least an year
of compulsory rural posting for undergraduate (medical, nursing and paramedical) education be
made mandatory, without which license to practice not be issued. Similarly, three years of rural
posting after post graduation be made compulsory'.
6. The unbridled and unchecked growth of the commercial private sector be brought to a halt.
Strict observance of standard guidelines for medical and surgical inten'ention and use of
diagnostics, standard fee structure, and penodic prescription audit to be made obligatory; Legal
and social mechanisms be set up to ensure observance of minimum standards by all private
hospitals, nursing/matemitv homes and medical laboratories. Prevalent practice of offering
commissions for referral to be made punishable by' law. For this purpose a body with statutory'
17
powers be constituted, which has due representation from peoples organisations and professional
organisations.
7. A rational drug policy be formulated that ensures development and growth of a self reliant
industry' for production of all essential drugs at affordable prices and of proper quality'. The policy
should, on a priority basis:
• ban all irrational and hazardous drugs;
• introduce production quotas and price ceiling for essential drugs;
• promote compulsory use of generic names;
• regulate advertisements, promotion and marketing of
• all medications based on ethical criteria;
• formulate guidelines for use of old and new vaccines;
• control the activities of the multinational sector and
• restrict their presence only to areas where they are
• willing to bring in new technology;
• recommend repeal of the new patent act and bring
• back mechanisms that prevent creation of monopolies and promote introduction of
new drugs at affordable prices;
•. promotion of the public sector in production of drugs and medical supplies, moving
towards complete self-reliance in these areas.
8. Medical Reseach priorities be based on morbidity' and mortality profile of the country',
and details regarding the direction, intent and focus of all research programmes be made
entirely transparent. Adequate government funding be provided for such programmes.
Ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects be drawn up and implemented
after an open public debate. No further experimentation, involving human subjects, be
allowed without a proper and legally tenable informed consent and appropriate legal
protection. Failure to do so to be punishable by law. All unetical research, especially in
the area of contraceptive reseach, be stopped forthwith. Women (and men) who, without
their consent and knowledge, have been subjected to experimentation, especially with
hazardous contraceptive technologies to be traced forthwith and appropriately'
compensated. Exemplary' damages to be awarded against the institutions (public and
private sector) involved in such anti-people, unethical and illegal practices in the past
9. '
All coercive measures including incentives and disincentives for limiting family size be
abolished. The right of families and women within families in determining the number of
children they' want should be recogmsed. Concurrently', access to safe and affordable
contraceptive measures be ensured which provides people, especially women, the ability'
to make an informed choice. All long-term, invasive, sy stemic hazardous contraceptive
technologies such as the injectables (NET-EN, Depo-Provera, etc.), sub-dermal implants
(Norplant) and anti fertility vaccines should be banned from both the public and private
sector. Urgent measure be initiated to shift to onus of contraception away' from women
and ensure at least equal emphasis on men’s responsibility' for
contraception.
10.
Support be provided to traditional healing systems, including local and home-based
healing traditions, for systematic research and community based evaluation with a
\ icw to developing the knowledge base and use of these systems along with modem
medicine as part of a holistic healing perspective.
18
11
Promotion of transparency and decentralisation in the decision making process, related to
health care, at all levels as well as adherence to the principle of right to information.
Changes in health policies to be made only after mandatory
wider scientific public debate.
12. Introduction of ecological and social measures to check
resurgence of communicable diseases. Such measures should
include:
• integration of health impact assessment into all
• development projects;
• decentralized and effective surveillance and
• compulsory notification of prevalent diseases like malaria, TB by all health care
providers, including private practitioners;
• reorientation of measures to check STDs/AIDS through universal sex education,
checking social disruption and displacement and commercialisation of sex, generating
public awareness to remove stigma and universal availability7 of preventive and curative
services, and special attention to empowering women and availability7 of gender sensitive
services in this regard.
13.
Facilities for early detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases like diabetes,
cancers, heart diseases, etc. to be available to all at appropriate levels of medical care.
14.
Women-centered health initiatives that include:
• awareness generation for social change on issues of gender and health, triple
work burden, gender discrimination in nutrition and health-care;
• preventive and curative measures to deal with health consequences of womens
work and domestic violence;
• complete maternity benefits and child care facilities to be provided in all
occupations employing women, be they in the organized or unorganized sector,
• special support structures that focus on single, deserted, widowed women and
commercial sex workers;
• gender sensitive sendees to deal with reproductive health including reproductive
system illnesses, maternal health, abortion, and infertility;
• vigorous public campaign accompanied by legal and administrative action
against female feticide, infanticide and sex pre-selection.
15. Child centered health initiatives which include:
• a comprehensive child rights code, adequate budgetary allocation for
universalisation of child care sendees,
• an expanded and revitalized 1CDS programme and ensuring adequate support to
working women to facilitate child care, especially breast feeding;
• comprehensive measures to prevent child abuse and sexual abuse;
• educational, economic and legal measures to eradicate child labour,
accompanied by measures to ensure free and compulsory primary education for
all children.
16. Special measures relating to occupational and environmental health which focus on:
•
banning of hazardous technologies in industn' and agriculture;
19
•
•
•
worker centered monitoring of working conditions with the onus of ensuring a
safe workplace on the management;
reorientation of medical sendees for early detection of occupational disease;
special measures to reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries in different
settings, such as traffic accidents, industrial accidents, agricultural injuries, etc.
17. Measures towards mental health that promote a shift away from a bio-medical model towards
a holistic model of mental health. Community support and community based management of
mental health problems be promoted. Sendees for early detection and integrated management of
mental health problems be integrated with Primary Health Care.
18. Measures to promote the health of the elderly by ensuring economic security, opportunities
for appropriate employment, sensitive health care facilities and, when necessary7, shelter for
the elderly.
19. Measures to promote the health of physically and mentally disadvantaged by focusing on the
abilities rather than deficiencies. Promotion of measures to integrate them in the community with
special support rather than segregating them; ensuring equitable opportunities for education,
employment and special health care including rehabilitative measures.
20. Effective restriction on industries that promote addictions qnd an unhealthy lifestyle, like
tobacco, alcohol, pan masala etc., starting with an immediate ban on advertising and sale of
their products to the young, and provision of services for de-addiction.
20
CONVENTION RELATING TO THE STATUS OF REFUGEES
Adopted on 28th July 1951 by the United Nations Conference ofPlenipotentiaries on the Status of
Refugees and Stateless Persons convened under General Assembly Resolution 429 (\') of 14
December 1950
Entry Into Force: 22nd April 1954, in accordance with article 43
PREAMBLE
The High Contracting Parties,
Considering that the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights approved on 10 December 1948 by the General Assembly have affirmed the principle that human
rights shall enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms without discrimination.
Considering that the United Nations has, on various occasions, manifested its profound concern
for refugees and endeavoured to assure refugees the widest possible exercise of these fundamental rights
and freedoms.
Considering that it is desirable to revise and consolidate previous international agreements
relating to the status of refugees and to extend the scope of and the protection accorded by such
instruments by means of a new agreement.
Considering that the grant of asylum may place unduly heavy burdens on certain countries, and
that a satisfactory solution of a problem of which the United Nations has recognized the international
scope and nature cannot therefore be achieved without international co-operation.
Expressing the wish that all States, recognizing the social and humanitarian nature of the problem
of refugees, will do everything within their power to prevent this problem from becoming a cause of
tension between States,
Nothing that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is charged with the task of
supervising international conventions providing for the protecting of refugees, and recognizing that the
effective co-ordinations of measures taken to deal with this problem will depend upon the cooperation of
States with the High Commissioner.
CHAPTER IV
WELFARE
Article 20 - Rationing
Where a rationing system exists, which applies to the population at large and regulates the general
distribution of products in short supply, refugees shall be accorded the same treatment as nationals.
21
Article 21 - Housing
As regards housing, the Contracting States, in so far as the matter is regulated by laws or regulations or is
subject to the control of public authorities, shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory
treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens
generally in the same circumstances.
Article 24 - Labour legislation and social security
1. The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the same treatment
as is accorded to nationals in respect of the following matters:
a) In so far as such matters are governed by laws or regulations or are subject to the control of
administrative authorities: remuneration, including family allowances where these form part of
remuneration, hours of work, overtime arrangements, holidays with pay, restrictions on home work,
minimum age of employment, apprenticeship and training, women’s work and the work: of young
persons, and the enjoyment of the benefits of collecting bargaining;
b) Social security (legal provisions in respect of employment injury, occupational diseases, maternity,
sickness, disability, old age, death, unemployment, family responsibilities and any other contingency
which, according to national laws or regulations, is covered by a social security scheme), subject to
the following limitations:
i)
there may be appropriate arrangements for the maintenance of acquired rights and rights in course
of acquisition;
ii)
National laws or regulations of the country of residence may prescribe special arrangements
concerning benefits or portions of benefits which are payable wholly out of public funds, and
concerning allowances paid to persons who do not fulfil the contribution conditions prescribed
for the award of a normal pension.
2.
The rights to compensation for the death of a refugee resulting from employment injury or from
occupational disease shall not be affected by the fact that the residence of the beneficiary is
outside the territory of the Contracting state.
3.
The Contracting States shall extend to refugees the benefits of agreements concluded between
them, or which many be concluded between them in the future, concerning the maintenance of
acquired rights and rights in the process of acquisition in regard to social security, subject only to
the conditions which apply to nationals of the States signatory to the agreements in question.
4.
The Contracting States will give sympathetic consideration to extending to refugees so far as
possible the benefits of similar agreements which may at any time be in force between such
Contracting States and non-contracting States.
22
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Adopted and opened for signature and ratification by General Assembly Resolution 2106
A (XX) of 21 December 1965
Entry into force: 4 January 1969, in accordance with article 19
The States Parties to this Convention,
Considering that the Charter of the United Nations is based on the principles of
the dignity and equality inherent in all human beings, and that all Member State have
pledged themselves to take joint and separate action, in co-operation with the
Organization, for the achievement of one of the purposes of the United Nations which is
to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all
human beings are bom free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to
all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as
to race, colour or national origin.
Considering that all human beingsj are equal before the law and are entitled to
equal protection of a 1law against any discrimination and against any incitement to
discrimination,
Considering that the United Nations has condemned colonialism and all practices
of segregation and discrimination associated therewith, in whatever form and wherever
they exist, and that the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial countries
and people of 14 December 1960 (General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) has affirmed
and solemnly proclaimed the necessity of bringing them to a speedy and unconditional
end,
Considering that the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination of 20 November, 1963 (General Assembly resolution 1904
(XVIII) solemnly affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating racial discrimination
throughout the world in all its forms and manifestations and of securing understanding of
and respect for the dignity of the human person,
Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is
scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is
no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere.
Reaffirming that discrimination between human beings on the grounds of race,
colour or ethnic origin is an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations among nations and
is capable of disturbing peace and security among people and the harmony of persons
living side even within one and the same Slate,
23
Convinced that the existence of racial barriers is repugnant to the ideals of any
human society,
Alarmed by manifestations of racial discrimination still in evidence in some areas
of the world and by governmental policies based on racial superiority or hatred, such as
policies of apartheid, segregation or separation,
Resolved to adopt all necessary measures for speedily eliminating racial
discrimination in all its forms and manifestations, and to prevent and combat racist
doctrine and practices in order to promote understanding between races and to build in
international community free from all forms of racial segregation and racial
discrimination,
Bearing in mind the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of
Employment and Occupation adopted by the international Labour Organization in 1958,
and the Convention against discrimination in Education adopted by the United Nations.
Educational, Scientific and cultural Organization in 1960.
Article 5
e) Economic, social and cultural rights, in particular:
1)
The rights to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable
conditions of work, to protection against unemployment, to equal pay for
equal work, to just and favourable remuneration;
ii)
The right to form and join trade unions;
111)
The right to housing;
iv)
The right to public health, medical care, social security and social services;
V)
The right to education and training;
vi)
The right to equal participation in cultural activities.
24
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS
Adopted and openedfor signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly
Resolution 2200 A (XXI) of 16 December 1966
Entry into Force: 3 January 1976, in accordance with article 27.
PREAMBLE
The States Parties to the present Covenant,
Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the
United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Recognizing that, these rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person.
Recognizing that, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if
conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his economic, social and cultural rights as
well as his civil and political rights.
Considering that the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to
promote universal respect for, and observance o£ human rights and freedoms,
Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the community to
which he belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the
rights recognized in the present Covenant,
Agree upon the following articles:
Article 7
The States Parties to the Present Convenant recognize the right of everyone to the
enjoyment ofjust and favourable conditions of work which ensure, in particular:
b) Safe and healthy working condition;
c)
Equal opportunity for everyone to be promoted in his emploxment to an appropriate
higher level subject to no considerations other than those of seniority and competence;
d) Rest, leisure and reasonable limitation of working hours and penodic holidays with pay,
as well as remuneration for public holidays.
Article 10
2. Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period
before and after childbirth. During such penod working mothers should be
accorded paid leave or leave with adequate social security benefits.
3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of all
children and young persons without any discrimination for reasons of parentage
or other conditions. Children and young persons should be protected from
economic and social exploitation. Their employment in work harmfill to their
morals or health or dangerous to life or likely to hamper their normal
development should be punishable by law. States should also set age limits
below which the paid employment of child labour should be prohibited and
punishable by law.
Article 11
1. The State Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate
standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and
housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will
take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the
essential importance of international cooperation based on free consent.
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right of everyone
to be free from hunger, shall take, individually and through international cooperation, the
measures, including specific programmes, which are needed:
a.
To improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food by
making full use of technical and scientific knowledge, by disseminating
knowledge of the principles of nutrition and by developing or refonning agrarian
systems in such a way as to achieve the most efficient development and
utilization of natural resources;
b. Taking into account the problems of both food-importing and food-exporting
countries, to ensure an equitable distribution of world food supplies in relation to
need.
Article 12
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right to everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full
realization of this right shall include those necessary for:
a.
The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and
for the healthy development of the child;
b. The improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene;
c.
The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and
other diseases;
d. The creation of condition which would assure to all medical sen ice and medical
attention in the event of sickness.
26
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Health & Social
Development
DECLARATION ON THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations
relating to the achievement of international co-operation in solving international problems of
an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian nature, and in promoting and encouraging
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex,
language or religion.
Recognizing that development is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and
political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire
population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation
in development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom.
Considering that under the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
everyone is entitled to social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth
in that Declaration can be fully realized.
Recalling the provisions of the international Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
Recalling further the relevant agreements, convention, resolution, recommendations
and other instruments of the United Nations and its specialized agencies concerning the
integral development of the human being, economic and social progress and development of
all people, including those instruments concerning decolonisation, the prevention of
discrimination, respect for the observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms, the
maintenance of international peace and security and the further promotion of friendly
relations and co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter,
Recalling the right of people of self-detcnnination, by virtue o which they have the
right to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural
development,
Recalling also the right of people to exercise, subject to the relevant provisions of
both International Covenants of Human Rights, full and complete sovereignty over all their
natural wealth and resources.
Mindful of the obligation of States under the Charter to promote universal respect for
and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of atty
kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth or other status.
Considering that the elimination of the massive and flagrant violations of the human
rights of the people and individuals affected by situations such as those resulting from
colonialism, neo-colonialism apartheid, all forms of racism and racial discrimination, foreign
domination and occupation, aggression and threats against national sovereignty, national
unity and territorial integrity and threats of war would contribute to the establishment of
circumstances propitious to tlie development of a great part of mankind.
27
o-npi^Zita
opment, as well as to the
civil, political, economic, social and cultural rmht^
fandamental freedoms are indivisible and int^d
^)nstltujed.’ inter
by the denial of
consldennS
all human rights and
-I ProiMlen of civil SSTT ’T “ ‘l”
accordmgly. tire promotion of. respect
’ SOaal and cukural rights and that
fimdamental freedoms cannot justify the denial oFoth”6^ °f
hunlan nghts
freedoms.
J
016 denial °f other human nghts and fundamental
security are essential elements for the
d™”ra« «l 4svelot®«
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field of development and that resourSTleased
y PrDJnote
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devoted to the economic and social development^^ d'I^raainent measures should be
particular, those of the developing countries,
wdl-bemg of all people
and
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benefictary of development,
devdopment P™^
human bemg
main, participant and
promote ______
and‘ protect human rights
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who make up nations.
h““‘ nShi ml itai
ogatlve both of nations and of individuals
Proclaims the foltowmg Declaration on the Right to Development:
2.
Article 4
Sustained action is required to promote i—
mOrecZ2«XPlnent °f devel™ countries. As
a comp ement to the efforts of developing
essential m providing these countries with
comprehensive development.
Article 7
All States should
peace and security and.
disarmament under effective international conriol as tdl
effective disarmament ~s am us^i for _pi^ive
developing countries.
general
awlctc
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28
RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
Adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, at Rio de Janeiro
from 3 to 14 June 1992
Reaffirming the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment,
adopted at Stockholm on 16 June 1972, a/ and seeking to build upon it.
With the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new
levels of cooperation among States, key sectors of societies and people,
Working towards international agreements which respect the interests of all and protect the
integrity of the global environmental and developmental sy stem.
Recognizing the integral and interdependent nature of the Earth, our home.
Proclaims that:
Principle 1
Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a
healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
Principle 2
States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the Principles of
international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own
environmental and developmental poheies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within
their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas
beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
Principle 3
The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and
environmental needs of present and future generations.
Principle 4
In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral
part of
the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.
Principle 5
All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating poverty' as an
indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in order to decrease the disparities in
standards of living and better meet the needs of the majority of the people of the world.
Principle 6
The special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed and
those most environmentally vulnerable, shall be given special priority. International actions in the
field of environment and development should also address the interests and needs of all countries.
29
Principle 7
States shall cooperate m a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health
and integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to global
environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The
developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit to
sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment
and of the technologies and financial resources they command.
Principle 8
To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people. States should
reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and promote
appropriate demographic policies.
Principle 9
States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development
by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological
knowledge, and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of
technologies, including new and
innovative technologies.
Principle 10
Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant
level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information
concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous
materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision
making processes.
States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information
widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress
and remedy, shall be provided.
Principle 11
States shall enact effective environmental legislation. Environmental standards, management
objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and development context to which they
apply. Standards applied by some countries may be inappropriate and of unwarranted economic
and social cost to other
countries, in particular developing countries.
Principle 12
States should cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that
would lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, to better address
the problems of environmental degradation. Trade policy measures for environmental purposes
should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction
on international trade. Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenges outside the
jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided. Environmental measures addressing
transboundary or global environmental problems should, as far as possible, be based on an
international consensus.
Principle 13
States shall develop national law regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution
and other environmental damage States shall also cooperate in an expeditious and more
determined manner to develop further international law regarding liability and compensation for
30
adverse effects of environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control
to areas beyond their jurisdiction.
Principle 14
States should effectively cooperate to discourage or prevent the relocation and transfer to other
States of any activities and substances that cause severe environmental degradation or are found
to be harmfill to human health.
Principle 15
In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States
according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of
full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to
prevent environmental degradation.
Principle 16
National authorities should endeavour to promote the internalization of environmental costs and
the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in
Principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting
international trade and investment.
Principle 17
Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed
activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject
to a decision of a competent national authority.
Principle 18
States shall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or other emergencies that are
likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the environment of those States. Every effort shall be
made by the international community to help States so afflicted.
Principle 19
States shall provide prior and timely notification and relevant information to potentially affected
States on activities that may have a significant adverse transboundary environmental effect and
shall consult with those States at an early stage and in good faith.
Principle 20
Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation
is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.
Principle 21
The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge a global
partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all.
Principle 22
Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities have a vital role in
environmental management and development because of their knowledge and traditional
practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable
their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.
31
Principle 23
The environment and natural resources of people under oppression, domination and occupation
shall be protected.
Principle 24
Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development States shall therefore respect
international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and
cooperate in its further development, as ncccssan'.
Principle 25
Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.
Principle 26
States shall resolve all their environmental disputes peacefully and by appropriate means in
accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
Principle 27
States and people shall cooperate in good faith and in a spirit of partnership in the fulfillment of
the Principles embodied in this Declaration and in the further development of international law in
the field of sustainable development.
32
COPENHAGEN DECLARATION
Adopted by the World Summitfor Social Development, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6-12
March 1995
Commitment 1
We commit ourselves to create an economic, political, social, cultural and legal
environment that will enable people to achieve social development.
Commitment 2
We commit ourselves to the goal of eradicating poverty in the world, through decisive
national action and international cooperation, as an ethical, social, political and economic
imperative of humankind.
Commitment 3
We commit ourselves to promoting the goal of full employment as a basic priority of our
economic and social policies, and to enabling all men and women to attain secure and
sustainable livehhoods through freely chosen productive employment and work.
Commitment 4
We commit ourselves to promoting social integration by fostering societies that are
stable, safe and just and based on the promotion and protection of all human rights, and
on non-discrimination, tolerance, respect for diversity, equality of opportunity, solidarity,
security and participation of all people, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups
and persons.
Commitment 5
We commit ourselves to promoting full respect for human dignity and to achieving
equality and equity between women and men, and to recognizing and enhancing the
participation and leadership roles of women in political, civil, economic, social and
cultural life and in development.
Commitment 6
We commit ourselves to promoting and attaining the goals of universal and equitable
access to quality education, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
and the access of all to primary health care, making particular efforts to rectify
inequalities relating to social conditions and without distinction as to race, national
origin, gender, age or disability; respecting and promoting our common and particular
cultures; striving to strengthen the role of culture in development; preserving the essential
bases of people-centered sustainable development and contributing to the full
development of human resources and to social development. The purpose of these
activities is to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster
social integration
33
Commitment 7
We commit ourselves to accelerating the economic, social and human resource
development of Africa and the least developed countries.
Commitment 8
We commit ourselves to ensuring that when structural adjustment programmes are agreed
to, they include social development goals, in particular eradicating poverty, promoting
full and productive employment and enhancing social integration.
Commitment 9
We commit ourselves to increase significantly and,zor utilize more efficiently the
resources allocated to social development in order to achieve the goals of the summit
through national action and regional and international cooperation.
Commitment 10
We commit ourselves to an improved and strengthened framework for international,
regional and subregional cooperation for social development, in a spirit of partnership,
through the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
34
ISTANBUL DECLARATION ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Adopted by the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in
Istanbul, Turkeyfrom 3 to 14 June 1996
1. We, the Heads of State or Government and the official delegations of countries
assembled at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in
Istanbul, Turkey from 3 to 14 June 1996, take this opportunity to endorse the universal
goals of ensuring adequate shelter for all and making human settlements safer, healthier
and more liveable, equitable, sustainable and productive. Our dehberations on the two
major themes of the Conference - adequate shelter for all and sustainable human
settlements development in an urbanizing world - have been inspired by the Charter of
the United Nations and are aimed at reaffirming existing and forging new partnerships for
action at the international, national and local levels to improve our living environment.
We commit ourselves to the objectives, principles and recommendations contained in the
Habitat Agenda and pledge our mutual support for its implementation.
2. We have considered, with a sense of urgency, the continuing deterioration of
conditions of shelter and human settlements. At the same time, we recognize cities and
towns as centres of civilization, generating economic development and social, cultural,
spiritual and scientific advancement. We must take advantage of the opportunities
presented by our settlements and preserve their diversity to promote solidarity among all
our peoples.
3. We reaffirm our commitment to better standards of hving in larger freedom for all
humankind. We recall the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, held at
Vancouver, Canada, the celebration of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
and the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, all of which have contributed to
increased global awareness of the problems of human settlements and called for action to
achieve adequate shelter for all. Recent United Nations world conferences, including, in
particular, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, have given
us a comprehensive agenda for the equitable attainment of peace, justice and democracy
built on economic development, social development and environmental protection as
interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development. We
have sought to integrate the outcomes of these conferences into the Habitat Agenda.
4. To improve the quality of life within human settlements, we must combat the
deterioration of conditions that in most cases, particularly in developing countries, have
reached crisis proportions. To this end, we must address comprehensively, inter alia,
unsustainable consumption and production patterns, particularly in industrialized
countries; unsustainable population changes, including changes in structure and
distribution, giving priority consideration to the tendency towards excessive population
concentration; homelessness; increasing poverty; unemployment; social exclusion; family
instability; inadequate resources; lack of basic infrastructure and services; lack of
adequate planning; growing insecurity and violence; environmental degradation; and
increased vulnerability to disasters.
35
▼
5. The challenges of human settlements are global, but countries and regions also face
specific problems which need specific solutions. We recognize the need to intensify our
efforts and cooperation to improve living conditions in the cities, towns and villages
throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, where the situation is
especially grave, and in countries with economies in transition. In this connection, we
acknowledge that globalization of the world economy presents opportunities and
challenges for the development process, as well as risks and uncertainties, and that
achievement of the goals of the Habitat Agenda would be facilitated by, inter alia,
positive actions on the issues of financing of development, external debt, international
trade and transfer of technology. Our cities must be places where human beings lead
fulfilling lives in dignity, good health, safety, happiness and hope.
6. Rural and urban development are interdependent. In addition to improving the urban
habitat, we must also work to extend adequate infrastructure, public services and
employment opportunities to rural areas in order to enhance their attractiveness, develop
an integrated network of settlements and minimize rural-to-urban migration. Small- and
medium-sized towns need special focus.
7. As human beings are at the centre of our concern for sustainable development, they are
the basis for our actions as in implementing the Habitat Agenda. We recognize the
particular needs of women, children and youth for safe, healthy and secure living
conditions. We shall intensify our efforts to eradicate poverty and discrimination, to
promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and to provide
for basic needs, such as education, nutrition and life-span health care services, and,
especially, adequate shelter for all. To this end, we commit ourselves to improving the
living conditions in human settlements in ways that are consonant with local needs and
realities, and we acknowledge the need to address the global, economic, social and
environmental trends to ensure the creation of better living environments for all people.
We shall also ensure the foil and equal participation of all women and men, and the
effective participation of youth, in political, economic and social life. We shall promote
foil accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as gender equality in policies,
programmes and projects for shelter and sustainable human settlements development. We
make these commitments with particular reference to the more than one billion people
living in absolute poverty and to the members of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
identified in the Habitat Agenda.
8. We reaffirm our commitment to the full and progressive realization of the right to
adequate housing as provided for in international instruments. To that end, we shall seek
the active participation of our public, private and non-governmental partners at all levels
to ensure legal security of tenure, protection from discrimination and equal access to
affordable, adequate housing for all persons and their families.
9. We shall work to expand the supply of affordable housing by enabling markets to
perform efficiently and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, enhancing
access to land and credit and assisting those who are unable to participate in housing
markets.
36
10. In order to sustain our global environment and improve the quality of living in our
human settlements, we commit ourselves to sustainable patterns of production,
consumption, transportation and settlements development; pollution prevention; respect
for the carrying capacity of ecosystems, and the preservation of opportunities for future
generations. In this connection, we shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to
conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem. In view of
different contributions to global environmental degradation, we reaffirm the principle that
countries have common but differentiated responsibilities. We also recognize that we
must take these actions in a manner consistent with the precautionary principle approach,
which shall be widely applied according to the capabilities of countries. We shall also
promote healthy living environments, especially through the provision of adequate
quantities of safe water and effective management of waste.
11. We shall promote the conservation, rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings,
monuments, open spaces, landscapes and settlement patterns of historical, cultural,
architectural, natural, religious and spiritual value.
12. We adopt the enabling strategy and the principles of partnership and participation as
the most democratic and effective approach for the realization of* our commitments.
Recognizing local authorities as our closest partners, and as essential, in the
implementation of the Habitat Agenda, we must, within the legal framework of each
country, promote decentralization through democratic local authorities and work to
strengthen their financial and institutional capacities in accordance with the conditions of
countries, while ensuring their transparency, accountability and responsiveness to the
needs of people, which are key requirements for Governments at all levels. We shall also
increase our cooperation with parliamentarians, the private sector, labour unions and non
governmental and other civil society organizations with due respect for their autonomy.
We shall also enhance the role of women and encourage socially and environmentally
responsible corporate investment by the private sector. Local action should be guided and
stimulated through local programmes based on Agenda 21, the Habitat Agenda, or any
other equivalent programme, as well as drawing upon the experience of worldwide
cooperation initiated in Istanbul by the World Assembly of Cities and Local Authorities,
without prejudice to national policies, objectives, priorities and programmes. The
enabling strategy includes a responsibility for Governments to implement special
measures for members of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups when appropriate.
13. As the implementation of the Habitat Agenda will require adequate funding, we must
mobilize financial resources at the national and international levels, including new and
additional resources from all sources - multilateral and bilateral, public and private. In
this connection, we must facilitate capacity-building and promote the transfer of
appropriate technology and know-how. Furthermore, we reiterate the commitments set
out in recent United Nations conferences, especially those in Agenda 21 on funding and
technology transfer.
14. We believe that the full and effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda will
require the strengthening of the role and functions of the United Nations Centre for
yi
Human Settlements (Habitat), taking into account the need for the Centre to focus on
well-defined and thoroughly developed objectives and strategic issues. To this end, we
pledge our support for the successful implementation of the Habitat Agenda and its
global plan of action. Regarding the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, we fully
recognize the contribution of the regional and national action plans prepared for this
Conference.
15. This Conference in Istanbul marks a new era of cooperation, an era of a culture of
solidarity. As we move into the twenty-first century, we offer a positive vision of
sustainable human settlements, a sense of hope for our common future and an exhortation
to join a truly worthwhile and engaging challenge, that of building together a world
where everyone can live in a safe home with the promise of a decent life of dignity, good
health, safety, happiness and hope.
38
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ROME DECLARATION ON HUNGER
Adopted by the World Food Day Colloquium held in Rome, Italy in October 1982
We, the participants in the World Food Day Colloquium held in Rome
in October 1982, have assessed food problems and prospects in the
context of the world economic situation and. adopted the following
Declaration.
We believe that it is indeed possible to end world hunger by the
year 2000. More than ever before, humanity possesses the resources,
capital, technologv and knowledge to promote development and to feed
all people, both now and in the foreseeable future. By the year 2000
the entire world population can be fed and nourished.
Only a modest expenditure is needed each year — a tiny fraction
of total military expenditure which amounts to about $650 billion a
year. What is required is the political will to put first things
This is
first and to give absolute priority to freedom from hunger.. TLlthe challenge which faces peoples and their governments. 1We call upon
them to meet the challenge and to start now.
While recognizing the complexities and difficulties of the task,
we emphasize that hope can replace dispair and positive action replace
negative pessimism.
We are aware that the international scene is characterized by deep
recession, mounting unemployment and increasing tensions. While we do
not underestimate the seriousness of difficulties facing industria
lized countries, the plight of most developing countries is even more
dramatic. Stagnation or decline in growth rates, falling commodity
prices, adverse terms of trade, high interest rates and growing
external debt aggravate the problems of poverty and hunger.
There has been a dangerous decline in international cooperation
for development, precisely at the time when such cooperation is most
needed. Retreat from multilateral development cooperation and- strong
trends towards bilateralism or even unilateral action accentuate the
division of the world, a phenomenon which has led to major world
conflicts in the past.
Against this sombre background we took stock of the food situation
of developing countries. While some have succeeded in increasing food
production faster than population, many more have not been able to do
so and hunger and malnutrition continue to afflict hundreds of
millions of men, women and children.
The central importance of food stands endorsed on many occasions,
most categorically and emphatically in Article 11 of the Covenant of
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which states that: "Parties to
the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right of everyone to
be free from hunger, shall take, individually and through interna
tional cooperation, the measures, including specific programmes, which
39
are needed to improve methods of production, conservation and
distribution of food ...”.
We are convinced by the evidence assembled by FAO in its valuable
study ’’Agriculture: Toward 2000” aod by other authoritative studies
that a continuation of present policies and attitudes could prolong
the shame of chronic and widespread hunger into the twenty-first
century. That is why this challenge must be met.
The prospect of persistent and ever-growing inequality between and
within nations, of which hunger is one- manifestation, can lead to
violence and political destabilization, as evidenced by recent
experience.
The objective solemnly declared in 1974 by the World Food Con
ference of eradicating hunger and malnutrition by 1985 is far from
being achieved. We feel that even the more modest objective adopted
in 1980 by the UN General Assembly for the Third United Nations
Development Decade of eliminating hunger and malnutrition ”as soon as
possible and certainly by the end of this century” may not be realized
if present trends continue.
We note with satisfaction that international agreement exists ;as
to the priority character and huge dimensions of the world food
problem and that basic guidelines for national and international
action have been accepted by the international community. What is
needed now is action in line with commitments and pledges made or
reiterated at successive high-level conferences.
The serious hunger problem in South and Southeast Asia and the
dramatically deteriorating food situation in sub-Saharan Africa
deserve the urgent and substantial support of the international
community.
We are convinced that a major and concerted global effort to acce
lerate growth in developing countries, especially the less developed
among them, is urgently needed. A much higher priority to food
production, as well as sustained efforts towards greater equity, is m
the common interest of all people and all nations and is the only
long-term solution.
Resumption of the momentum of growth in the industrialized world
through appropriate policies is urgently needed. We are persuaded
that accelerated growth in developing countries must play an important
role in support of sound expansionary policies of the world economy.
We urge, as an overall target, that food production in developing
countries should be at least doubled over the next two decades so as
to make them self-reliant in basic foods. Their Governments should
define or review existing food policy goals, assign high priority to
food and agriculture and, in order to meet growing demands and redress
imbalances, allocate sufficient resources to the sector.
40
Farming should be progressively modernized and intensified on the
basis of sustained research efforts — national, regional and inter
national — focussing on the productivity of food crops. Adequate
incentives, including appropriate pricing policies, must be provided.
Particular stress must be laid on efficient water use and expansion of
irrigation as a basis for stabilising and increasing food production.
This must be undertaken in ways which conserve natural resources in
agriculture, forestry and fisheries and avoid ecological damage which
cannot be made good except at very great cost.
Food and agricultural development cannot and should not be looked
upon in isolation from the whole process of social and economic
development. Even high rates of growth in developing countries have
not solved the problems of hunger and malnutrition. The growth
process needs a new orientation to attack the social problems of those
people who have been benefitting only little in recent years from
general economic progress.
Hunger, unemployment and poverty go together. The rural landless
and the urban jobless should be provided with opportunities for
productive employment through higher rates of investment. The
purchasing power of the poor must be increased, for instance, by
subsidies and direct food distribution schemes.
Other essential requirements include equitable access to land,
water and other natural resources; people’s participation including
integration of v^omen in rural development; access to inputs, markets,
services and education, training and extension; expansion of income
and employment opportunities through rural work programmes and non
farm activities to counter the prevalence of hunger in rural areas.
We strongly urge that the Declaration of Principles and the
Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Agrarian Reform
and Rural Development of July 1979 should be implemented with vigour
by developing countries supported fully by industrialized countries.
Not all countries can be self-sufficient in food. Through sub
regional, regional and inter-regional cooperation developing countries
can achieve the objective of collective self-reliance.
The elimination of hunger and malnutrition is an essential and
integral part of the New International Economic Order. We earnestly
hope, therefore, that negotiations will be successfully concluded at
the present session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on a
resolution to launch Global Negotiations on International Economic
Cooperation.
This will give added impetus to the search for a long-term
solution to the problems of hunger and malnutrition in the world in
the context of overall development. These issues, however, are so
vital and urgent as to brook no delay both as regards the implementa
tion of agreed commitments and the pursuance of ongoing negotiations
in other fora.
41
We have noted with great concern that summit pronouncements in
favour of the elimination of protection which particularly affects
agricultural exports of developing countries have not been borne out
in practice. We urge that negotiations aimed at concerted phasing out
of tariff and non-tariff barriers to agricultural exports of
developing countries be undertaken. We strongly recommend that the
forthcoming GATT Ministerial Meeting make a significant beginning in
this direction.
We note with regret that agreements reached under the UNCTAD
Integrated Programme of Commodities have not been followed up by
successful negotiations. However, we consider that the stabilization
of prices at remunerative levels is essential for the success of a
food and agricultural strategy. To this end, we urge intensification
of efforts to negotiate commodity agreements.
Efforts to conclude an International Grains Arrangement, which
includes adequate food security provisions, should be resumed with a
view to reaching agreement as soon as possible. National food
security reserves and infrastructure in developing countries, which
are an essential component of world food security, should be built up
with international assistance. The international community should
help developing countries to take advantage of currently abundant
world grain supplies to build up national, regional or subregional
stocks. More food aid should be provided, on a stable and predictable
basis, particularly through international channels, not just to meet
emergencies, but to promote development, care being taken to avoid
disincentives to domestic food production.
We urge developed countries and others in a position to do so to
increase massively their contribution to general development
assistance and especially to provide increased assistance to food and
agriculture. Governments should take into account FAO's estimate that
external assistance requirements for food and agriculture will
increase four-fold in real terms by the end of the century.
We emphasize the need for an increasing share of external assis
tance to be provided through multilateral institutions. International
financial institutions, in their assistance to food and agriculture,
should cover more of the local and recurring costs. They should also
refrain from imposing conditions on pricing, tax and subsidy policies
which could aggravate poverty and hunger and lead to political
instability.
The ultimate purpose of development is the human being, Hence
human development is both a means and an end of the struggle to
increase food production and eliminate hunger.
We commend non-governmental organizations which have consistently
drawn attention to the problems of hunger and poverty and urge them to
intensify their efforts to promote solutions along the lines indicated
in the present Declaration.
42
We recognize the particular responsibilities and lead role of FAO
in the fight against hunger. We are confident that FAO and other
concerned organizations will be able to respond effectively to the
tasks that lie ahead. We accordingly invite the Director-General of
FAO to draw the attention of FAO’s governing bodies and the heads of
other international organizations and policy makers at national and
international levels to the present Declaration.
We hope that policy makers and all people to whom this Declaration
is addressed will rise to the challenge and display the necessary
vision, courage and determination.
A3
WORLD DECLARATION ON NUTRITION
Adopted by the International Conference on Nutrition at Rome, 1992
1 We, the Ministers and the Plenipotentiaries representing 159 states and the European Economic
Community' at the International Conference on Nutrition (Rome, December 1992), declare our
determination to eliminate hunger and to reduce all forms of malnutrition. Hunger and
malnutrition are unacceptable in a world that has both the knowledge and the resources to end this
human catastrophe. We recognize that access to nutritionally adequate and safe food is a right of
each individual. We recognize that globally there is enough food for all and that inequitable
access is the main problem. Bearing in mind the right to an adequate standard of living, including
food, contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we pledge to act in solidarity to
ensure that freedom from hunger becomes a reality. We also declare our firm commitment to
work together to ensure sustained nutritional well-being for all people in a peaceful, just and
environmentally safe world.
2. Despite appreciable worldwide improvements in life expectancy, adult literacy and nutritional
status, we all view with the deepest concern the unacceptable feet that about 780 million people
in developing countries , 20 percent of their combined population , still do not have access to
enough food to meet their basic daily needs for nutritional well-being.
3 . We are especially distressed by the high prevalence and increasing numbers of malnourished
children under five years of age in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Moreover, more than 2 000 million people, mostly women and children, are deficient in one or
more micronutrients: babies continue to be bom mentally retarded as a result of iodine deficiency;
children go blind and die of vitamin A deficiency; and enormous numbers of women and children
are adversely affected by iron deficiency. Hundreds of millions of people also suffer from
communicable and non-communicable diseases caused by contaminated food and water. At the
same time, chronic non-communicable diseases related to excessive or unbalanced dietary7 intakes
often lead to premature deaths in both developed and developing countries.
4. We call on the United Nations to consider urgently the issue of declaring an International
Decade of Food and Nutrition, within existing structures and available resources, in order to give
additional emphasis to achieving the objectives of this World Declaration on Nutrition. Such
consideration should give particular emphasis to the food and nutrition problems of Africa, and of
Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
5. We recognize that poverty and the lack of education, which are often the effects of
underdevelopment, are the primary causes of hunger and undemutrition. There are poor people in
most societies who do not have adequate access to food, safe water and sanitation, health sendees
and education, which are the basic requirements for nutritional well-being.
6. We commit ourselves to ensuring that development programmes and policies lead to a
sustainable improvement in human welfare, are mindful of the environment and are conducive to
better nutrition and health for present and future generations. The multifunctional roles of
agriculture, especially with regard to food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture and the
conservation of natural resources, are of particular importance in this context. We must
implement at family, household, community, national and international levels, coherent
44
agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, food, nutrition, health, education, population,
environmental, economic and social policies and programmes to achieve and maintain balance
between the population and available resources and between rural and urban areas.
7. Slow progress in solving nutrition problems reflects the lack of human and financial resources,
institutional capacity and policy commitment in many countries needed to assess the nature,
magnitude and causes of nutrition problems and to implement concerted programmes to
overcome them. Basic and applied scientific research, as well as food and nutrition surveillance
systems, are needed to more clearly identify the factors that contribute to the problems of
malnutrition and the ways and means of eliminating these problems, particularly for women,
children and aged persons.
8. In addition, nutritional well-being is hindered by the continuation of social, economic and
gender disparities; of discriminatory practices and laws; of floods, cyclones, drought,
desertification and other natural calamities; and of many countries’ inadequate budgetary^
allocations for agriculture, health, education and other social services.
9. Wars, occupations, civil disturbances and natural disasters, as well as human rights violations
and inappropriate socio-economic policies, have resulted in tens of millions of refugees, displaced
persons, war-affected non-combatant civilian populations and migrants, who are among the most
nutritionally vulnerable groups. Resources for rehabilitating and caring for these groups are often
extremely inadequate and nutritional deficiencies are common. All responsible parties should
cooperate to ensure the safe and timely passage and distribution of appropriate food and medical
supplies to those in need, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
10. Changing worid conditions and the reduction of international tensions have improved the
prospects for a peaceful solution of conflicts and have given us an opportunity as never before to
redirect our resources increasingly towards productive and socially usefill purposes to ensure the
nutritional well-being of all people, especially the poor, deprived and vulnerable.
11. We recognize that the nutritional well-being of all people is a pre-condition for the
development of societies and that it should be a key objective of progress in human development.
It must be at the centre of our socio-economic development plans and strategies. Success is
dependent on fostering the participation of the people and the community and multisectoral
actions at all levels, taking into account their long-term effects. Shorter-term measures to improve
nutritional well-being may need to be initiated or strengthened to complement the benefits
resulting from longer-term development efforts.
12. Policies and programmes must be directed towards those most in need. Our priority should be
to implement people-focused policies and programmes that increase access to and control of
resources by the rural and urban poor, raise their productive capacity and incomes and strengthen
their capacity to care for themselves. We must support and promote initiatives by people and
communities and ensure that the poor participate in decisions that affect their lives. We fully
recognize the importance of the family unit in providing adequate food, nutrition and a proper
caring environment to meet the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of children and other
vulnerable groups, including the elderly. In circumstances where the family unit can no longer
fulfill these responsibilities adequately, the community and/or government should offer a support
network to the vulnerable. We, therefore, undertake to strengthen and promote the family unit as
the basic unit of society
45
13. The right of women and adolescent girls to adequate nutrition is crucial. Their health and
education must be improved. Women should be given the opportunity to participate in the
decision-making process and to have increased access to and control of resources. It is
particularly important to provide fhmily planning services to both men and women and to provide
support for women, especially working women, whether paid or unpaid, throughout pregnancy
and breast-feeding and during the early childhood period. Men should also be motivated through
appropriate education to assume an active role in the promotion of nutritional well-being.
14. Food aid may be used to assist m emergencies, to provide relief to refugees and displaced
persons and to support household food security and community and economic development.
Countries receiving emergency food aid should be provided with sufficient resources to enable
them to move on from the rehabilitation phase to development, so that they will be in a position
to cope with future emergencies. Care must be taken to avoid creating dependency and to avoid
negative impacts on food habits and on local food production and marketing. Before food aid is
reduced or discontinued, steps should be taken to alert recipient countries as much in advance as
possible so that they can identify alternative sources and implement other approaches. Where
appropriate, food aid may be channelled through NGOs with local and popular participation, in
accordance with the domestic legislation of each country.
15. We reaffirm our obligations as nations and as an international community to protect and
respect the need for nutritionally adequate food and medical supplies for civilian populations
situated in zones of conflict. We affirm in the context of international humanitarian law that food
must not be used as a tool for political pressure. Food aid must not be denied because of political
affiliation, geographic location, gender, age, ethnic, tribal or religious identity.
16.We recognize the fact that each government has the prime responsibility to protect and
promote food security and the nutritional well-being of its people, especially the vulnerable
groups. However, we also stress that such efforts of low-income countries should be supported by
actions of the international community as a whole. Such actions should include an increase in
official development assistance in order to reach the accepted United Nations target of 0.7 percent
of the GNP of developed countries as reiterated at the 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development.(1) Also, further renegotiation or alleviation of external debt
could contribute in a substantive manner to the nutritional well-being in medium-income
countries as well as in low-income ones.
17. We acknowledge the importance of further liberalization and expansion of world trade, which
would increase foreign exchange earnings and employment in developing countries.
Compensatory measures will continue to be needed to protect adversely affected developing
countries and vulnerable groups in medium- and low-income countries from negative effects of
structural adjustment programmes.
18. We reaffirm the objectives for human development, food security, agriculture, rural
development, health, nutrition and environment and sustainable development enunciated in a
number of international conferences and documents..(2) We reiterate our commitment to the
nutritional goals of the Fourth United Nations Development Decade and the World Summit for
Children.
19. Asa basis for the Plan of Action for Nutrition and guidance for formulation of national plans
of action, including the development of measurable goals and objectives within time frames, we
pledge to make all efforts to eliminate before rhe end of this decade.
46
•
•
•
famine and famine-related deaths;
starvation and nutritional deficiency diseases in communities affected by natural and
man-made disasters;
iodine and vitamin A deficiencies.
We also pledge to reduce substantially within this decade:
•
•
•
•
•
•
starvation and widespread chronic hunger;
undemutrition,especially among children, women and the aged;
other important micronutrient deficiencies, including iron;
diet-related communicable and non-communicable diseases;
social and other impediments to optimal breast-feeding;
inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene, including unsafe drinking-water.
20. We resolve to promote active cooperation among governments, multilateral, bilateral and
non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities and individuals to eliminate
progressively the causes that lead to the scandal of hunger and all forms of malnutrition in the
midst of abundance.
21. With a clear appreciation of the intrinsic value of human life and the dignity it commands, we
adopt the attached Plan of Action for Nutrition and affirm our determination to revise or prepare,
before the end of 1994, our national plans of action, including attainable goals and measurable
targets, based on the principles and relevant strategies in the attached Plan of Action for
Nutrition. We pledge to implement it.
Footnotes
(1) "Developed countries reaffirm their commitments to reach the accepted United Nations target
of 0.7 percent of GNP for ODA and, to the extent that they have not yet achieved that target,
agree to augment their aid programmes in order to reach that target as soon as possible and to
ensure prompt and effective implementation of Agenda 21. Some countries have agreed to reach
the target by the year 2000. ... Those countries that have already reached the target are to be
commended and encouraged to continue to contribute to the common effort to make available the
substantial additional resources that have to be mobilized. Other developed countries, in line with
their support for reform efforts in developing countries, agree to make their best efforts to
increase their level of ODA. ..." (Report of United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992, paragraph 33.13).
(2) The World Food Conference, 1974; the Alma Ata Conference on Primary Health Care, 1978;
the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, 1979; the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979, especially articles 12 and 13;
the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding, 1990; the
Montreal Policy Conference on Micronutrient Malnutrition, 1991; the Rio Declaration on
Environment and Development, 1992.
47
NUTRITION GOALS OF THE FOURTH UNITED NATIONS
DEVELOPMENT DECADE
Member States must give effect to agreements already reached to make all efforts to meet four
goals during the decade:
(a) To eliminate starvation and death caused by famine;
(b) To reduce malnutrition and mortality among children substantially;
(c) To reduce chronic hunger tangibly;
(d) To eliminate major nutritional diseases.
NUTRITION GOALS OF THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR CHILDREN
(to be reached by the year 2000)
(a) Reduction in severe, as well as moderate malnutrition among under-5 children by half of 1990
levels;
(b) Reduction of the rate of low birth weight (2.5 kg or less) to less than 10 percent;
(c) Reduction of iron deficiency anaemia in women by one-third of the 1990 levels;
(d) Virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders;
(e) Virtual elimination of \dtamin A deficiency and its consequences, including blindness;
(f) Empowerment of all women to breast-feed their children exclusively for four to six months
and to continue breast-feeding, with complementary food, well into the second year;
(g) Growth promotion and its regular monitoring to be institutionalized in all countries by the end
of the 1990s;
(h) Dissemination of knowledge and supporting sendees to increase food production to ensure
household food security.
48
ROME DECLARATION ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY
Adopted by the World hood Summit at Rome 13-17 November 1996
We, the Heads of State and Government? or our representatives, gathered at the World
Food Summit at the invitation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, reaffirm the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food,
consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be
free from hunger.
We pledge our political will and our common and national commitment to achieving food
security for all and to an ongoing effort to eradicate hunger in all countries, with an
immediate view to reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present
level no later than 2015.
We consider it intolerable that more than 800 million people throughout the world, and
particularly in developing countries, do not have enough food to meet their basic
nutritional needs. This situation is unacceptable. Food supplies have increased
substantially, but constraints on access to food and continuing inadequacy of household
and national incomes to purchase food, instability of supply and demand, as well as
natural and man-made disasters, prevent basic food needs from being fulfilled. The
problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and are likely to persist,
and even increase dramatically in some regions, unless urgent, determined and concerted
action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world’s population and the stress on
natural resources.
We reaffirm that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic
environment is the essential foundation which will enable States to give adequate priority
to food security and poverty eradication. Democracy, promotion and protection of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, and the full
and equal participation of men and women are essential for achieving sustainable food
security for all.
Poverty is a major cause of food insecurity and sustainable progress in poverty
eradication is critical to improve access to food. Conflict, terrorism, corruption and
environmental degradation also contribute significantly to food insecurity. Increased food
production, including staple food, must be undertaken. This should happen within the
framework of sustainable management of natural resources, elimination of unsustainable
patterns of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries, and early
stabilization of the world population. We acknowledge the fundamental contribution to
food security by women, particularly in rural areas of developing countries, and the need
to ensure equality between men and women. Revitalization of rural areas must also be a
priority to enhance social stability and help redress the excessive rate of rural-urban
migration confronting many countries
49
We emphasize the urgency of taking action now to fulfill our responsibility to achieve
food security for present and future generations. Attaining food security is a complex task
for which the primary responsibility rests with individual governments. They have to
develop an enabling environment and have policies that ensure peace, as well as social,
political and economic stability and equity and gender equality. We express our deep
concern over the persistence of hunger which, on such a scale, constitutes a threat both to
national societies and, through a variety of ways, to the stability of the international
community itself. Within the global framework, governments should also cooperate
actively with one another and with United Nations organizations, financial institutions,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and public and private sectors,
on programmes directed toward the achievement of food security for all
Food should not be used as an instrument for political and economic pressure. We
reaffirm the importance of international cooperation and solidarity as well as the
necessity of refraining from unilateral measures not in accordance with the international
law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security.
We recognize the need to adopt policies conducive to investment in human resource
development, research and infrastructure for achieving food security. We must encourage
generation of employment and incomes, and promote equitable access to productive and
financial resources. We agree that trade is a key element in achieving food security. We
agree to pursue food trade and overall trade policies that will encourage our producers
and consumers to utilize available resources in an economically sound and sustainable
manner. We recognize the importance for food security of sustainable agriculture,
fisheries, forestry and rural development in low as well as high potential areas. We
acknowledge the fundamental role of farmers, fishers, foresters, indigenous people and
their communities, and all other people involved in the food sector, and of their
organizations, supported by effective research and extension, in attaining food security.
Our sustainable development policies will promote full participation and empowerment
of people, especially women, an equitable distribution of income, access to health care
and education, and opportunities for youth. Particular attention should be given to those
who cannot produce or procure enough food for an adequate diet, including those
affected by w'ar, civil strife, natural disaster or climate related ecological changes. We are
conscious of the need for urgent action to combat pests, drought, and natural resource
degradation including desertification, overfishing and erosion of biological diversity.
We are determined to make efforts to mobilize, and optimize the allocation and
utilization of, technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt
relief for developing countries, to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable
food security policies.
Convinced that the multifaceted character of food security necessitates concerted national
action, and effective international efforts to supplement and reinforce national action, wze
make the following commitments.
so
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
we will ensure an enabling political, social, and economic environment designed
to create the best conditions for the eradication of poverty and for durable peace,
based on full and equal participation of women and men, which is most conducive
to achieving sustainable food security for all;
we will implement policies aimed at eradicating poverty and inequality and
improving physical and economic access by all, at all times, to sufficient,
nutritionally adequate and safe food and its effective utilization;
we will pursue participatory and sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries, forestry
and rural development policies and practices in high and low potential areas,
which are essential to adequate and reliable food supplies at the household,
national, regional and global levels, and combat pests, drought and desertification,
considering the multifunctional character of agriculture;
we will strive to ensure that food, agricultural trade and overall trade policies are
conducive to fostering food security for all through a fair and market-oriented
world trade system;
we will endeavour to prevent and be prepared for natural disasters and man-made
emergencies and to meet transitory and emergency food requirements in ways that
encourage recovery, rehabilitation, development and a capacity to satisfy future
needs;
we will promote optimal allocation and use of public and private investments to
foster human resources, sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry
systems, and rural development, in high and low potential areas;
we will implement, monitor, and follow-up this Plan of Action at all levels in
cooperation with the international community.
We pledge our actions and support to implement the World Food Summit Plan of Action.
51
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Children’s Health
INNOCENTI DECLARATION ON THE PROTECTION, PROMOTION AND
SUPPORT OF BREASTFEEDING
Adopted by the WHO/UNICEF policymakers' meeting on Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A Global
Initiative at Spedale dcgli Innocenti. Florence, Italy on 30 July-1 August 1990
RECOGNISING that
Breastfeeding is a unique process that:
•
•
•
•
•
provides ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their healthy growth and development;
reduces incidence and severity7 of infectious diseases, thereby lowering infant morbidity7 and
mortality7;
contributes to women’s health by reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and by
increasing the spacing between pregnancies;
provides social and economic benefits to the family and the nation;
provides most women with a sense of satisfaction when successfully carried out; and that
Recent research has found that:
•
•
these benefits increase with increased exclusiveness1 of breastfeeding during the first six
months of life, and thereafter with increased duration of breastfeeding with complementary
foods, and
programme interventions can result in positive changes in breastfeeding behaviour;
WE THEREFORE DECLARE that
As a global goal for optimal maternal and child health and nutrition, all women should be enabled to
practise exclusive breastfeeding and all infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk from birth to
4-6 months of age.2 Thereafter, children should continue to be breastfed, while receiving appropriate
and adequate complementary foods, for up to two years of age or beyond. This child-feeding ideal is
to be achieved by creating an appropriate environment of awareness and support so that women can
breastfeed in this manner.
Attainment of the goal requires, in many countries, the reinforcement of a “breastfeeding culture” and
its vigorous defence against incursions of a “bottle-feeding culture.” This requires commitment and
advocacy for social mobilization, utilizing to the full the prestige and authority of acknowledged
leaders of society in all walks of life.
Efforts should be made to increase women’s confidence in thei lability to breastfeed. Such
empowerment involves the removal of constraints and influences that manipulate perceptions and
behaviour towards breastfeeding, often by subtle and indirect means. This requires sensitivity7,
continued vigilance, and a responsive and comprehensive communications strategy involving all
media and addressed to all levels of society. Furthermore, obstacles to breastfeeding within the health
system, the workplace and the community must be eliminated.
1 Exclusive breastfeeding means that no other drink or food is given to the infant, the infant should feed
frequently and for unrestricted periods
World Health Assembly Resolutions 47.5 and 49 15, adopted after this Declaration, as well as UNICEF policy
now recommend exclusive breastfeeding for “about six months”. Ed.
52
Measures should bet taken to ensure that women arc adequately nourished for their optimal health and
that of their families. Furthermore, ensuring that all women also have access to family planning
information and services allows them to sustain breastfeeding and avoid shortened birth intervals that
may compromise their health and nutritional status, and that of their children
All governments should develop national breastfeeding policies and set appropriate national targets
for the 1990s. They should establish a national system for monitoring the attainment of their targets,
and they should develop indicators such as the prevalence of exclusively breastfed infants at discharge
from maternity sendees, and the prevalence of exclusively breastfed infants at four months of age.
National authorities are further urged to integrate their breastfeeding policies into their overall health
and development policies. In so doing they should reinforce all actions that protect, promote and
support breastfeeding within complementary programmes such as prenatal and perinatal care,
nutrition, family planning sendees, and prevention and treatment of common maternal and childhood
diseases. All healthcare staff should be training in the skills necessary to implement these
breastfeeding policies.
OPERATIONAL TARGETS:
All governments by the year 1995 should have:
•
appointed a national breastfeeding coordinator of appropriate authority, and established a
multisectoral national breastfeeding committee composed to representatives from relevant
government departments, non-governmental organizations, and health professional
associations;
•
ensured that every facility providing maternity' sendees fully practices all then of the Ten
Steps of successful breastfeeding set out in the joint WHO/UNICEF statement3 “Protecting,
promoting and supporting breast-feeding: the special role of maternity' sendees”;
•
taken action to give effect to the principles and aim of all Arcicles of the International Code
of Marketing of Breast-milk substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly
resolutions in their entirety; and
•
enacted imaginative legislation protecting the breastfeeding rights of working women and
established means for its enforcement.
We also call upon international organizations to:
•
draw up action strategies for protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding, including
global monitoring and evaluation of their strategies;
•
support national situation analyses and surveys and the development of national goals and
targets for action; and
•
encourage and support national authorities in planning, implementing, monitoring and
evaluating their breastfeeding policies.
53
' World Health Organization, Geneva, 19X9
CHILDREN ON THE CITY AGENDA
A NEW VISION FOR URBAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS
FOR TRANSFORMING CITIES
Prepared by the participants of the International
Meeting of Mayors, Urban Planners and Policy
Makers: Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s Cities
Revised October 30th, 1992
I. Preamble: The New Vision
This document is based upon a radically new vision
of childhood and youth which has been expanding
throughout the world and formalized by the signing of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Funda
mental to this new vision is the assertion that children
are citizens who have rights and the capacity for
improving their own lives and the communities1 in
which they live. Furthermore, all citizens should
become jointly responsible for creating and acting on
this new vision of the urban child.
Our future vision of the city is a city where:
• Love and care of children underlie all policies
and actions.
• Analysis, action and evaluation is based on a
holistic view of child and environment.
• All children—those who are poor as well as
those who are under stress but are not poorare given care, protection and opportunities for
development.
• Poverty reduction and full and equal access to
social services are seen as crucial to child,
family, community and city development.
• Urban interventions to support children are
aimed at the community level, empowering
and strengthening family and community sup
port networks.
• People no longer stigmatize, marginalize or
victimize children, their families and poor ur
ban communities; a new language and termi
nology are used to describe children and the
urban poor; a more inclusive definition of
children at risk and children in difficult circum
stances has been accepted.2
• A new dual role of municipal governments has
emerged which has been formally recognized
and strengthened. Municipalities are not only
the exclusive providers but also facilitators of
services to families and children. Consequently,
the role of Mayor has been redefined and
enhanced. The Mayor3 is now the defender of
children’s rights and the facilitator of child and
family development. Mayors are recognized
for their concern for children and families, not
only for building bridges and roads.
• There is a long-range plan for addressing child
and family needs, and the commitment to the
plan extends beyond the Mayor’s political term
of office.
• All citizens are treated equally, given equal
protection under the law and provided with
equal opportunities to develop to their highest
potential.
• Democratic processes involve all citizens, in
cluding the poorest.
What follows is a flexible system of strategies rather
than a fixed plan of action. We hope this document
will serve as a set of guidelines for cities to develop
their own strategic plans uniquely adapted to local
conditions.
II. Mayors Should Assume Responsibility for the
Children of Their Cities
Mayors and heads of local government are a focal
point for changing cities because of their leadership
role. It is proposed that they use this leadership
position to mobilize the extraordinary strengths of
existing communities in combination with the coordi
nated energies of existing government and non
governmental organizations and of civil society.
Children provide a unique opportunity to achieve
widespread social mobilization to create cities that
are humane for all. Women’s groups have particu
larly important roles to play in this regard. A funda
mental change in the way most cities work with poor
urban communities is required to support this effort..
Service to communities is complemented by empow
erment of, and collaboration with, communities.
54
III. Strategies for Implementing the New Urban
Vision
/A. Co'lecting Information for Advocacy and Monitoring
• Help communities to conduct their own
situational analyses. Such analyses should
be conducted at regular intervals and should
not be limited to experimental and special
project areas. They should also involve resi
dents from different communities in order to
develop general city-wide social responsibility
for children and families between, as well as
within, communities.
• Ensure greater use of universities and re
search centres in collaborative research and
community service with communities and in
coordination with municipalities.
• Experiment with and develop community
based monitoring systems utilizing tools
such as ‘community balance sheets’ that can
be easily understood and used by the commu
nity. Particular attention should be given to a
system for identifying high-risk families and
involving them in the monitoring process.
B. Improving Management, Coordination and
Convergence
• Establish a Council for Child and Family
Development at the city level comprising
representatives of NGOs, grass-roots organi
zations and heads of all municipal depart
ments, including finance. The Council should
be permanent and its continuity guaranteed
across administrations. Its functions should
include advice on the coordination, planning
and monitoring of all programmes to defend
the rights of children. A strategic plan, incor
porating the strategies described in this docu
ment, should be formulated and administered
by The Council for Child and Family Develop
ment.
• Install mechanisms facilitating community
based planning at different levels by the
residents themselves. ‘Community planners’,
and other community-level workers not tied to
any particular agency, would facilitate collabo
ration with, and between, different sections of
communities under the coordination of the
Council for Child and Family Development.
• Create a new framework of agency respon
sibilities that identifies roles and responsibili
ties for all levels of government.
• Identify new roles for agencies not tradi
tionally concerned with children. Agen
cies such as’transportation and sanitation
departments should be given technical assistance/training to help them understand:
(1) how their activities have an impact on
children, and (2) how they can work better
with other agencies to serve families and
children.
• Encourage pilot participatory projects in
order to foster the self-initiating and self
monitoring capacities of communities.
• Place families and children on municipal
council agendas. A report from the Council
for Child and -Family Development on
progress rqade in programmes should be an
item on the agenda of every municipal
council meeting.
• Provide coordinating mechanisms so that the
energies of international agencies, which
often work independently of one another in
the same community, do not overlap and
compete.
C. Strengthening Legislation
• Make legislation as flexible as possible to
give municipalities freedom to apply funds in
accordance with community needs and priori
ties.
• Work towards the implementation of a legal
framework based on the Convention on the
Rights of the Child.
• Shift more economic power, and hence politi
cal power, from the national to the municipal
level. Mayors can join with other mayors to
lobby for this change.
• Undertake the early review of all local
legislation (by-laws and ordinances) and
amend and expand legislation to maximize
conformity with the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
• Ensure that equal rights are administered to
all children and families (including refugees,
migrants and other disadvantaged groups).
• Create necessary legislative instruments to
broaden people’s rights to the use and
ownership of land.
• Encourage and support the establishment of
independent committees for the Defense of
Children’s Rights in each city. These com
mittees would perform legal surveillance of
conformity with the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
55
D. Optimizing Pesources and Investment
• Establish community-based decision
making processes, including microplanning,
to facilitate the transfer of decision-making on
funds and resources to the lowest feasible
operational level, i.e., the community.
• Review and, where necessary, restructure
municipal revenue and expenditure pat
terns in order to improve revenue collection
and ensure judicious management of expendi
tures and thereby to release enhanced finan
cial support for child development programmes.
• Integrate sectoral service, streamline the
bureaucracy and avoid overlapping ac
tions in order to prevent, waste of scarce (
resources. Aim for more cost-effective re
sponses (i.e., better and increased services at
reduced costs).
• Intensify lobbying for greater debt-reduction
and ‘debt swaps’ aimed at promoting child
development programmes at municipal and
national levels.
• Make more effective use of tax rebate in
centives to encourage profit-sharing for child
development by city-level industrialists and
business establishments. Consider feasibility
of setting-up a city-level Special Fund for
Child Development, to be administered by the
Council for Child and Family Development and
to be used for the voluntary sector to develop
programmes for children and their families.
• Encourage optimum use of public facilities,
such as schools and community centres, by
opening them up for multi-agency use.
• National and international agencies should
provide municipalities and community organi
zations with technical advice and guidance
on how to involve the local business commu
nity in child development.
• Publish annual city-wide reports of expen
ditures on children and on the progress of
programmes for children.
• Establish a minimum permissible share of
the municipal budget for child development
purposes.
• Lobby at the national level forgreater political,
legislative and resource support to translate
the new vision of childhood into action
E. Empowering People Through Community and
Organiza tional De velopment
• Expand training for all (including children,
youth and community leaders) in the skills of
J
community participation. This should in
clude curriculum development and teacher
training to enable schools to work with plan
ners to involve children in the analysis of
problems in their communities, particularly
those which directly concern them. Provide
training opportunities for municipal officials
who desire to enhance their abilities in partici
patory decision-making.
• Provide opportunities for adolescents’ and
women’s participation in income earning
and decision-making by ensuring that opera
tional guidelines exist for the implementation
of suitable municipal programmes.
• Establish Children’s Assemblies and Youth
Councils as ongoing mechanisms for involv
ing children and youth in community develop
ment and community management.
• Ensure that community-based organizations
have unhindered access to all levels of
decision-making.
• Support associations of working adolescents,
including working children, to provide protec
tion and improve communication and under
standing between the children and city agen
cies. Arrange for statutory provisions to channel
municipal resources to strengthen their work.
• Ensure that all children who work due to
economic and social circumstances have ac
cess to formal or non-formal education facili
ties and supportive services that will enable
them to acquire education and vocational skills.
• Improve urban planning and design for
children and families by involving the commu
nity directly in the process. This will involve the
design or redesign of residential areas so that
children are not isolated, can socialize with
others and have access to a diverse physical
environment for play and recreation.
F. Increasing Public Education and Awareness of the
New Vision of Childhood
• Ensure universal primary education for all
children and promote adult literacy.
• Raise public awareness about the situation
of the urban poor and children at risk, and
inform communities and children about their
rights and the city services to which they are
entitled.
• Require the staff of all municipal agencies to
use the ‘new vision of childhood’ language to
reduce the stigmatization of the urban poor
and children at risk.
56
• Work with the media to project a realistic
picture of children in difficult circumstances.
Children are law-abiding and unprotected; when
some children become deviant it~is due to
compelling circumstances which need to be
addressed.
• Strengthen capacities of municipal service
providers to be more understanding and open
to participatory ways of solving community
problems.
A Declaration Produced by the Mayors and City
Leaders at the Conference
We, the Mayors and city leaders of different coun
tries, having gathered this week in Florence, Italy, at
the invitation of the UNICEF International Child
Development Centre, the Comune di Firenze, and
the Istituto degli Innocenti di Firenze to discuss
‘Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s Cities’,
REMIND Heads of national and city governments of
the commitment that was made by governments
through the ratification of the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child, and reaffirmed at the World
Summit for Children, and, while aware that important
differences exist among nations,
CALL UPON Mayors and other Heads of municipal
governments throughout the world to recognize that:
1. The worldwide economic crisis is provoking
serious consequences which directly affect
the welfare of our children and families.
2. We must take increased responsibility for
preventing the deterioration of the quality of
life of our populations and the accentuation of
social inequities, and we must ensure that
others, including representatives of national,
state or municipal governments, non-govern
mental organizations (NGOs), community
based organizations and the private sector,
join in our efforts.
3. We must insist that municipal governments,
which are on the front line, be given legal
instruments and economic resources so that
they can implement social policies that guar
antee the full citizenship and rights of all
children and families.
4. We must guarantee that citizens, including
children according to their capacities, be
given the opportunity to participate in a genu
ine and not just a token way in the definition of
priorities for municipal action, and that institu
tionalized channels (committees, task forces
and councils) be established at the municipal
level for this purpose.
5. We must ensure that the accounting of the
use of public resources be transparent to the
public.
6. We must strive for greater coordination within
government agencies and among these agen
cies, the private sector, NGOs and commu
nity-based organizations, in order to imple
ment integrated plans of action that promote
the rights of all children and families in the city.
We therefore call upon Mayors worldwide to make a
decisive commitment to protect the rights of our
children, to achieve the summit goals and to ensure,
by making our cities more humane, that all children
have a better future. We call upon you to involve all
citizens of our cities in this alliance, and we invite
you, with the support of UNICEF and other interna
tional organizations, to encourage others by your
example, and to share at future international meet
ings, such as the June 1993 Mayors’ International
Colloquium for Children in Mexico City, your accom
plishments on behalf of children.
Construiro future no presente e tarefa de todos nos.
The future of our children begins today.
II futuro dell'infanzia comunica oggi.
Preparar el futuro de los nihos es tarea del
presente.
NOTES
1. The term ‘community’ is used throughout this document to
refer to the smallest possible geographical area with which
people identify. The relevant term in the Philippines is ‘barangay’,
in India it is 'ward level’, and in many English-speaking countries
it is ‘neighbourhood’.
2. The definition includes: street and working children; abused,
abandoned, neglected and untreated children; children affected
by armed conflict and other disasters; substance users and
abusers; adolescent mothers; children affected by AIDS; dis
abled children; children exchanged for money; urban children in
poor urban communities; and children deprived of love, care,
attention and supporting relationships.
3. The term ‘Mayor’ is used in this document to refer to all heads
of municipal governments.
57
INTERNATIONAL CODE OF MARKETING OF BREAST-MILK
SUBSTITUTES
Adopted by the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1981
The Member States of the World Health Organization:
!
Affirming the right of every child and every pregnant and lactating
woman to be adequately nourished as a means of
< attaining and
maintaining health;
Recognizing that infant malnutrition is part of the wider problems
of lack of education, poverty, and social injustice;
Recognizing that the health of.infants and young children cannot
be isolated from the health and nutrition of women, their socio
economic status and their roles as mothers;
Conscious that breast-feeding is an unequalled way of providing
ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; that
it forms a unique biological and emotional basis for the health of
both mother and child; that the anti-infective properties of breast
milk help to protect infants against disease; and that there is .an
important relationship between breast-feeding and child-spacing,
Recognizing that the encouragement and protection of breast
feeding is an important part of the health, nutrition and other social
measures required to promote healthy growth and development of
infants and young children; and that breast-feeding is an important
aspect of primary health care;
Considering that when mothers do not breast-feed, or only do so
partially, there is a legitimate market for infant formula and for
suitable ingredients from which to prepare it; that all these products
should accordingly be made accessible to those who need them
through commercial or non-commercial distribution systems; and
that they should not be marketed or distributed in ways that may
interfere with the protection and promotion of breast-feeding;
58
Recognizing further that inappropriate feeding practices lead to
infant malnutrition, morbidity and mortality in all countries, and
that improper practices in the marketing of breast-milk substitutes
and related products can contribute to these major public health
problems;
Convinced that it is important for infants to receive appropriate
complementary foods, usually when the infant reaches four to six
months of age, and that every effort should be made to use locally
available foods; and convinced, nevertheless, that such complemen
tary foods should not be used as breast-milk substitutes;
Appreciating that there are a number of social and economic
factors affecting breast-feeding, and that, accordingly, governments
should develop social support systems to protect, facilitate and
encourage it, and that they should create an environment that
fosters breast-feedipg, provides appropriate family and community
support, and protects mothers from factors that inhibit breast
feeding;
Affirming that health care systems, and the health professionals
and other health workers serving in them, have an essential role to
play in guiding infant feeding practices, encouraging and facilitating
breast-feeding, and providing objective and consistent advice to
mothers and families about the superior value of breast-feeding, or,
where needed, on the proper use of infant formula, whether manu
factured industrially or home-prepared;
Affirming further that educational systems and other social ser
vices should be involved in the protection and promotion of breast
feeding, and in the appropriate use of complementary foods;
Aware that families, communities, women’s organizations and
other nongovernmental organizations have a special role to play in
59
the protection and promotion of breast-feeding and in ensuring the
support needed by pregnant women and mothers of infants and
young children, whether breast-feeding or not;
Affirming the need for governments, organizations of the United
Nations system, nongovernmental organizations, experts in various
related disciplines, consumer groups and industry to cooperate in
activities aimed at the improvement of maternal, infant and young
child health and nutrition;
Recognizing that governments should undertake a variety of
health, nutrition and other social measures to promote healthy
growth and development of infants and young children, and that
this Code concerns only one aspect of these measures;
Considering that manufacturers and distributors of breast-milk
substitutes have an important and constructive role to play in relation
to infant feeding, and in the promotion of the aim of this Code and
its proper implementation;
Affirming that governments are called upon to take action
appropriate to their social and legislative framework and their overall
development objectives to give effect to the principles and aim of
this Code, including the enactment of legislation, regulations or
other suitable measures;
Believing that, in the light of the foregoing considerations, and in
view of the vulnerability of infants in the early months of life and
the risks involved in inappropriate feeding practices, including the
unnecessary and improper use of breast-milk substitutes, the market
ing of breast-milk substitutes requires special treatment, which
makes usual marketing practices unsuitable for these products;
therefore:
The Member States hereby agree the following articles which are
recommended as a basis for action.
60
Article I.
A im of the Code
The aim of this Code is to contribute to the provision of safe and
adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of
breast-feeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breast-milk substi
tutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information
and through appropriate marketing and distribution.
Article 2.
Scope of the Code
The Code applies to the marketing, and practices related thereto,
of the following products: breast-milk substitutes, including infant
formula; other milk products, foods and beverages, including bottlefed
complementary foods, when marketed or otherwise represented to be
suitable, with or without modification, for use as a partial or total
replacement of breast milk; feeding bottles and teasts. It also applies
to their quality and availability, and to information concerning their
use.
Articles.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Code:
“Breast-milk substitute”
means
any food being marketed or otherwise
represented as a partial or total replace
ment for breast milk, whether or not
suitable for that purpose.
“Complementary food”
means
any food, whether manufactured or
locally prepared, suitable as a comp
lement to breast milk or to infant for
mula, when either becomes insufficient
to satisfy the nutritional requirements of
the infant. Such food is also commonly
called “weaning food” or “breast-milk
supplement”.
61
“Container”
means
any form of packaging of products for
sale as a normal retail unit, including
wrappers.
“Distributor”
means
a person, corporation or any other entity
in the public or private sector engaged
in the business (whether directly or in
directly) of marketing at the wholesale
or retail level a product within the scope
of this Code. A “primary distributor”
is a manufacturer’s sales agent, rep
resentative, national distributor or broker.
“Health care system”
means
governmental, nongovernmental or pri
vate institutions or organizations en
gaged, directly or indirectly, in health
care for mothers, infants and pregnant
women; and nurseries or child-care insti
tutions. It also includes health workers
in private practice. For the purposes of
this Code, the health care system does
not include pharmacies or other estab
lished sales outlets.
“Health worker”
means
a person working in a component of such
a health care system, whether professional
or non-professional, including voluntary,
unpaid workers.
“Infant formula”
means
a breast-milk substitute formulated in
dustrially in accordance with applicable
Codex Alimentarius standards, to satisfy
the normal nutritional requirements of
infants up to between four and six
months of age, and adapted to their
physiological characteristics. Infant for
mula may also be prepared at home, in
which case it is described as “homeprepared”.
62
“Label”
means
any tag, brand, mark, pictorial or other
descriptive matter, written, printed, sten
cilled, marked, embossed or impressed
on, or attached to, a container (see above)
of any products within the scope of this
Code.
“Manufacturer”
means
a corporation or other entity in the public
or private sector engaged in the business
or function (whether directly or through
an agent or through an entity controlled
by or under contract with it) of manu
facturing a product within the scope of
this Code.
“Marketing”
means
product promotion, distribution, selling,
advertising, product public relations, and
information services.
“Marketing personnel”
means
any persons whose functions involve the
marketing of a product or products
coming within the scope of this Code.
“Samples”
means
single or small quantities of a product
provided without cost.
“Supplies”
means
quantities of a product provided for use
over an extended period, free or at a
low price, for social purposes, including
those provided to families in need.
Article 4.
Information and education
4.1
Governments should have the responsibility to ensure that
objective and consistent information is provided on infant and young
child feeding for use by families and those involved in the field of
infant and young child nutrition. This responsibility should cover
cither the planning, provision, design and dissemination of infor
mation, or their control.
63
4.2
Informational and educational materials, whether written,
audio, or visual, dealing with the feeding of infants and intended to
reach pregnant women and mothers of infants and young children,
should include clear information on all the following points: (a) the
benefits and superiority of breast-feeding; (6) maternal nutrition,
and the preparation for and maintenance of breast-feeding; (c) the
negative effect on breast-feeding of introducing partial bottle-feeding;
(J) the difficulty of reversing the decision not to breast-feed; and (e)
where needed, the proper use of infant formula, whether manu
factured industrially or home-prepared. When such materials con
tain information about the use of infant formula, they should include
the social and financial implications of its use; the health hazards
of inappropriate foods or feeding methods; and, in particular, the
health hazards of unnecessary or improper use of infant formula
and other breast-milk substitutes. Such materials should not use
any pictures or text which may idealize the use of breast-milk substi
tutes.
Donations of informational or educational equipment or ma
4.3
terials by manufacturers or distributors should be made only at the
request and with the written approval of the appropriate government
authority or within guidelines given by governments for this purpose.
Such equipment or materials may bear the donating company’s
name or logo, but should not refer to a proprietary product that is
within the scope of this Code, and should be distributed only through
the health care system.
Article 5.
The general public and mothers
5.1
There should be no advertising or other form of promotion
to the general public of products within the scope of this Code.
5.2 Manufacturers and distributors should not provide, directly
or indirectly, to pregnant women, mothers or members of their
families, samples of products within the scope of this Code.
64
5.3 In conformity with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, there
should be no point-of-sale advertising, giving of samples, or any
other promotion device to induce sales directly to the consumer at
the retail level, such as special displays, discount coupons, premiums,
special sales, loss-leaders and tie-in sales, for products within the
scope of this Code. This provision should not restrict the establish
ment of pricing policies and practices intended to provide products
at lower prices on a long-term basis.
Manufacturers and distributors should not distribute to preg
5.4
nant women or mothers of infants and young children any gifts of
articles or utensils which may promote the use of breast-milk substi
tutes or bottle-feeding.
5.5 Marketing personnel, in their business capacity, should not
seek direct or indirect contact of any kind with pregnant women or
with mothers of infants and young children.
Article 6.
Health care systems
The health authorities in Member States should take appropri
6.1
ate measures to encourage and protect breast-feeding and promote
the principles of this Code, and should give appropriate information
and advice to health workers in regard to their responsibilities,
including the information specified in Article 4.2.
No facility of a health care system should be used for the
6.2
purpose of promoting infant formula or other products within the
scope of this Code. This Code does not, however, preclude the
dissemination of information to health professionals as provided in
Article 7.2.
6.3
Facilities of health care systems should not be used for the
display of products within the scope of this Code, for placards or
posters concerning such products, or for the distribution of material
provided by a manufacturer or distributor other than that specified
in Article 4.3.
65
6.4
'Flic use by the health care system of “professional service
representatives”, “mothercraft nurses” or similar personnel, provided
or paid for by manufacturers or distributors, should not be per
mitted.
6.5
Feeding with infant formula, whether manufactured or homeprepared, should be demonstrated only by health workers, or other
community workers if necessary; and only to the mothers or family
members who need to use it; and the information given should
include a clear explanation of the hazards of improper use.
6.6
Donations or low-price sales to institutions or organizations
of supplies of infant formula or other products within the scope of
this Code, whether for use in the institutions or for distribution out
side them, may be made. Such supplies should only be used or
distributed for infants who have to be fed on breast-milk substitutes.
If these supplies are distributed for use outside the institutions, this
should be done only by the institutions or organizations concerned.
Such donations or low-price sales should not be used by manu
facturers or distributors as a sales inducement.
6.7
Where donated supplies of infant formula or other products
within the scope of this Code are distributed outside an institution,
the institution or organization should take steps to ensure that sup
plies can be continued as long as the infants concerned need them.
Donors, as well as institutions or organizations concerned, should
bear in mind this responsibility.
6.8
Equipment and materials, in addition to those referred to in
Article 4.3, donated to a health care system may bear a company’s
name or logo, but should not refer to any proprietary product within
the scope of this Code.
Article 7.
Health workers
7.1
Health workers should encourage and protect breast-feeding;
and those who are concerned in particular with maternal and infant
nutrition should make themselves familiar with their responsibilities
under this Code, including the information specified in Article 4.2.
66
7.2
Information provided by manufacturers and distributors to
health professionals regarding products within the scope of this
Code should be restricted to scientific and factual matters, and such
information should not imply or create a belief that bottle-feeding is
equivalent or superior to breast-feeding. It should also include the
information specified in Article 4.2.
7.3
No financial or material inducements to promote products
within the scope of this Code should be offered by manufacturers or
distributors to health workers or members of their families, nor
should these be accepted by health workers or members of their
families.
7.4
Samples of infant formula or other products within the scope
of this Code, or of equipment or utensils for their preparation or
use, should not be provided to health workers except when necess
ary for the purpose of professional evaluation or research at the
institutional level. Health workers should not give samples of infant
formula to pregnant women, mothers of infants and young children,
or members of their families.
7.5
Manufacturers and distributors of products within the scope
of this Code should disclose to the institution to which a recipient
health worker is affiliated any contribution made to him or on his
behalf for fellowships, study tours, research grants, attendance at
professional conferences, or the like. Similar disclosures should be
made by the recipient.
Article 8.
Persons employed by manufacturers and distributors
8.1
In systems of sales incentives for marketing personnel, the
volume of sales of products within the scope of this Code should
not be included in the calculation of bonuses, nor should quotas be
set specifically for sales of these products. This should not be
understood to prevent the payment of bonuses based on the overall
sales by a company of other products marketed by it.
8.2
Personnel employed in marketing products within the scope
of this Code should not, as part of their job responsibilities, perform
educational functions in relation to pregnant women or mothers of
67
infants and young children. This should not be understood as
preventing such personnel from being used for other functions by
the health care system at the request and with the written approval
of the appropriate authority of the government concerned.
Article 9.
Labelling
Labels should be designed to provide the necessary infor
9.1
mation about the appropriate use of the product, and so as not to
discourage breast-feeding.
Manufacturers and distributors of infant formula should
9.2
ensure that each container has a clear, conspicuous, and easily
readable and understandable message printed on it, or on a label
which cannot readily become separated from it, in an appropriate
language, which includes all the following points: (a) the words
“Important Notice” or their equivalent; (6) a statement of the
superiority of breast-feeding; (c) a statement that the product should
be used only on the advice of a health worker as to the need for its
use and the proper method of use; (d) instructions for appropriate
preparation, and a warning against the health hazards of inappropri
ate preparation. Neither the container nor the label should have
pictures of infants, nor should they have other pictures or text which
may idealize the use of infant formula. They may, however, have
graphics for easy identification of the product as a breast-milk substi
tute and for illustrating methods of preparation. The terms “human
ized”, “maternalized” or similar terms should not be used. Inserts
giving additional information about the product and its proper use,
subject to the above conditions, may be included in the package or
retail unit. When labels give instructions for modifying a product
into infant formula, the above should apply.
9.3
Food products within the scope of this Code, marketed for
infant feeding, which do not meet all the requirements of an infant
formula, but which can be modified to do so, should carry on the
label a warning that the unmodified product should not be the sole
source of nourishment of an infant. Since sweetened condensed
68
milk is not suitable for infant feeding, nor for use as a main
ingredient of infant formula, its label should not contain purported
instructions on how to modify it for that purpose.
9.4
The label of food products within the scope of this Code
should also state all the following points: (a) the ingredients used;
(6) the composition/analysis of the product; (c) the storage con
ditions required; and (J) the batch number and the date before
which the product is to be consumed, taking into account the cli
matic and storage conditions of the country concerned.
Article 10.
Quality
10.1
The quality of products is an essential element for the pro
tection of the health of infants and therefore should be of a high
recognized standard.
10.2
Food products within the scope of this Code should, when
sold or otherwise distributed, meet applicable standards recom
mended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and also the Codex
Code of Hygienic Practice for Foods for Infants and Children.
Article 11.
Implementation and monitoring
11.1
Governments should take action to give effect to the prin
ciples and aim of this Code, as appropriate to their social and
legislative framework, including the adoption of national legislation,
regulations or other suitable measures. For this purpose, govern
ments should seek, when necessary, the cooperation of WHO,
UNICEF and other agencies of the United Nations system. National
policies and measures, including laws and regulations, which are
adopted to give effect to the principles and aim of this Code should
be publicly stated, and should apply on the same basis to all those
involved in the manufacture and marketing of products within the
scope of this Code.
69
11.2
Monitoring the application of this Code lies with govern
ments acting individually, and collectively through the World Health
Organization as provided in paragraphs 6 and 7 of this Article. The
manufacturers and distributors of products within the scope of this
Code, and appropriate nongovernmental organizations, professional
groups, and consumer organizations should collaborate with govern
ments to this end.
11.3
Independently of any other measures taken for implemen
tation of this Code, manufacturers and distributors of products
within the scope of this Code should regard themselves as responsible
for monitoring their marketing practices according to the principles
and aim of this Code, and for taking steps to ensure that their
conduct at every level conforms to them.
11.4
Nongovernmental organizations, professional groups, insti
tutions, and individuals concerned should have the responsibility of
drawing the attention of manufacturers or distributors to activities
which are incompatible with the principles and aim of this Code,
so that appropriate action can be taken. The appropriate govern
mental authority should also be informed.
11.5
Manufacturers and primary distributors of products within
the scope of this Code should apprise each member of their market
ing personnel of the Code and of their responsibilities under it.
11.6
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of the
World Health Organization, Member States shall communicate
annually to the Director-General information on action taken to
give effect to the principles and aim of this Code.
11.7
The Director-General shall report in even years to the World
Health Assembly on the status of implementation of the Code; and
shall, on request, provide technical support to Member States pre
paring national legislation or regulations, or taking other appropriate
measures in implementation and furtherance of the principles and
aim of this Code.
x ■•
70
Related Resolutions of the
World Health Assembly
WHA 31.47 (1978)
The Thirty-first World Health Assembly,
1978
Recommends that Member States give the highest priority to . . . preventing malnutrition in . . .
infants and young children by supporting and promoting breastfeeding; . . . (by taking) legislative
and social action to facilitate breastfeeding by working mothers ....
and . . . regulating inappropriate sale and promotion of infant foods that can be used to replace
breastmilk;
WHA33.32 (1980)
The Thirty-third World Health Assembly,
1980
Recalling resolutions WHA27.43 and WH A31.47 which in particular reaffirmed that breastfeeding
is ideal for the harmonious physical and psychosocial development of the child, that urgent action
is called for by governments and the Director-General in order to intensify activities for the
promotion of breastfeeding and development of actions related to the preparation and use of
weaning foods based on local products, and that there is an urgent need for countries to review
sales promotion activities on baby foods and to introduce appropriate remedial measures,
including advertisement codes and legislation, as well as to take appropriate supportive social
measures for mothers working away from their homes during the lactation period;
Recalling further resolutions WHA31.55 and WHA32.42 which emphasized maternal and child
health as an essential component of primary health care, vital to the attainment of health for all by
the year 2000;
Recognizing that there is a close interrelationship between infant and young child feeding and
social and economic development, and that urgent action by governments is required to promote
the health and nutrition of infants, young children and mothers, inter alia through education,
training and information in this field;
Noting that a joint WHA/UNICEF Meeting on Infant and Young Child Feeding was held from 9
to 12 October 1979, and was attended by representatives of governments, the United Nations
system and technical agencies, nongovernmental organizations active in the area, the infant food
industry and other scientists working in this field;
1.
ENDORSES in their entirety the statement and recommendations made by the joint
WHO/UNICEF Meeting, namely on the encouragement and support of breastfeeding; the
promotion and support of appropriate weaning practices; the strengthening of education,
training and information; the promotion of the health and social status of women in relation
to infant and young child feeding; and the appropriate marketing and distribution of
breastmilk substitutes. This statement and these recommendations also make clear the
responsibility in this field incumbent on the health services, health personnel, national
71
authorities, women’s and other nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations agencies
and the infant-food industry, and stress the importance for countries to have a coherent food
and nutrition policy and the need for pregnant and lactating women to be adequately
nourished; the joint Meeting also recommended that “There should be an international code
of marketing of infant formula and other products used as breastmilk substitutes. This
should be supported by both exporting and importing countries and observed by all
manufacturers. WHO and UNICEF are requested to organize the process for its preparation,
with the involvement of all concerned parties, in order to reach a conclusion as soon as
possible”;
2.
RECOGNIZES the important work already carried out by the World Health Organization
and UNICEF with a view to implementing these recommendations and the preparatory work
done on the formulation of a draft international code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes;
3.
URGES countries which have not already done so to review and implement resolutions
WHA27.43 and WHA32.42;
4.
URGES women’s organizations to organize extensive infonnation dissemination campaigns
in support of breastfeeding and healthy habits;
5.
REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to cooperate with Member States on request in supervising or arranging for the
supervision of the quality of infant foods during their production in the country concerned, as
well as during their importation and marketing;
(2) to promote and support the exchange of information on laws, regulations, and other
measures concerning marketing of breastmilk substitutes;
6.
FURTHER REQUESTS the Director-General to intensify his activities for promoting the
application of the recommendations of the joint WHO/UNICEF Meeting and, in particular:
(1) to continue efforts to promote breastfeeding as well as sound supplementary feeding
and weaning practices as a prerequisite to healthy child growth and development;
(2) to intensify coordination with other international and bilateral agencies for the
mobilization of the necessary resources for the promotion and support of activities related to
the preparation of weaning foods based on local products in countries in need of such support
and to collate and disseminate information on methods of supplementary feeding and
weaning practices successfully used in different cultural settings;
(3) to intensify activities in the field of health education, training and information on infant
and young child feeding, in particular through the preparation of training and other manuals
for primary healtli care workers in different regions and countries;
(4) to prepare an international code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes in close
consultation with Member States and with all other parties concerned including such
scientific and other experts whose collaboration may be deemed appropriate, bearing in mind
that:
72
(a) the marketing of breastmilk substitutes and weaning foods must be viewed within
the framework of the problems of infant and young child feeding as a whole;
(b) the aim of the code should be to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate
nutrition for infants and young children, and in particular to promote breastfeeding and
ensure, on the basis of adequate infonnation, the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, if
necessary;
(C)
the code should be based on existing knowledge of infant nutrition;
(d)
the code should be governed inter alia by the following principles:
(i) the production, storage and distribution, as well as advertising, of infant
feeding products should be subject to national legislation or regulations, or other
measures as appropriate to the country concerned;
(ii) relevant information on infant feeding should be provided by the health
care system of the country in which the product is consumed;
(iii) products should meet international standards of quality and presentation, in
particular those developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and their
labels should clearly inform the public of the superiority of breastfeeding;
(5) to submit the code to the Executive Board for consideration at its sixty-seventh session
and for forwarding with its recommendations to the Thirty-fourth World Health Assembly,
together with proposals regarding its promotion and implementation, either as a regulation in
the sense of Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization or as a
recommendation in the sense of Article 23, outlining the legal and other implications of each
choice;
(6) to review the existing legislation in different countries for enabling and supporting
breastfeeding, especially by working mothers, and to strengthen the Organization’s capacity
to cooperate on the request of Member States in developing such legislation;
(7) to submit to the Thirty-fourth World Health Assembly, in 1981, and thereafter in even
years, a report on the steps taken by WHO to promote breastfeeding and to improve infant
and young child feeding, together with an evaluation of the effect of all measures taken by
WHO and its Member States.
May 1980 WHA33/1980/REC/1, 32
emphasis added)
73
WHA34.22 (1981;
The Thirty-fourth World Health Assembly,
1981
Recognizing the importance of sound infant and young child nutrition for the future health and
development of the child and adult;
Recalling that breastfeeding is the only natural method of infant feeding and that it must be
actively protected and promoted in all countries;
Convinced that governments of Member States have important responsibilities and a prime role to
play in the protection and promotion of breastfeeding as a means of improving infant and young
child health;
Aware of the direct and indirect effects of marketing practices for breastmilk substitutes on infant
feeding practices;
Convinced that the protection and promotion of infant feeding, including the regulation of the
marketing of breastmilk substitutes, affect infant and young child health directly and profoundly,
and are a problem of direct concern to WHO;
Having considered the draft International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes prepared
by the Director-General and forwarded to it by the Executive Board;
Expressing its gratitude to the Director-General and to the Executive Director of the United
Nations Children’s Fund for the steps they have taken in ensuring close consultation with
Member States and with all other parties concerned in the process of preparing the draft
International Code;
Having considered the recommendation made thereon by the Executive Board at its sixty-seventh
session;
Confirming resolution WHA33.32, including the endorsement in their entirety of the statement
and recommendations made by the joint WHO/UNICEF Meeting on Infant and Young Child
Feeding held from 9 to 12 October 1979;
Stressing that the adoption of and adherence to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes is a minimum requirement and only one of several important actions required in order
to protect healthy practices in respect of infant and young child feeding;
1.
ADOPTS, in the sense of Article 23 of the Constitution, the International Code of Marketing
of Breastmilk Substitutes annexed to the present resolution;
2.
URGES all Member States:
(1)
to give full and unanimous support to the implementation of the recommendations
74
made by the joint WHO/UNICEF Meeting on Infant and Young Child Feeding and of the
provisions of the International Code in its entirety as an expression of the collective will of
the membership of the World Health Organization;
(2) to translate the International Code into national legislation, regulations or other suitable
measures;
(3) to involve all concerned social and economic sectors and all other concerned parties in
the implementation of the International Code and in the observance of the provisions thereof;
(4)
to monitor the compliance with the Code;
3.
DECIDES that the follow-up to and review of the implementation of this resolution shall be
undertaken by regional committees, the Executive Board and the Health Assembly in the
spirit of resolution WHA33.17;
4.
REQUESTS the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission to give full consideration,
within the framework of its operational mandate, to action it might take to improve the
quality standards of infant foods, and to support and promote the implementation of the
International Code;
5.
REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to give all possible support to Member States, as and when requested, for the
implementation of the International Code, and in particular in the preparation of national
legislation and other measures related thereto in accordance with operative subparagraph 6(6)
of resolution WHA33.32;
(2) to use his good offices for the continued cooperation with all parties concerned in the
implementation and monitoring of the International Code at country, regional and global
levels;
(3) to report to the Thirty-sixth World Health Assembly on the status of compliance with
and implementation of the Code at country, regional and global levels;
(4) based on the conclusions of the status report, to make proposals, if necessary, for
revision of the text of the Code and for the measures needed for its effective application.
21 May 1981 WHA34/1981/REC/1
(eni{4iaiii added)
75
WHA35.26 (1982)
The Thirty-fifth World Health Assembly,
1982
Recalling resolution WHA33.32 on infant and young child feeding and resolution WHA34.22
adopting the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes;
Conscious that breastfeeding is die ideal method of infant feeding and should be promoted and
protected in all countries;
Concerned that inappropriate infant feeding practices result in greater incidence of infant
mortality, malnutrition and disease, especially in conditions of poverty and lack of hygiene;
Recognizing that commercial marketing of breastmilk substitutes for infants has contributed to an
increase in artificial feeding;
Recalling that the Thirty-fourth World health Assembly adopted an international code intended,
inter alia, to deal with these marketing practices;
Noting that, while many Member States have taken some measures related to improving infant
and young child feeding, few have adopted and adhered to the International Code as a “minimum
requirement” and implemented it “in its entirety”, as called for in resolution WHA34.22;
1.
URGES Member States to give renewed attention to the need to adopt national legislation,
regulations or other suitable measures to give effect to the International Code;
2.
REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to design and coordinate a comprehensive programme of action to support Member
States in their efforts to implement and monitor the Code and its effectiveness;
(2) to provide support and guidance to Member States as and when requested to ensure
that the measures they adopt are consistent with the letter and spirit of the International Code;
(3) to undertake, in collaboration with Member States, prospective surveys, including
statistical data of infant and young child feeding practices in the various countries,
particularly with regard to the incidence and duration of breastfeeding.
May 1982 WHA35/1982/REC/1, 20
(emphasis added)
76
WHA37.30 (1984)
The Thirty-seventh World Health Assembly,
1984
Recalling resolutions WHA27.43, WHA31.47, WHA33.32, WHA 34.22 and WHA35.26, which
dealt with infant and young child feeding;
Recognizing that the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes is one of the important actions required in order to promote healthy infant and young
child feeding;
Recalling the discussion on infant and young child feeding at the Thirty-sixth World Health
Assembly, which concluded that it was premature to revise the International Code at that time;
Having considered the Director-General’s report, and noting with interest its contents;
Aware that many products unsuitable for infant feeding are being promoted for this purpose in
many part of the world, and that some infant foods are being promoted for use at too early an age,
which can be detrimental to infant and young child health;
1.
ENDORSES the Director-General’s report;
2.
URGES continued action by Member States, WHO, nongovernmental organizations and all
other interested parties to put into effect measures to improve infant and young child feeding,
with particular emphasis on the use of foods of local origin;
3.
REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to continue and intensify collaboration with Member States in their efforts to
implement and monitor the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as an
important measure at the national level;
(2) to support Member States in examining the problem of the promotion and use of foods
unsuitable for infant and young child feeding, and ways of promoting the appropriate use of
infant foods;
(3) to submit to the Thirty-ninth World Health Assembly a report on the progress in
implementing this resolution, together with recommendations for any other measures needed
to further improve sound infant and young child feeding practices.
May 1984 WHA37/1984/REC/1, 19
(emi^hasis added)
77
WHA39.28 (1986)
The Thirty-ninth World Health Assembly,
1986
Recalling resolutions WHA27.43, WHA31.47, WHA33.32, WHA34.22, WHA35.26 and
WHA37.30 which dealt with infant and young child feeding;
Having considered the progress and evaluation report by the Director-General on infant and
young child nutrition;
Recognizing that the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes is an important contribution to healthy infant and young child feeding in all countries;
Aware that today, five years after the adoption of the International Code, many Member States
have made substantial efforts to implement it, but that many products unsuitable for infant feeding
are nonetheless being promoted and used for this purpose; and that sustained and concerted
efforts will therefore continue to be necessary to achieve full implementation of and compliance
with the International Code as well as the cessation of the marketing of unsuitable products and
the improper promotion of breastmilk substitutes;
Noting with great satisfaction the guidelines concerning the main health and socioeconomic
circumstances in which infants have to be fed on breastmilk substitutes,2 in the context of Article
6, paragraph 6, of the International Code;
Noting further the statement in the guidelines, paragraph 47: “Since the large majority of infants
born in maternity wards and hospitals are full term, they require no nourishment other than
colostrum during their first 24-48 hours of life - the amount of time often spent by a mother and
her infant in such an institutional setting. Only small quantities of breastmilk substitutes are
ordinarily required to meet the needs of a minority of infants in these facilities, and they should
only be available in ways that do not interfere with the protection and promotion of breastfeeding
for the majority’’;
1.
ENDORSES the report of the Director-General;1
2.
URGES Member States:
(1)
to implement the Code if they have not yet done so;
(2) to ensure that the practices and procedures of their health care systems are consistent
with the principles and aim of the International Code;
(3) to make the fullest use of all concerned parties — health professional bodies,
nongovernmental organizations, consumer organizations, manufacturers and distributors generally, in protecting and promoting breastfeeding and, specifically, in implementing the
Code and monitoring its implementation and compliance with its provisions;
78
(4) to seek the cooperation of manufacturers and distributors of products within the scope
of Article 2 of the Code, in providing all information considered necessary for monitoring
the implementation of the Code;
(5) to provide the Director-General with complete and detailed infonnation on the
implementation of the Code;
(6) to ensure that the small amounts of breastmilk substitutes needed for the minority of
infants who require them in maternity wards and hospitals are made available through the
normal procurement channels and not through free or subsidized supplies;
3.
REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to propose a simplified and standardized form for use by Member States to facilitate
the monitoring and evaluation by them of their implementation of the Code and reporting
thereon to WHO, as well as the preparation by WHO of a consolidated report covering each
of the articles of the Code;
(2) to specifically direct the attention of Member States and other interested parties to the
following:
(a) any food or drink given before complementary feeding is nutritionally required
may interfere with the initiation or maintenance of breastfeeding and therefore should
neither be promoted nor encouraged for use by infants during this period;
(b) the practice being introduced in some countries of providing infants with
specially formulated milks (so-called “follow-up milks”) is not necessary.
16 May 1986 A39/VR/15
1 Document WHA39/1986/REC/1, or Document A39/8
2 Document WHA39/1986/REC/1, or Document A39/8 Add.l
(emphasis added)
79
WHA41.il (1988)
The Forty-first World Health Assembly,
1988
Having considered the report by the Director-General on infant and young child nutrition;
Recalling resolutions WHA33.32, WHA34.22 and WHA39.28 on infant and young child feeding
and nutrition, and resolutions WHA37.18 and WHA39.31 on the prevention and control of
vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia, and of iodine deficiency disorders;
Concerned at continuing decreasing breastfeeding trends in many countries, and committed to the
identification and elimination of obstacles to breastfeeding;
Aware that appropriate infant and young child nutrition could benefit from further broad national.
community and family interventions;
1.
COMMENDS governments, women’s organizations, professional associations, consumer
and other nongovernmental groups, and the food industry for their efforts to promote
appropriate infant and young child nutrition, and encourages them, in cooperation with
WHO, to support national efforts for coordinated nutrition programmes and practical action
at country level to improve the health and nutrition of women and children;
2.
URGES Member States:
(1) to develop or enhance national nutrition programmes, including multisectoral
approaches, with the objective of improving the health and nutritional status of their
populations, especially that of infants and young children;
to ensure practices and procedures that are consistent with the aim and principles of the
International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, if they have not already done so;
3.
REQUESTS the Director-General to continue to collaborate with Member States, through
WHO regional offices and in collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations system
especially FAO and UNICEF:
(1) in identifying and assessing the main nutrient and dietary problems, developing
national strategies to deal with them, applying these strategies, and monitoring and
evaluating their effectiveness;
(2) in establishing effective nutritional status surveillance systems in order to ensure that
all die main variables which collectively determine nutritional status are properly addressed;
(3) in compiling, analysing, managing and applying information that they have gathered
on the nutritional status of their populations;
(4) in monitoring, together with other maternal and child health indicators, changes in the
prevalence and duration of full and supplemented breastfeeding with a view to improving
breastfeeding rates;
80
(5) in developing recommendations regarding diet, including timely complementary
feeding and appropriate weaning practices, which are appropriate to national circumstances;
(6) in providing legal and technical assistance, upon request from Member States, in the
drafting and/or the implementation of national codes of marketing of breastmilk substitutes,
or other similar instruments;
(7) in designing and implementing collaborative studies to assess the impact of measures
taken to promote breastfeeding and child nutrition in Member States.
May 1988 WHA41/1988/REC/1, 9
(emphasis added)
81
WHA43.3 (1990)
The Forty-third World Health Assembly,
1990
Recalling resolutions WHA33.32, WHA 34.22, WHA35.26, WHA37.30, WHA39.28 and
WHA41.11 on infant and young child feeding and nutrition;
Having considered the report of the Director-General on infant and young child nutrition;1
Reaffirming the unique biological properties of breastmilk in protecting against infections, in
stimulating the development of the infant’s own immune system, and in limiting the development
of some allergies;
Recalling the positive impact of breastfeeding on the physical and emotional health of the mother,
including its important contribution to child-spacing;
Convinced of the importance of protecting breastfeeding among groups and populations where it
remains the infant-feeding norm, and promoting it where it is not, through appropriate
information and support, as well as recognizing the special needs of working women;
Recognizing the key role in protecting and promoting breastfeeding played by health workers,
particularly nurses, midwives and those in child health/family planning programmes, and the
significance of the counselling and support provided by mothers’ groups;
Recognizing that, in spite of resolution WHA39.28, free or low-cost supplies of infant formula
continue to be available to hospitals and maternities, with adverse consequences for
breastfeeding;
Reiterating its concern over the decreasing prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in many
countries;
1.
THANKS the Director-General for his report;
2.
URGES Member States:
(1) to protect and promote breastfeeding, as an essential component of their overall food
and nutrition policies and programmes on behalf of women and children, so as to enable all
infants to be exclusively breastfed during die first four to six months of life;
(2) to promote breastfeeding, with due attention to the nutritional and emotional needs of
mothers;
(3) to continue monitoring breastfeeding patterns, including traditional attitudes and
practices in this regard;
(4) to enforce existing, or adopt new, maternity protection legislation or other suitable
measures that will promote and facilitate breastfeeding among working women;
82
(5) to draw the attention of all who arc concerned with planning and providing maternity
services to the universal principles affirmed in the joint WHO/UNICEF statement2 on
breastfeeding and maternity services that was issued in 1989;
(6) to ensure that the principles and aim of the International Code of Marketing of
Breastmilk Substitutes and the recommendations contained in resolution WHA39.28 are
given full expression in national health and nutrition policy and action, in cooperation with
professional associations, women s organizations, consumer and other nongovernmental
groups, and the food industry;
(7) to ensure that families make the most appropriate choice with regard to infant feeding,
and that the health system provides the necessary support;
3.
REQUESTS the Director-General, in collaboration with UNICEF and other international and
bilateral agencies concerned:
(1) to urge Member States to take effective measures to implement the recommendations
included in resolution WHA39.28;
’
"
(2) to continue to review regional and global trends in breastfeeding patterns, including the
relationship between breastfeeding and child-spacing;
(3) to support Member States, on request, in adopting measures to improve infant and
young child nutrition, inter aha by collecting and disseminating information on relevant
national action of interest to all Member States; and to mobilize technical and financial
resources to this end.
14 May 1990 A43/VR/12
1 Document WHA43/1990/REC/1, p.35
2
Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding : the special role of maternity services. A joint WHO/UNICEF
statement, Geneva, World Health Organization, 1989
(cmphsis added)
83
WHA45.34 (1992)
The Forty-fifth World Health Assembly,
1992
Having considered the report of the Director-General on infant and young child nutrition;
Recalling resolutions WHA33.32, WHA34.22, WHA35.26, WHA37.30, WHA39.28, WHA41.il
and WHA43.3 concerning infant and young child nutrition, appropriate feeding practices and
related questions;
Reaffirming that the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is a minimum
requirement and only one of several important actions required in order to protect healthy
practices in respect of infant and young child feeding;
Recalling that products that may be promoted as a partial or total replacement for breastmilk,
especially when these are presented as suitable for bottle feeding, are subject to the provisions of
the International Code;
Reaffirming that during the first four to six months of life no food or liquid other than breastmilk,
not even water, is required to meet the normal infant’s nutritional requirements, and that from the
age of about six months infants should begin to receive a variety of locally available and safely
prepared foods rich in energy, in addition to breastmilk, to meet their changing nutritional
requirements;
Welcoming the leadership of the Executive Heads of WHO and UNICEF in organizing the
“baby-friendly” hospital initiative, with its simultaneous focus on the role of health services in
protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding and on the use of breastfeeding as a means of
strengthening the contribution of health services to safe motherhood, child survival, and primary
health care in general, and endorsing this initiative as a most promising means of increasing the
prevalence and duration of breastfeeding;
Expressing once again its concern about die need to protect and support women in the workplace,
for their own sakes but also in the light of their multiple roles as mothers and care-providers, inter
aha, by applying existing legislation fully for maternity protection, expanding it to cover any
women at present excluded or, where appropriate, adopting new measures to protect
breastfeeding;
Encouraged by the steps being taken by infant-food manufacturers towards ending the donation or
low-price sale of supplies of infant formula to maternity wards and hospitals, which would
constitute a step towards full implementation of the International Code;
Being convinced that charitable and other donor agencies should exert great care in initiating, or
responding to, requests for free supplies of infant foods;
Noting that (he advertising and promotion of infant formula and the presentation of other products
84
as breastmilk substitutes, as well as feeding-bottles and teats, may compete unfairly with
breastfeeding which is the safest and lowest-cost method of nourishing an infant, and may
exacerbate such competition and favour uninfonned decision-making by interfering with the
advice and guidance to be provided by the mother’s physician or health worker;
Welcoming the generous financial and other contributions from a number of Member States that
enabled WHO to provide technical support to countries wishing to review and evaluate their own
experiences in giving effect to the International Code,
1.
THANKS the Director-General for his report;
2.
URGES Member States:
(1) to give full expression at national level to the operational targets contained in the
Innocenti Declaration, namely:
(a) by appointing a national breastfeeding coordinator and establishing a
multisectoral breastfeeding committee;
(b) by ensuring that every facility providing maternity services applies the principles
laid down in the joint WHO/UNICEF statement on the role of maternity services in
protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding;
(c) by taking action to give effect to the principles and aim of the International Code
of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant Health Assembly
resolutions in their entirety;
(d) by enacting legislation and adopting means for its enforcement to protect the
breastfeeding rights of working women;
(2) to encourage and support all public and private health facilities providing maternity services
so that they become “baby- friendly”:
(a) by providing the necessary training in the application of the principles laid down
in the joint WHO/UNICEF statement;
(b) by encouraging the collaboration of professional associations, women’s
organizations, consumer and other nongovernmental groups, the food industry, and
other competent sectors in this endeavour;
(3) to take measures appropriate to national circumstances aimed at ending the donation or
low-priced sale of supplies of breastmilk substitutes to health-care facilities providing
maternity services;
(4) to use the common breastfeeding indicators developed by WHO, with die collaboration
of UNICEF and other interested organizations and agencies, in evaluating the progress of
their breastfeeding programmes;
(5) to draw upon the experiences of other Member States in giving effect to the
International Code;
85
3.
REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to continue WHO’s productive collaboration with its traditional international partners,
in particular UNICEF, as well as other concerned parties including professional associations,
women’s organizations, consumer groups and other nongovernmental organizations and the
food industry, with a view to attaining the Organization’s goals and objectives in infant and
young child nutrition;
(2) to strengthen the Organization’s network of collaborating centres, institutions and
organizations in support of appropriate national action;
(3) to support Member States, on request, in elaborating and adapting guidelines on infant
nutrition, including complementary feeding practices that are timely, nutritionally
appropriate and biologically safe and in devising suitable measures to give effect to the
International Code;
(4) to draw the attention of Member States and other intergovernmental organizations to
new developments that have an important bearing on infant and young child feeding and
nutrition;
(5) to consider, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, the options
available to the health sector and other interested sectors for reinforcing the protection of
women in the workplace in view of their maternal responsibilities, and to report to a future
Health Assembly in this regard;
(6) to mobilize additional technical and financial resources for intensified support to
member States.
14 May 1992 A45/VR/13
(emphasis added)
86
1994
3RTY-SEVENTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
WHA 47.5
genda item 1 9
9 May 1 994
Infant and young child nutrition
EXT
SIGNIFICANCE
of underscored points ’
iderscoring added
e Forty-seventh World Health Assembly.
ving considered the report by the Director-GeneraJ on infant and young
Id nutrition;
istions;
WHA34.22 includes International Code
of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
young child nutrition, appropriate feeding practices and related
affirming its support for all these resolutions and reiterating
ommendations to member states contained therein;
the
All member states reaffirm the Code.
tring in mind the superiority of breast-milk as
as the biological norm for
irishing infants, and that a deviation from this
..s norm is associated with
ceased risks to the health of infants and mothers;
FRANKS the Director-General for his report.
JRGES Member States to take the following measures;
to promote sound infant and young child nutrition, in keeping with their
imitmcnt to the World Declaration and Plan of Action for Nutrition 1
•ugh coherent effective intersectoral action, including:
World Declaration urges that all women
be enabled to breastfeed exclusively for
the first months and to continue
breastfeeding,
with complementary
foods, for up to two years or more.
increasing awareness among health personnel, nongovernmental
organizations, communities
~ and f general public of the importance
of breast-feeding and its superioriry to any other infant feeding
method;
All other infant- feeding methods are
inferior.
(b) supporting mothers in their choice to breast-feed by removing
obstacles and preventing interference that they may faceTn health
services, the workplace, or the community;
■Id Declaration and Plan of Aaion for Nutrition. FAO/WHO. International Conference
Eliminate obstacles and interference
wherever they exist, to protect
mother's freedom of choice.
on Nutrition, Rome, December 1992.
•comments provided by Nutrition Cluster
UNICEF, New York
June, 1994
87
2.(1)
aJI heal.h personnel concerned are .rained in appropna.e .nfan. and young ch.lrl
(c) ensuring that including .be application of .he principles la.d down >n .he jo.n. WH0/UN1CEI
feeding practices,
breast-feeding and the role of maternity services;2
statement on
About six months of exclusive breast
feeding is encouraged, not four-to-six
months as previously recommended
(d) fostering appropriate complementary feeding practices from the
age of about six months.
complementary
with
Breastfeeding
emphasizing continued breast-feeding.
from six months tc
foods continues
two years.
and frequent feeding with safe and adequate
Foods
amounts of local foods.
the
from
enriched
and
local
family
diet,
can
give
softened,
adequate complementation to sustained
breastfeeding.
(2) to ensure that there are jw
breast-milk substitutes.
foods
oi
free or
subsidized
beverages represented as partial oi
total replacements for breastmilk. This
No
donations of free or subsidized supplies of..
includes, for example, normal newborn
or
formulas,
soy
formulas,
preterm
formulas,
and
hypoallergenic
formulas,
follow-up
specia
or second
stage milks or formulas.3
and other products
milk Substitutes
For example, no free or subsidizer
glucose or vitamin drinks, fruit drinks
covered by the International Code.of Marketing of Breast
and teas
for infants,
nor
bottle-fee
foods including milk products, cereals
and cereal mixtures labelled to replact
milk feedings.
No free or subsidized feeding bottles o
teats.4
Covers all public and private health can
in any part of the health care system^
settings and health workers serving
mothers, infants and pregnant women
including:
-maternity wards and clinics;
-newborn/neonatal special care units;
-pediatric wards and hospitals;
-MCH and family planning clinics;
-private doctors' offices and practices
-nurseries and child-care institutions.
Pro^
!VPo^ brC^S:
rood
ro!' of
n^ud o. ou^ue
A Join. WO/UN.CEP s—. Genev.. Worid
. panini o.
o. no.
fo. —.
of Breastmilk Substitutes, Article 3)
88
2.(3) to exercise extreme caution when planning, implementing or supporting
cmcLgcncy relief operations , by protecting, promoting and supporting breast
feeding for infants, and ensuring that donated supplies of breast-milk
substitutes or other products covered by the scope of the International Code
be given only if all the following conditions apply:
In emergency relief operations, protect
and support breastfeeding.
Infants can receive donated
formula
and other products covered by the
Code only if all three conditions are
fulfilled.
(a) infants have to be fed on breast-milk substitutes, as outlined in
the guidelines concerning the main health and socioeconomic
circumstances in which infants have to be fed on breast-milk
substitutes,6
Each infant given a donated breastmilk
(b) the supply is continued for as long as ihc infants concerned need
£
(c) the supply is not used as a sales inducement ;
substitute is assured of a full ongoing
supply.
Donations
that
help
to
open
new
markets or increase sales may not be
made.
(4) to inform the labour sector, and employers' and workers' organizations,
about the multiple benefits of breast-feeding for infants and mothers, and the
implications for maternity protection in the workplace;
3. REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to use his good offices for cooperation with all parties concerned in giving
effect to this and related resolutions of the Health Assembly in their entirety;
(2) to complete development of a comprehensive global approach and
programme of action to strengthen national capacities for improving infant and
young child feeding practices; including the development of methods and criteria
for national assessment of breast-feeding trends and practices:
(3) to support Member States, at their request, in monitoring infant and young
child feeding practices and trends in health facilities and households, in keeping
with new standard breast-feeding indicators;
New indicators track exclusive breast
feeding, timely complementary feeding,
and sustained breastfeeding at 20-23
months.’
(4) to urge Member States to initiate the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative and to
support them, at their request, in implementing this Initiative, particularly in
their efforts to improve educational curricula and in-service training for all
health and administrative personnel concerned;
urged.
(5) to increase and strengthen support to Member States, at their request, in
giving,effect to the principles and aim of the International Code and all relevant
resolutions, and to advise Member States on a framework which they may use
in monitoring their application, as appropriate to national circumstances;
monitoring of Code and cessation of
Training of health staff for
BFHI is
Stronger support to implementation and
free.and low-cost supplies
‘Document WHO A39/8 Add.l, 10 April 1986. These guidelines prov.de suggestions for health cart
management which permits continued
breastfeeding or breastmilk feeding in many situations.
Documents WHO/CDD/SER/91.14 Indicators for ajsessmg breast-feeding practices and WHO/CDR/93.1 UNICEF/SM/93.1 Indicators for
assessing health facility practices that affect breastfeeding.
^aicators for
89
(6) to develop, in consultation with other concerned parties and as part of
WHO's normative function, guiding principles for the use in emergency
situations of breast-milk substitutes or other products covered by the
International Code which the competent authorities in Member States may use,
in the light of national circumstances, to ensure the optimal infant-feeding
conditions;
(7) to complete, in cooperation with selected research institutions, collection of
revised reference data and the preparation of guidelines for their use and
interpretation, for assessing the growth of breast-fed infants;
(8) to seek additional technical and financial resources for intensifying WHO’s
support to Member States in infant feeding and in the implementation of the
international Code and subsequent relevant resolutions.
Eleventh plenary meeting, 9 May 1994
A47/VR/U
90
1996
FORTY-NINTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
WHA49.15
Agenda item 17
25 May 1996
Infant and young child nutrition
SIGNIFICANCE*
Of underscored points
TEXT
underscoring added
The Forty-ninth World Health Assembly,
Having considered the summary report by the Director-General on infant
feeding and young child nutrition;
Recalling resolutions WHA33.32, WHA34.22, WHA39.28, and WHA45.34
among others concerning infant and young child nutrition, appropriate feeding
practices and other related questions;
WHA34.22 includes the
international Code of Marketing of
Breastmilk Substitutes (“the Code”)
Recalling and reaffirming the provisions of resolution WHA47.5 concerning
infant and young child nutrition, including the emphasis on fostering
appropriate complementary feeding practices.
Member States reaffirm the
recommendation ofabout 6 months
of exclusive breastfeeding, and
continued breastfeeding with
complementary foods such as those
from the local family diet continuing
from 6 months to 2 years.
Concerned that health institutions and ministries may be subject to subtle
pressure to accept, inappropriately, financial or other support for professional
training in infant and child health;
Acceptance of inappropriate
funding may influence the
objectivity of training in infant and
child health.
Noting the increasing interest in monitoring the application of the International
Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant Health
Assembly resolutions.
I.
THANKS the Director-General for his report1.
2.
STRESSES the continued need to implement the International Code
ofMarketing ofBreast-Milk Substitutes, subsequent relevant resolutions of the
Health Assembly, the Innocenti Declaration, and the World Declaration and
Plan of Action for Nutrition;
Reaffirms support for all existing
strategies for the protection of
breastfeeding, including Code
implementation, the ending of free
and low-cost supplies, the
transformation of maternity facilities
and the provision of maternity
entitlements.
1 Document A49/4
“comments provided by Nutrition Section
UNICEF, New York
June 1 996
9/
3
URGES Member Stales (o take die following measures
(1) to cnsuie dial complementary foods arc not marketed for or used
in ways that undermine exclusive and sustained breast-feeding.
(2) to ensure that the financial support for professionals working in
infant and young child health docs pot create conflicts of interest,
especially with regard to the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiative,
Marketing ofcomplcmentary foods
in ways that undermine exclusive
breastfeeding until about 6 months
and sustained breastfeeding (6 - 24
months)is inappropriate.
The interests ofmanufacturers may
conflict with those ofbreastfeeding
mothers and their children.
Sponsorship or other financial
assistance from the infant feeding
industry may interfere with
professionals’ unequivocal support
for BFHI and breastfeeding.
(3) to ensure that monitoring the application of the International Code
and subsequent relevant resolutions is carried out in a transparent,
independent manner, free from commercial influence.
Manufacturers should monitor their
own marketing practices. Other
monitoring efforts by
nongovernmental organizations,
professional groups, institutions and
individuals should not receive
financial support from
manufacturers or distributors.
(4) to ensure that the appropriate measures are taken including health
information and education in the context of primary health care, to
encourage breast-feeding;
Breastfeeding is to be actively
promoted throughout society as
well as throughout the primary
health care system.
(5) to ensure that the practices and procedures of their health care
systems are consistent with the principles and aims of the
International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes;
The Code should be complied with
throughout health care systems in all
countries.
(6) to provide the Director-General with complete and detailed
information on the implementation of the Code;
All States should report to WHO on
the progress they have made to
implement the Code.
4.
REQUESTS die Director-General to disseminate, as soon as possible,
to Member Slates document WHO/NUT/96.4 (currently in preparation) on the
guiding principles for feeding infants and young children during emergencies.
Sixth plenary meeting, 25 May 1996
A49/VR/6
92
o
THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF
THE CHILD, 1989
Preamble
Considering that, in accordance with the principals proclaimed in the Charter of the United
Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of
the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Bearing in mind that the people of the United Nations have, in the Charter, reaffirmed their
faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, and have
determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.
Recognising that the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
in the International Covenants on Human Rights, proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to
all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Recalling that, in the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the United Nations has
proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance.
Convinced that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment
for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the
necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the
community,
Recognising that the child, for the frill and harmonious development of his or her personality,
should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.
Considering that the child should he fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and
brought up in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular
in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity.
Bearing in mind that the need to extent particular care to the child has been stated in the
Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924 and in the Declaration of the Rights of the
Child adopted by the General Assembly on 20th November 1959 and recognised in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (in
particular in Articles 23 and 24), in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (in particular in Article 10) and in the statutes and relevant instruments of specialised agencies
and international organisations concerned with the welfare of children.
Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, “the child by
reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including
appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth”.
Recalling the provision of the Declaration on Social and Legal principles relating to the
Protection and Welfare of children, with special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption,
nationally and internationally, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of
Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules); and the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in
Emergency and Armed Conflict,
Recognising that, in all countries in the world, there are children living in exceptionally
difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration.
93
V
faking due account of the importance of the traditions and cultural values of each people for
the protection and harmonious development of the child:
Recognising the importance of international co-operation for improving the living conditions
of children in every country', in particular in the developing countries. Have agrees as follows:
Article 6
1
States Parties recognise that every child has the inherent right of life.
2.
States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of
the child.
Article 19
1.
States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational
measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury' or abuse,
neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in
the care of parent(s). legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
2.
Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the
establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those
who have the care of the child, ns well as for other forms of prevention and for identification,
reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment
described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.
Article 24
1.
States Parties recognise the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.
States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to
such health care services.
2.
States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take
appropriate measures:
(a)
To diminish infant and child mortality;
(b)
To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children
with emphasis on the development of primary health care;
(c)
To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the framework of primary
health care, through, inter alia, the application of readily available technology and
through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking water, taking
into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution;
(d)
To ensure appropriate pre-natal health care for mothers;
(e)
To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents and children, are
informed, have access to education and are supported in the use of basic knowledge
of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breast-feeding, hygiene and
environmental sanitation and tlie prevention of accidents.
(f)
To develop preventive health care, guidance for parents and family planning
education and services
94
3.
States Parties shall take all effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolishing
traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children.
4.
States Parties undertake to promote and encourage international co-operation with a view to
achieving progressively the full realisation of the right recognised in the present. Article. In
this regard, particular account shall be taken of the needs of developing countries.
Article 25
1.
States Parties shall recognise the right of. a child who has been placed by the competent
authorities for the purposes of care, protection or treatment of his or her physical or mental
health, to a periodic review of the treatment provided to the child and all other circumstances
relevant to his or her placement.
Article 27
3.
States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take
appropriate measures of assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement their
right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes,
particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.
Article 32
1.
States Parties recognise the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and
from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s
education, or to be harmfill to the child’s health or physical, mental , spiritual, and moral or
social development.
Article 34
States Parties undertake to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual
abuse. For these purposes. States Parties shall in particular take all appropriate national, bilateral
and multilateral measures to prevent:
(a) The inducement or coercion of child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity.
(b) The exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices;
(c) The exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials.
Article 36
States Parties shall protect the child against all other forms of exploitation prejudicial to any aspects
of die child’s welfare
Article 39
States Parties shall take all appropriate measure to promote physical and psychological recovery' and
social reintegration of a child victim of any fonn of neglect, exploitation, or abuse, torture or any
other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or armed conflicts. Such
recoveiy and reintegration shall take place in an environment which fosters the health, self-respect
and dignity of the child
95
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DECLARATION FOR WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL RIGHTS
AND HEALTH
Issued by the Reproductive Rights caucus at the NGO Forum and the 39th Session of the
Commission on the Status of Women, New York in March-April 1995
The signatories to this Declaration demand that governments ensure access of all women,
regardless of age, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, ability, and
sexual orientation, to:
•
comprehensive factual information and non-directive confidential counseling
regarding all aspects of reproductive and sexual health and services;
•
comprehensive, unbiased sexual education;
•
confidential, accessible and affordable quality reproductive and sexual health
services;
•
the full range of safe and effective methods of fertility regulation, including
voluntary sterilization, prevention of and treatment for infertility, emergency
contraceptive methods and safe, legal abortion;
•
comprehensive information and education on STDs/HIV/AIDS prevention and
quality, affordable condoms;
•
compassionate counselling and treatment for HTV/AIDS and other sexual and
reproductive conditions that incorporate dignity7 and respect for women’s
reproductive self determination;
•
funding for and gender balance in all aspects of biomedical, behavioral,
epidemiological and health research regarding women’s health.
Governments must condemn and eradicate any and all coercive laws, policies and
practices regarding sexual and reproductive rights and health, including: forced
sterilization; forced abortion; forced motherhood; forced pregnancy; female genital
mutilation; forced marriage; rape; sexual violence; virginity examinations; forced
contraceptive use; and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
To ensure compliance with these demandsl, governments should mobilize resources for
women’s health, which is defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.” Women must be involved at all levels of the decision-making processes.
Therefore, governments must ensure women’s involvement on a equal basis at all levels
of research and policy design, implementation, and evaluation. Evaluations must be
based on specific goals and time-frames.”
96
BEIJING DECLARATION
Adopted hy the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing, People
Republic of China, in September 1995
Declaration
1. We, the Governments participating in the Fourth World
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Conference on Women,
Gathered here in Beijing in September 1995, the year of the fiftieth
anniversary of the founding of the United Nations,
Determined to advance the goals of equality, development and
peace for all women everywhere in the interest of all humanity,
Acknowledging the voices of all women everywhere and taking
note of the diversity of women and their roles and circumstances,
honouring the women who paved the way and inspired by the hope
present in the world's youth,
Recognize that the status of women has advanced in some
important respects in the past decade but that progress has been
uneven, inequalities between women and men have persisted and
major obstacles remain, with serious consequences for the well
being of all people,
Also recognize that this situation is exacerbated by the increasing
poverty that is affecting the lives of the majority of the world's
people, in particular women and children, with origins in both the
national and international domains.
Dedicate ourselves unreservedly to addressing these constraints
and obstacles and thus enhancing further the advancement and
empowerment of women all over the world, and agree that this
requires urgent action in the spirit of determination, hope,
cooperation and solidarity, now and to carry us forward into the
next century.
We reaffirm our commitment to:
8. The equal rights and inherent human dignity of women and men
and other purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the
United Nations, to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other international human rights instruments, in particular the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as
well as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against
Women and the Declaration on the Right to Development;
97
9. Ensure the full implementation of the human rights of women and
of the girl child as an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms;
10. Build on consensus and progress made at previous United Nations
conferences and summits - on women in Nairobi in 1985, on
children in New York in 1990, on environment and development in
Rio de Janeiro in 1992, on human rights in Vienna in 1993, on
population and development in Cairo in 1994 and on social
development in Copenhagen in 1995 with the objective of
achieving equality, development and peace;
11. Achieve the full and effective implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women;
12. The empowerment and advancement of women, including the right
to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, thus
contributing to the moral, ethical, spiritual and intellectual needs of
women and men, individually or in community with others and
thereby guaranteeing them the possibility of realizing their full
potential in society and shaping their lives in accordance with their
own aspirations.
We are convinced that:
13. Women’s empowerment and their full participation on the basis of
equality in all spheres of society, including participation in the
decision-making process and access to power, are fundamental for
the achievement of equality, development and peace;
14. Women's rights are human rights;
15. Equal rights, opportunities and access to resources, equal sharing
of responsibilities for the family by men and women, and a
harmonious partnership between them are critical to their well
being and that of their families as well as to the consolidation of
democracy;
16. Eradication of poverty based on sustained economic growth, social
development, environmental protection and social justice requires
the involvement of women in economic and social development,
equal opportunities and the full and equal participation of women
and men as agents and beneficiaries of people-centred sustainable
development;
17. The explicit recognition and reaffirmation of the right of all
women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own
fertility, is basic to their empowerment;
18. Local, national, regional and global peace is attainable and is
inextricably linked with the advancement of women, who are a
fundamental force for leadership, conflict resolution and the'
promotion of lasting peace at all levels;
98
19 It is essential to design, implement and monitor, with he tu
participation of women, effective, efficient and mutually
reinforcing gender-sensitive policies and programmes, inchd g
development policies and programmes, at all levels that will foster
the empowerment and advancement of women,
"’0 The participation and contribution of all actors of civil society,
follow-up of the Platform for Action;
1 The implementation of the Platform for Action requires
commitment from Governments and the international commun y
By making national and international commitments for action,
including those made at the Conference, Governments and the
international community recognize the need totakepnonty action
for the empowerment and advancement of women.
We are determined to:
?? Intensify efforts and actions to achieve the goals of the Nairobi
Strategies for the Advancement of Women by the
23. Ensum'ihe M eXoyment by women and the sjrl1 chad^ofaU
human rights and fundamental freedoms and take effective actio
against violations of these rights and freedoms,
24
obstacles to gender equality and the advancement an
25 EnXurage men tXXrticipate My in all actions towards equality
“ PromoteWomen's economic independence includmg employment.
and eradicate the persistent and increasing burden of^poverty on
women by addressing the structural causes of poverty throug
changes in economic structures, ensuring equal access for a
induding those in - areas, as vM eve^pment agents,
to productive resources, opportunities and public sendees
'i? Promote people-centred sustainable development, includ g
sustained^conomic growth, through th. provtston o baste
education ,life-long education, literacy and training, and pnmaty
->8 TTkeVo^tivTsSpJ to ensure peace for the advancement of women
ant^recognizing the leading role that women have played m the
peace movement, work a'ctively towards general and comp eto
disarmament under strict and effective -ternationJ. control, and
support negotiations on the conclusion, without delay, o
99
universal and multilaterally and effectively verifiable
comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty which contributes to nuclear
disarmament and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear
weapons in all its aspects;
29. Prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and
girls;
30. Ensure equal access to and equal treatment of women and men in
education and health care and enhance women's sexual and
reproductive health as well as education,
31. Promote and protect all human rights of women and girls;
32. Intensify efforts to ensure equal enjoyment of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all women and girls who face multiple
barriers to their empowerment and advancement because of such
factors as their race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, or
disability, or because they ar indigenous people;
33. Ensure respect for international law, including humanitarian law,
in order to protect women and girls in particular;
34. Develop the fullest potential of girls and women of all ages, ensure
their full and equal participation in building a better world for all
and enhance their role in the development process.
We are determined to:
35. Ensure women’s equal access to economic resources, including
land, credit, science and technology, vocational training,
information, communication and markets, as a means to further the
advancement and empowerment of women and girls, including
through the enhancement of their capacities to enjoy the benefits of
equal access to these resources, interalia. by means of international
cooperation;
36. Ensure the success of the Platform for Action, which will require a
strong commitment on the part of Governments, international
organizations and institutions at all levels. We are deeply
convinced that economic development, social development and
environmental protection are interdependent and mutually
reinforcing components of sustainable development, which is the
framework for our efforts to achieve a higher quality of life for all
people. Equitable social development that recognizes empowering
the poor, particularly women living in poverty, to utilize
environmental resources sustainably is a necessary foundation for
sustainable development. We also recognize that broad-based and
sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable
development is necessary to sustain social development and social
justice. The success of the Platform for Action will also require
adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international
levels as well as new and additional resources to the developing
100
countries from all available funding mechanisms, including
multilateral, bilateral and private sources for the advancement of
women; financial resources to strengthen the capacity of national,
sub regional, regional and international institutions; a commitment
to equal rights, equal responsibilities and equal opportunities and
to the equal participation of women and men in all national,
regional and international bodies and policy-making processes; and
the establishment or strengthening of mechanisms at all levels for
accountability to the world’s women;
37. Ensure also the success of the Platform for Action in countries
with economies in transition, which will require continued
international cooperation and assistance;
38. We hereby adopt and commit ourselves as Governments to
implement the following Platform for Action, ensuring that a
gender perspective is reflected in all our policies and programmes.
We urge the United Nations system, regional and international
financial institutions, other relevant regional and international
institutions and all women and men, as well as non-governmental
organizations, with full respect for their autonomy, and all sectors
of civil society, in cooperation with Governments, to fully commit
themselves and contribute to the implementation of this Platform
for Action.
101
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR 21st CENTURY
FROM A GENDER PERSPECTIVE
Issued by the Latin American and Caribbean women’s organisation,
occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
December, 1998
INTRODUCTION
Nations via resolution 217 A (III), of December 10, 1948,
» in the world have as a base the
Taking into consideration that liberty, justice, and peace
dignity and equal'and'inalienable rights of all its members, women and
acknowledgement of the intrinsic (
,
men, of the human family,
male, westerner, adult, heterosexual an
j children old men and women, handicapped
render ineffective the rights of women, natives, homosexuals, cnnaren, oiu
and others,
inequality and violence, it is crucial to strengthen and adequate *jua^
and culturai rights.
rights, with special attention to the environmental, reproductive, economic, social
T.k.nainto™.d«a>1.olh=UHea,<fe„„W
problems show advancements and innovations which pom 4o ire deh
and organizatiOns
■» -—»'—
Nations World Conferences,
neccessary to broaden and deepen the contents of the Declarat.on,
Taking into consideration that the new concept of human rights must have as a starting point the
life experiences themselves and the effective needs of all persons,
:pt of humanity will include in
to the rights of men, so as to make visible the female figuie,
102
pH-mo
1)8583
■’’S
V
'■
We propose that the present project be duly taken into consideration when, on occasion of the 50th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the convenience of elaborating a new
instrument of similar functions and characteristics, for the 21st century is examined.
CITIZENSHIP
I. (1) All women and men are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They have feelings, reasoning
and conscience, and they recognize solidarity as a basic principle of human coexistence. Respect for the
rights of all human beings is the basis of democracy and development.
(2) All human beings have the rights and liberties proclaimed in this Declaration without no distinction
whatsoever of race, ethnia, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, language, religion, political
or any other type of opinion, national or social origin, economic position, birth or any other condition.
(3) Discrimination against women denies and limits the human rights and constitutes a violation of
human dignity.
II. (1) All women and men have a right to their own identity. Likewise, they enjoy autonomy and selfdetermination in all spheres of their lives: emotional, sexual, family, education, labour, politics or any
other.
Women’s right to an identity cannot be affected in reason of their union with a partner or marriage.
(2) Slavery, servitude and the traffic of women and children in all their forms, including those which
could take place in partner or family relationships are prohibited.
The consent of any human being to be subject to a situation of servitude and/or sexual slavery will not be valid.
III. (1) All women and men have guaranteed the enjoyment and exercise of the following rights in the
same conditions and without any discrimination:
a. Participating in a direct way or through the election of representatives in the managment of public affairs.
b. Electing and being elected in periodical and authentic elections which guarantee the free expression
of the will of the citizens.
c. Participating in the formulation of government policies and the execution of same.
d. Having access to public posts and exercising all the public functions in their countries.
e. Participating in organizations and associations and non-governmental associations which occupy
themselves of the public and political life of the country.
f. Representing their government in the international level and holding posts in international
organizations.
(2) All women and men have the right to be a part of groups or political organizations which must
promote and guarantee equal participation in the management posts and in the lists of runners for public
functions. The States will adopt policies destined to achieve that neither the women’s representation nor
men’s, may exceed 60% or be below 40% of the posts and candidates.
THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
I. (1) The right to development has as a basis and end the human person. It is a universal and inalienable
103
human right which promotes the enjoyment of all human rights by men and women in relationships of
economic, political, social and cultural equity, in a framework of democracy and social justice.
(2) Everybody has a right to live in a society in which the development policies have as primary
objectives justice, the well being of all individuals and the establishment of harmonious forms of living.
This must be acknowledged as the only way for the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights,
same which are indispensable for the dignity as well as for the free personal development of human
beings.
(3) The duty of the States of guaranteeing human safety implies actively promoting help and the integral
wellbeing of the persons, and insure same the access to the resources and benefits of a sustainable
development, centered in human dignity, in a healthy environment, in liberty in the face of oppression
and exploitation, and in life opportunities free of the fear of violence.
11. (1) It is the duty of the States to effectively cooperate in the promotion of gender equality and the
formulation of policies for the elimination of the constitutional, juridical, administrative, economic, social,
cultural, behavioural or any other type of obstacle which precludes the full participation of women in the
sustainable development and the public life.
(2) The lack of development cannot be invoked as a justification to limit the human rights internationally
acknowledged.
III. The achievement of a sustainable human development with gender equality requires the effective
participation of women in the decision making, execution and formulation of the devolpment programs
and projects, as well as in the responsibilities and benefits of development.
IV. The States must review and modify the macro economic policies and the.structural adjustment
programs in order to correct and overcome their negative effects, which harm all of humanity and
particularly some groups and persons which find themselves in a situation of disadvantage, such as
women, children and old men and women, among others.
Likewise, the States should create or strengthen the governmental entities which formulate,
coordinate, execute and evaluate the public policies of equal opportunity, integrating them to the highest
level of the State apparatus, supplying them with a budget and executive autonomy.
THE RIGHT TO A VIOLENCE-FREE LIFE AND PEACE
I. (1) All persons have the right to a violence-free life and the enjoyment of peace in the public as well
as private environment.
All forms of violence against women constitute attempts against their fundamental human rights and
their full integration to the social and economic development.
(2) The States must guarantee the right to the physical, psychic, moral and sexual integrity of all
persons, taking measures to prevent, sanction and erradicate violence in all its forms.
II. The States must take special measures to revert the persistent situations of personal or group
disadvantage which, for a reason of gender, race, ethnia, convictions or any other, are the source of acts
of violence.
Ill. (1) The migrant, displaced or refugee persons have the right to special protection measures vis-a-vis
violence.
(2) The aggressions perpetrated against persons in situations of armed conflict constitute violations of
the fundamental principles of human rights and of the international humanitary right. All of these types
104
of crimes, particularly the murders, rapes, sexual slavery and forced pregnancies shall be considered war
crimes and they shall not prescribe.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
I. Men and women have a right to the self-determination in the exercise of their sexuality, which
includes the right to physical, sexual and emotional pleasure; the right to a free sexual orientation; the right
to information on sexuality and the right to a sexual education.
II. (1) The reproductive rights are based in the acknowledgement of the basic right of the individuals
to decide in a free and informed manner regarding their reproductive life and to exercise the voluntary
and safe control of their fertility. The reproductive rights include the right of women and men to decide
in the field of reproduction, free of any possible discrimination, coercion or violence, as well as the .right
to have available the highest levels of sexual and reproductive health.
(2) The States must guarantee women the safe access to a legal abortion, as well as a humanitarian
and adequate treatment of an incomplete abortion.
III. Women and men have the right to health, which is an State of physical, mental and social wellbeing,
and not only the absence of pain or illness. Reproductive health implies that the persons are capable of
leading a satisfactory and safe sexual life.
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
1.(1) The States will incorporate as one of their prime objectives the achievement of an equilibrium
between the conservation of the environment and the sustainable development, through the compliance
with the rights and duties established in the international, regional and bilateral agreements, and the
establishment at the internal level of measures designed to ensure the sustainable use of the natural
resources.
(2) The transgenerational responsibility, the solidarity and the cooperation among States are the
necessary basis for the achievement of sustainable development.
II. The keeping of peace, the improvement in the levels of development, the protection of the
environment and the respect for the human rights and the fundamental liberties are life conditions that
cannot be separated and are necessary for life in society.
HI. The right to development implies satisfying the development and environmental needs of the
present and future generations in a sustainable and equal manner. The States will attend the right of the
persons to an environment and level of development adequate for their health, well-being and dignity. The
efforts should center mainly in the elimination of poverty, the general improvement of the economic,
social and cultural conditions, the conservation of the biological diversity and the upkeep of the essential
ecological processes and the life conservation systems.
IV. Civil society has the right to participate actively in the local, regional and national environmental
management. Citizens’ environmental demands will be taken care of by the States in a rapid way and with
the due guarantees.
RIGHTS OF THE PERSONS IN VIEW OF THEIR ETHNICAL-RACIAL BELONGING
I. (1) All human beings belong to a same community of destiny, in which ethnical-racial diversity must
be lived as an equivalence and not as superiority or inferiority.
105
(2) It is the duty of the States the formulation, implementation and incentives of policies and measures
that take into consideration the multiracial and multicultural aspects of the people in order that they be
respected.
II. (1) All persons and groups discriminated by reason of their race, color, national or ethnical origin,
culture, language or religion, have a right to the full and effective enjoyment of human rights. They are
suitable subjects of international right, with their own collective and individual rights.
(2) These persons and groups have the right to the acknowledgement of their full cultural identity and
to affirm themselves through the recovery of the liberating richness of their forebearers, living free of
discrimination and oppression.
Likewise, they have a right to protection against ethnocide and genocide.
HI. (1) The States must guarantee to the indigenous people the right to autonomy and free
determination in matters related with their own internal affairs, as well as the right to the self-managment
and the participation in the adoption of decisions in the political, economic, social and cultural fields of
the plurinational State.
(2) The indigenous people have the right to the maintenance of their traditional economic structures
and ways of life, as well as to keep up the treatment, communication and cooperation traditional to them
through the States’ frontiers.
10b
CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
Adopted and openedfor signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly
Resolution 34/180 of 18 December 1979
Entry into force: 3 September 1981, in accordance with article 27(1)
The State Parties to the present Convention,
Noting that the Charter of the United Nations reaffirms faith in fundamental
human rights, in the dignity7 and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men
and women.
Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the principles of
the inadmissibility of discrimination and proclaims that all human beings are bom free
and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms
set forth therein, without distinction of kind, including distinction based on sex.
Noting that the States Parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights
have the obligation to ensure the equal rights of men and women to enjoy all economic,
social, cultural, civil and political rights,
Considering the international conventions concluded under the auspices of the
United Nations and the specialized agencies promoting equality of rights of men and
women.
Noting also the resolutions, declarations and recommendations adopted by the
United Nations and the specialized agencies promoting equality of rights of men and
women.
Considering, however, that despite these various instruments extensive
discrimination against women continues to exist.
Recalling that discrimination against women violates the principles of equality of
rights and respect for human dignity, is an obstacle to the participation of women, of
equal terms with men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life of their
countries, hampers the growth of the prosperity of society7 and the family and makes more
difficult the full development of the potentialities of women in the service of their
countries and of humanity,
Concerned that in situations of poverty7 women have the least access of food,
health, education, training and opportunities for employment and other needs.
Convinced that the establishment of the new international economic order based
on equity7 and justice will contribute significantly towards the promotion of equality
between men and women,
Emphasizing that the eradication of apartheid, all forms of racism, racial
discrimination, colonialism, neo-colonialism, aggression, foreign occupation and
domination and interference in the internal affairs of States is essential to the full
enjoyment of the rights of men and women,
Affirming that the strengthening of international peace and security, the relaxation
of international tension, mutual co-operation among all States irrespective of their social
and economic systems, general and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear
disarmament under strict and effective international control, the affirmation of the
principles of justice, equality and mutual benefit in relations among countries and the
realization of the right of people under alien and colonial domination and foreign
occupation to self determination and independence, as well as respect for national
sovereignty and territorial integrity, will promote social progress and development and as
a consequence wil 1 contribute to the attainment of full equality between men and women,
Convinced that the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the
world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women and equal
terms with men in all fields,
Bearing in mind the great contribution of women to the welfare of the family and
to the development of society, so far not fully recognized, the social significance of
maternity and the role of both parents in the family and in the upbringing of children, and
aware that the role of women in procreation should not be a basis for discrimination but
that the upbringing of children requires a sharing of responsibility between men and
women and society as a whole.
Aware that a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in
society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality between men and women.
Determined to implement the principles set forth in the Declaration on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women and, for that purpose, to adopt the
measures required for the elimination o fsuch discrimination in all its forms and
manifestations,
Have agreed on the following:
Article 1 1
a.
The right to social security, particularly in cases of retirement, unemployment,
sickness, invalidity and old age and other incapacity to work, as well as the right
to paid leave;
b. The right to protection of health and to safety in working gconditions, including
the safeguarding of the function of reproduction
108
2.
In order to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds of marriage or
maternity and to ensure their effective right to work. States Parties shall take
appropriate measures:
a. To prohibit, subject to the imposition of sanctions, dismissal on the grounds of
pregnancy or of maternity leave and discrimination in dismissals on the basis of
marital status;
b. To introduce maternity leave with pay or with comparable social benefits without
loss of former employment, seniority or social allowances;
c. To encourage the provision of the necessary supporting social services to enable
parents to combine family obligations with work responsibilities and participation
in public life, in particular through promoting the establishment and development
of a network of child care facilities;
d. To provide special protection to women during pregnancy in types of work
proved to be harmful to them.
3. Protective legislation relating to matters covered in this article shall be reviewed
periodically in the light of scientific and technological knowledge and shall be
revised, repealed or extended as necessary.
Article 12
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against
women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and
women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article, States Parties shall
ensure to women appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and
the post-natal period, granting free sendees where necessary, as well as adequate
nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
109
VIENNA DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION
Adopted by the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993
Considering that the promotion and protection of human rights is a matter of priority for the
international conununity, and that the Conference affords a unique opportunity to carry out a
comprehensive analysis of the international human rights system and of the machinery for the
protection of human rights, in order to enhance and thus promote a fuller observance of those rights,
in a just and balanced manner.
Recognizing and affirming that all human rights derive from the dignity and worth inherent in
the human person, and that the human person is the central subject of human rights and fundamental
freedoms, and consequently should be the principal beneficiary and should participate actively in the
realization of these rights and freedoms.
Reaffirming their commitment to the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the
United Nations and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Reaffirming the commitment contained in article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations to
take joint and separate action, placing proper emphasis on developing effective international
cooperation for the realization of the purposes set out in article 55. including universal respect for and
observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
Emphasizing the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter of the United
Nations, to develop and encourage respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without
distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,
Recalling the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the determination to
reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the
equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.
Recalling also the determination expressed in the preamble of the Charter of the United
Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which
and respect for obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be
maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practice
tolerance and good neighbourliness, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the
economic and social advancement of all peoples,
Emphasizing that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which constitutes a common
standard of achievement of all people and all nations, is the source of inspiration and has been the
basis for the United Nations in making advances in standard setting as contained in the existing
international human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and the International Covenant on Economic. Social and Cultural Rights.
Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of
all the people for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United
Nations including the promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
for all and respect for the principal of equal rights and self determination of people, on peace,
democracy, justice, equality, rule of law. pluralism, development, better standards of living and
solidarity.
1 10
Deeply concerned by various forms of discrimination and violence, to which women continue
to be exposed all over the world.
Recognizing that the activities of the United Nations in the field of human rights should be
rationalized and enhanced in order to strengthen the United Nations machinery in this field and to
further the objectives of universal respect for observance of international human rights standards.
Having taken into account the Declarations adopted by the three regional meetings at Tunis,
San Jose and Bangkok and the contributions made by governments, and bearing in mind the
suggestions made by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as the studies
prepared by independent experts during the preparatory process leading to the World Conference on
Human Rights.
Welcoming the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People in 1993 as a
reaffirmation of the commitment of the international community to ensure their enjoyment of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms and to respect the value and diversity of their cultures and
identities,
Recognizing also that the international community should devise ways and means to remove
the current obstacles and meet challenges to the full realization of all human rights and the
continuation of human violations resulting thereof throughout the world.
Invoking the spirit of our age and the realities of our time which calls upon the people of the
world and all States Members of the United Nations to rededicate themselves to the global task of
promoting and protecting all human rights an fundamental freedoms so as to secure full and universal
enjoyment of these rights.
Determined to take new steps forward in the commitment of the international community with
a view to achieving substantial progress in human rights endeavours by an increased and sustained
effort to international cooperation and solidarity.
Solemnly adopts the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action:
18. The human rights of women and of the girl-child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible
part of universal human rights. The full and equal participation of women in the political,
civil, economic, social and cultural life, at the national, regional and international levels, and
the eradication of all forms of discrimination on grounds of sex are priority objectives of the
international community.
Gender-based violence and all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation, including those
resulting from cultural prejudice and international trafficking are incompatible with the
dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated. This can be achieved by
legal measures and through national action and international cooperation in such fields as
economic and social development, education, safe maternity and health care, and social
support.
The human rights of women should form an integral part of the United Nations human rights
activities including the promotion of all human rights instruments relating to women.
The World Conference urges governments, institutions, intergovernmental and non
governmental organizations to intensify their efforts for the protection and promotion of
human rights of women and the girl-child.
21. The World Conference on Human Rights, welcoming the early ratification of the convention
on the Rights of the Child by a large number of States and noting the recognition of the
HI
human rights of children m the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the World
Summit, urges universal ratification of the Convention by 1995 and its effective
implementation by States Parties through the adoption of all the necessary legislative,
administrative and other measures and the allocation to the maximum extent of the available
resources. In all actions concerning children, non-discrimination and the best interest of the
child should be primary considerations and the view of the child given due weight. National
and international mechanisms and programmes should be strengthened for the defence and
protection of children, in particular, the girl-child, abandoned children, street children,
economically and sexually-exploited children including through child pornography, child
prostitution or sale of organs, children victims of diseases including AIDS, refugee and
displaced children, children in detention, children in armed conflict, as well as children
victims of famine and drought and other emergencies.
International cooperation and
solidarity should be promoted to support the implementation of the Convention and the rights
of the child should be a priority in the United Nations system-wide action on human rights.
The World Conference also stresses that the child for the full and harmomous development of
his or her personality should grow up in a family environment, which accordingly merits
broader protection.
22. Special attention needs to be paid to ensuring non-discrimination, and the equal enjoyment of
all human rights and fundamental freedoms by disabled persons, including their active
participation in all aspects of society.
25. The World Conference on Human Rights affirms that extremic poverty and social exclusion
constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent steps are necessary to achieve better
knowledge of extreme poverty and its causes, including those related to the problem of
development, in order to promote the human rights of the poorest, and to put an end to
extreme poverty and social exclusion and to promote the enjoyment of the fruits of social
progress. It is essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the decision
making process by the community in which they live, the promotion of human rights and
efforts to combat extreme poverty.
28. The World Conference on Human Rights e.xpresses its dismay at massive violations of
human rigilts specially in the form of genocide, “ethic cleansing” and systematic rape of
women in war situations, creating mass exodus of refugees and displaced persons. While
strongly condemning such abhorrent practices it reiterates the call that perpetrators of such
crimes be punished and such practices immediately stopped.
29. The World Conference on Human Rights expresses grave concern about continuing human
rights violations in all parts of the world in disregard of standards as contained in
international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law and about the lack
of sufficient and effective remedies for the victims.
The World Conference is deeply concerned about violations of human nghts during armed
conflicts, affecting the civilian population, especially women. Children, the elderly and the
disabled. The Conference therefore calls upon States and all parties to armed conflicts to strictly
observe international humanitarian law, as set forth in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and other
rules and principles of international law. as well as minimum standards for protection of human
rights, as laid down in international conventions.
The World Conference reaffirms the right of the victims to be assisted by humanitarian
organizations, as set forth in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and other relevant instruments or
international humanitarian law and calls for the safe and timely access for such assistance.
112
6. Ihe rights of the disabled person
63. The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms that all human rights and fundamental
freedoms arc universal and thus unreservedly include persons with disabilities. Every person
is bom equal and has the same rights of life and welfare, education and work, living
independently and active participation in all aspects of society. Any direct discrimination or
other negative discriminatory treatment of a disabled person is therefore a violation of his or
her rights. The World Conference calls on governments, where necessary, to adopt or adjust
legislation to assure to these and other rights for disabled persons.
64. The Place of disabled persons is everywhere. Persons with disabilities should be guaranteed
equal opportunity through the elimination of all socially-determined barriers, be they
physical, financial, social or psychological, which exclude or restrict full participation in
society
65. Recalling the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the
General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session, the World Conference calls upon the General
Assembly and the Economic and Social Council to adopt the draft Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for persons with Disabilities, at their meetings in 1993.
1 13
ICPD PREAMBLE AND PRINCIPLES
Adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD),
Cairo, Egypt, 5-13 September 1994
Preamble
1.1. The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development occurs at a defining
moment in the history of international cooperation. With the growing recognition of global
populatioiL development and environmental interdependence, the opportunity to adopt suitable
macro- and socio-economic policies to promote sustained economic growth in the context of
sustainable development in all countries and to mobilize human and financial resources for global
problem- solving has never been greater,
Never before has the world community had so many resources, so much knowledge and such
powerful technologies at its disposal which, if suitably redirected, could foster sustained
economic growth and sustainable development. Nonetheless, the effective use of resources,
knowledge and technologies is conditioned by political and economic obstacles at the riational
and international levels.
Therefore, although ample resources have been available for some time, their use for socially
equitable and environmentally sound development has been seriously limited.
1.2, The world has undergone fer-reaching changes in the past two decades. Significant progress
in many fields important for human welfare has been made through national and international
efforts. However, the developing countries are still feeing serious economic difficulties and an
unfavourable international economic environment, and the number of people living in absolute
poverty has increased in many countries. Around the world many of the basic resources on which
future generations will depend for their survival and well-being are being depleted and
environmental degradation is intensifying, driven by unsustainable patterns of production and
consumption, unprecedented growth in population, widespread and persistent poverty; and social
and economic inequality. Ecological problems, such as global climate change, largely driven by
unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, are adding to the threats to the well-being
of future generations. There is an emeiging global consensus on the need for increased
international cooperation in regard to population in the context of sustainable development, for
which Agenda 21 1/ provides a framew'ork. Much has been achieved in this respect, but more
needs to be done.
1.3. The w'orld population is currently estimated at 5.6 billion. While the rate of growth is on the
decline, absolute increments have been increasing, currently exceeding 86 million persons per
annum. Annual population increments arc likely to remain above 86 million until the year 2015.
I 14
1.4. During the remaining six years of this critical decade, the world's nations by their actions or
inactions will choose from among a range of alternative demographic futures, rhe low, medium
and high variants of the United Nations population projections for the coming 20 years range
from a low of 7.1 billion people to the medium variant of 7.5 billion and a high of 7.8 billion.
The difference of 720 million people in the short span of 20 years exceeds the current population
of the African continent. Further into the future, the projections diverge even more significantly.
By the year 2050, the United Nations projections range from 7.9 billion to the medium variant of
9.8 billion and a high of 11.9 billion. Implementation of the goals and objectives contained in the
present 20-year Programme of Action, which address many of the fundamental population,
health, education and development challenges facing the entire human community, would result
in world population growth during this period and beyond at levels below the United Nations
medium projection.
1.5. The International Conference on Population and Development is not an isolated event. Its
Programme of Action builds on the considerable international consensus that has developed since
the World Population Conference at Bucharest in 1974 and the International Conference on
Population at Mexico City in 1984, to consider the broad issues of and interrelationships between
population, sustained economic growth and sustainable development, and advances in the
education, economic status and empowerment of women. The 1994 Conference was explicitly
given a broader mandate on development issues than previous population conferences, reflecting
the growing awareness that population, poverty, patterns of production and consumption and the
environment are so closely interconnected that none of them can be considered in isolation.
1.6. The International Conference on Population and Development follows and builds on other
important recent international activities, and its recommendations should be supportive of,
consistent with and based on the agreements reached at the following:
(a) The World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations
Decade for Women. Equality7, Development and Peace, held in Nairobi in 1985;
(b) The World Summit for Children, held in New York in 1990;
(c) The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de
Janeiro in 1992;
(d) The International Conference on Nutrition, held in Rome in 1992;
(e) The World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna in 1993;
(f) The International Year of the World's Indigenous People, 1993, which would lead to the
International Decade of the World's Indigenous People;
(g) The Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Island Developing States,
held in Barbados in 1994;
(h) The International Year of the Family, 1994.
1.7. The Conference outcomes are closely related to and will make significant contributions to
other major conferences in 1995 and 1996. such as tlie World Summit for Social Development,
the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, the
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Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), the elaboration of the
Agenda for Development, as well as the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United
Nations. These events are expected to highlight further the call of the 1994 Conference for
greater investment in people, and for a new action agenda for the empowerment of women to
ensure their full participation at all levels in the social, economic and political lives of their
communities.
1.8. Over the past 20 years, many parts of the world have undergone remarkable demographic,
social, economic, environmental and political change. Many countries have made substantial
progress in expanding access to reproductive health care and lowering birth rates, as well as in
lowering death rates and raising education and income levels, including the educational and
economic status of women. While the advances of the past two decades in areas such as
increased use of contraception, decreased maternal mortality, implemented sustainable
development plans and projects and enhanced educational programmes provide a basis for
optimism about successful implementation of the present Programme of Action, much remains to
be accomplished. The world as a whole has changed in ways that create important new
opportunities for addressing population and development issues. Among the most significant are
the major shifts in attitude among the world's people and their leaders in regard to reproductive
health, family planning and population growth, resulting, inter alia, in the new comprehensive
concept of reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health, as defined in the
present Programme of Action. A particularly encouraging trend has been the strengthening of
political commitment to population-related policies and family-planning programmes by many
Governments. In this regard, sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable
development will enhance the ability of countries to meet the pressures of expected population
growth; will facilitate the demographic transition in countries wfrere there is an imbalance
between demographic rates and social, economic and environmental goals; and will permit the
balance and integration of the population dimension into other development- related policies.
1.9. The population and development objectives and actions of the present Programme of Action
will collectively address the critical challenges and interrelationships between population and
sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development. In order to do so, adequate
mobilization of resources at the national and international levels wall be required as well as new
and additional resources to the developing countries from all available funding mechanisms,
including multilateral, bilateral and private sources. Financial resources are also required to
strengthen the capacity of national, regional, sub regional and international institutions to
implement this Programme of Action.
1.10. The two decades ahead are likely to produce a further shift of rural populations to urban
areas as well as continued high levels of migration between countries. These migrations are an
important part of the economic transformations occurring around the world, and they present
serious new challenges. Therefore, these issues must be addressed with more emphasis within
population and development policies. By the year 2015, nearly 56 per cent of the global
population is expected to live in urban areas, compared to under 45 per cent in 1994. The most
rapid rates of urbanization will occur in the developing countries. The urban population of the
developing regions was just 26 per cent in 1975, but is projected to rise to 50 per cent by 2015.
This change will place enormous strain on existing social senaces and infrastructure, much of
which will not be able to expand at the same rate as that of urbanization.
1.11. Intensified efforts are needed in the coming 5, 10 and 20 years, in a range of population and
development activities, bearing in mind the crucial contribution that early stabilization of the
world population would make tow ards the achievement of sustainable development. The present
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Programme of Action addresses all those issues, and more, in a comprehensive and integrated
framework designed to improve the quality of life of the current world population and its future
generations. The recommendations for action are made in a spirit of consensus and international
cooperation, recognizing that the formulation and implementation of population-related policies
is the responsibility of each country and should take into account the economic, social and
environmental diversity of conditions in each country, with full respect for the various religious
and ethical values, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions of its people, as well as
the shared but differentiated responsibilities of all the world’s people for a common future.
1.12. The present Programme of Action recommends to the international community a set of
important population and development objectives, as well as qualitative and quantitative goals
that are mutually supportive and of critical importance to these objectives. Among these
objectives and goals are:
• sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development;
•
education, especially for girls; gender equity and equality;
•
infant, child and maternal mortality reduction; and the provision of universal access to
reproductive health services, including family planning and sexual health.
1.13. Many of the quantitative and qualitative goals of the present Programme of Action clearly
require additional resources, some of which could become available from a reordering of
priorities at the individual, national and international levels.
However, none of the actions required - nor all of them combined - is expensive in the context of
either current global development or military expenditures. A few would require little or no
additional financial resources, in that they involve changes in lifestyles, social norms or
government policies that can be largely brought about and sustained through greater citizen action
and political leadership. But to meet the resource needs of those actions that do require increased
expenditures over the next two decades, additional commitments will be required on the part of
both developing and developed countries. This will be particularly difficult in the case of some
developing countries and some countnes with economies in transition that are experiencing
extreme resource constraints.
1.14. The present Programme of Action recognizes that over the next 20 years Governments are
not expected to meet the goals and objectives of the International Conference on Population and
Development single-handedly. All members of and groups in society have the right, and indeed
the responsibility, to play an active part in efforts to reach those goals. The increased level of
interest manifested by non-governmental organizations, first in the context of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development and the World Conference on Human Rights, and
now in these deliberations, reflects an important and in many places rapid change in the
relationship between Governments and a variety of non-governmental institutions. In nearly all
countries new partnerships are emerging between government, business,
non-governmental organizations and community groups, which will have a direct and positive
bearing on the implementation of the present Programme of Action.
1.15. While the International Conference on Population and Development does not create any
new international human rights, it affirms the application of universally recognized human rights
standards to all aspects of population programmes. It also represents the last opportunity in the
1 17
twentieth century for the international community to collectively address the critical challenges
and interrelationships between population and
development. The Programme of Action will require the establishment of common ground, with
full respect for the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds. The impact of
this Conference will be measured by the strength of the specific commitments made here and the
consequent actions to fulfill them, as part of a new global partnership among all the world's
countries and peoples, based on a sense of shared but differentiated responsibility for each other
and for our planetary home.
PRINCIPLES
The implementation of the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action is the
sovereign right of each country, consistent with national laws and development priorities, with
fiill respect for the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of its people, and
in conformity with universally recognized international human rights.
International cooperation and universal solidarity, guided by the principles of the Charter of
the United Nations, and in a spirit of partnership, are crucial in order to improve the qualify of life
of the peoples of the world.
In addressing the mandate of the International Conference on Population and Development
and its overall theme, the interrelationships between population, sustained economic growth and
sustainable development, and in their deliberations, the participants were and will continue to be
guided by the following set of principles:
Principle 1
All human beings are bom free and equal in dignity and rights. Everyone is entitled to all the
rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, without distinction
of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth or other status. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of
person.
Principle 2
Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to
a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. People are the most important and valuable
resource of any nation. Countries should ensure that all individuals are given the opportunity^ to
make the most of their potential. They have the right to an adequate standard of living for
themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing, housing, water and sanitation.
Principle 3
The right to development is a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of
fundamental human rights, and the human person is the central subject of development. While
devclopmentfacilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be
invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights. The right to
development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet the population, development and
environment needs of present and future generations.
I 18
Principle 4
Advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women, and the elimination of
all kinds of violence against women, and ensuring women's ability to control their own fertility,
are cornerstones of population and development- related programmes.
The human rights of women and the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of
universal human rights. The full and equal participation of women in civil, cultural, economic,
political and social life, at the national, regional and international levels, and the eradication of all
forms of discrimination on grounds of sex, are priority objectives of the international community.
Principle 5
Population-related goals and policies are integral parts of cultural, economic and social
development, the principal aim of which is to improve the quality of life of all people.
Principle 6
Sustainable development as a means to ensure human well-being, equitably shared by all
people today and in the future, requires that the interrelationships between population, resources,
the environment and development should be fully recognized, properly managed and brought into
harmonious, dynamic balance. To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life
for all people. States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and
consumption and promote appropriate policies, including population-related policies, in order to
meet the needs of current generations without compromising the ability7 of future generations to
meet their own needs.
Principle 7
All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating poverty7 as an
indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in order to decrease the disparities in
standards of living and better meet the needs of the majority of the people of the world. The
special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed, shall be
given special priority. Countries with economies in transition, as well as all other countries, need
to be fully integrated into the world economy.
Principle 8
Everyone has the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and
mental health. States should take all appropriate measures to ensure, on a basis of equality of
men and women, universal access to health-care sendees, including those related to reproductive
health care, which includes family planning and sexual health. Reproductive health-care
programmes should provide the widest range of services without any form of coercion. All
couples and individuals have the basic right to decide freely and responsibly the number and
spacing of their children and to have the information, education and means to do so.
Principle 9
The family is the basic unit of society and as such should be strengthened. It is entitled to
receive comprehensive protection and support. In different cultural, political and social systems,
various forms of the family exist. Marriage must be entered into with the free consent of the
intending spouses, and husband and wife should be equal partners.
Principle 10
Even one has the right to education, which shall be directed to the lull development of human
resources, and human dignity and potential, with particular attention to women and the girl child.
Education should be designed to strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
1 19
including those relating to population and development. The best interests of the child shall be
the guiding principle of those responsible for his or her education and guidance; that csponsibility
lies in the first place with the parents.
Principle 11
All States and families should give the highest possible priority to children. The child has the
right to standards of living adequate for its well-being and the right to the highest attainable
standards of health, and the right to education. The child has the right to be cared for, guided and
supported by parents, families and society and to be protected by appropriate legislative,
administrative, social and educational measures from all forms of physical or mental violence,
injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sale,
trafficking, sexual abuse, and trafficking in its organs.
Principle 12
Countries receiving documented migrants should provide proper treatment and adequate social
welfare sendees for them and their families, and should ensure their physical safety and security,
bearing in mind the special circumstances and needs of countries, in particular developing
countries, attempting to meet these objectives or requirements with regard to undocumented
migrants, in conformity with the provisions of relevant conventions and international instruments
and documents. Countries should guarantee to all migrants all basic human rights as included in
the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights.
Principle 13
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. States
have responsibilities with respect to refugees as set forth in the Geneva Convention on the Status
ofRefugees and its 1967 Protocol.
Principle 14
In considering the population and development needs of indigenous people. States should
recognize and support their identity, culture and interests, and enable them to participate fully in
the economic, political and social life of the country, particularly where their health, education
and well-being are affected.
Principle 15
Sustained economic growth, in the context of sustainable development, and social progress
require that growth be broadly based, offering equal opportunities to all people. All countries
should recognize their common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries
acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable
development, and should continue to improve their efforts to promote sustained economic growth
and to narrow imbalances in a manner that canbenefit all countries, particularly the developing
countries.
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BELONG PLATFORM FOR ACTION
Strategic Objectives and Actions on
Health and Violence against Women
Adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, at Beijing,
People’s Republic of China, September 1995
G Women and Health
89.
Women have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health. The enjoyment of this right is vital to their life and well-being and
their ability to participate in all areas of public and private life. Health is a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity. Women's health involves their emotional, social and physical
well-being and is determined by the social, political and economic context of their
lives, as well as by biology. However, health and well-being elude the majority of
women. A major barrier for women to the achievement of the highest attainable
standard of health is inequality, both between men and women and among women in
different geographical regions, social classes and indigenous and ethnic groups. In
national and international forums, women have emphasized that to attain optimal
health throughout the life cycle, equality, including the sharing of family
responsibilities, development and peace are necessary conditions.
90.
Women have different and unequal access to and use of basic health resources,
including primary health services for the prevention and treatment of childhood
diseases, malnutrition, anaemia, diarrhoeal diseases, communicable diseases, malaria
and other tropical diseases and tuberculosis, among others. Women also have
different and unequal opportunities for the protection, promotion and maintenance of
their health. Jn many developing countries, the lack of emergency obstetric services is
also of particular concern. Health policies and programmes often perpetuate gender
stereotypes and fail to consider socio-economic disparities and other differences
among women and may not fully take account of the lack erf autonomy of women
regarding their health. Women's health is also affected by gender bias in the health
system and by the provision of inadequate and inappropriate medical services to
women.
91.
In many countries, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed
countries, a decrease in public health spending and, in some cases, structural
adjustment, contribute to the deterioration of public health systems. In addition,
privatization of health-care systems without appropriate guarantees of universal
access to affordable health care further reduces health-care availability. This situation
not only directly affects the health of girls and women, but also places
disproportionate responsibilities on women, whose multiple roles, including their
roles within the family and the community, are often not acknowledged; hence they
do not receive the necessary social, psychological and economic support.
92.
Women's right to the enjoyment of the highest standard of health must be secured
throughout the whole life cycle in equality with men. Women arc affected by many of
the same health conditions as men, but women experience them differently. The
prevalence among women of poverty and economic dependence, their experience of
violence, negative attitudes towards women and girls, racial and other forms of
discrimination, the limited power many women have over their sexual and
reproductive lives and lack of influence in decision-making are social realities which
have an adverse impact on their health. Lack of food and inequitable distribution of
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food for girls and women in the household, inadequate access to safe waler, sanitation
facilities and fuel supplies, particularly in rural and poor urban areas, and deficient
housing conditions, all overburden women and their families and have a negative
effect on their health. Good health is essential to leading a productive and fulfilling
life, and the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their
own fertility, is basic to their empowerment.
93.
Discrimination against girls, often resulting from son preference, in access to
nutrition and health-care services endangers their current and future health and well
being. Conditions that force girls into early marriage, pregnancy and child-bearing
and subject them to harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, pose grave
health risks. Adolescent girls need, but too often do not have, access to necessary
health and nutrition services as they mature. Counselling and access to sexual and
reproductive health information and services for adolescents are still inadequate or
lacking completely, and a young woman's right to privacy, confidentiality, respect
and informed consent is often not considered. Adolescent girls arc both biologically
and psychosocially more vulnerable than boys to sexual abuse, violence and
prostitution, and to the consequences of unprotected and premature sexual relations.
The trend towards early sexual experience, combined with a lack of information and
services, increases the risk of unwanted and too early pregnancy, HIV infection and
other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as unsafe abortions. Early child-bearing
continues to be an impediment to improvements in the educational, economic and
social status of women in all parts of the world. Overall, for young women early
marriage and early motherhood can severely curtail educational and employment
opportunities and are likely to have a long-term, adverse impact on the quality of their
lives and the lives of their children. Young men are often not educated to respect
women's self-determination and to share responsibility with women in matters of
sexuality and reproduction.
94.
Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the
reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore
implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have
the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so.
Implicit in this last condition are the right of men and women to be informed and to
have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning
of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility
which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health-care
services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and
provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant. In line with the above
definition of reproductive health, reproductive health care is defined as the
. constellation of methods, techniques and services that contribute to reproductive
health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health problems. It also
includes sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal
relations, and not merely counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually
transmitted diseases.
95.
Bearing in mind the above definition, reproductive rights embrace certain human
rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights
documents and other consensus documents. These rights rest on the recognition of the
basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number,
spacing and timing of their children and to have the information aiuf means to do so.
and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also
includes their right to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination,
coercion and violence, as expressed in human rights documents. In the exercise of
this right, they should take into account the needs of their living and future children
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and their responsibilities towards the community. The;promotion of the responsible
exercise of these rights for all people should be the fundamental basis for
government- and community-supported policies and programmes iii the area of
reproductive health, including family planning. As part of their commitment, full
attention should be given to the promotion of mutually respectful and equitable
gender relations and particularly to meeting the educational and service needs of
adolescents to enable them to deal in a positive and responsible way with their
sexuality. Reproductive health eludes many of the world’s people because of such
factors as: inadequate levels of knowledge about human sexuality and inappropriate
or poor-quality reproductive health information and services; the prevalence of highrisk sexual behaviour, discriminatory social practices; negative attitudes towards
women and girls; and the limited power many women and girls have over their sexual
and reproductive lives. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of their lack
of information and access to relevant services in most countries. Older women and
men have distinct reproductive and sexual health issues which are often inadequately
addressed.
96.
The human rights of women include their right to have control over and decide freely
and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and
reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Equal relationships
between women and men in matters of sexual relations and reproduction, including
full respect for the integrity of the person, require mutual respect, consent and shared
responsibility for sexual behaviour and its consequences.
97.
Further, women are subject to particular health risks due to inadequate responsiveness
and lack of services to meet health needs related to sexuality and reproduction.
Complications related to pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of
mortality and morbidity of women of reproductive age in many parts of the
developing world. Similar problems exist to a certain degree in some countries with
economies in transition. Unsafe abortions threaten the lives of a large number of
women, representing a grave public health problem as it is primarily the poorest and
youngest who take the highest risk. Most of these deaths, health problems and injuries
are preventable through improved access to adequate health-care services, including
safe and effective family planning methods and emergency obstetric care, recognizing
the right of women and men to he informed and to have access to safe, effective,
affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other
methods of their choice for regulation of fertility which are not against the law, and
the right of access to appropriate health-care services that will enable women to go
safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of
having a healthy infant. These problems and means should be addressed on the basis
of the report of the International Conference on Population and Development, with
particular reference to relevant paragraphs of the Programme of Action of the
Conference. [14] In most countries, the neglect of women's reproductive rights
severely limits their opportunities in public and private life, including opportunities
for education and economic and political empowerment. The ability of women to
control their own fertility forms an important basis for the enjoyment of other rights.
Shared responsibility between women and men in matters related to sexual and
reproductive behaviour is also essential to improving women's health.
98.
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, the transmission of which is
sometimes a consequence of sexual violence, are having a devastating effect on
women's health, particularly the health of adolescent girls and young women. They
often do not have the power to insist on safe and responsible sex practices and have
little access to information and services for prevention and treatment. Women, who
represent half of all adults newly infected with HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases, have emphasized that social vulnerability and the unequal power
1 23
'
relationships between women and men are obstacles to safe sex, in their efforts to
control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The consequences of HIV/AIDS
reach beyond women's health to their role as mothers and caregivers and their
contribution to the economic support of their families. The social, developmental and
health consequences of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases need to be
seen from a gender perspective.
99.
Sexual and gender-based violence, including physical and psychological abuse,
trafficking in women and girls, and other forms of abuse and sexual exploitation place
girls and women at high risk of physical and mental trauma, disease and unwanted
pregnancy. Such situations often deter women from using health and other services.
100.
Mental disorders related to marginalization, powerlessness and poverty, along with
overwork and stress and the growing incidence of domestic violence as well as
substance abuse, are among other health issues of growing concern to women.
Women throughout the world, especially young women, are increasing their use of
tobacco with serious effects on their health and that of their children. Occupational
health issues are also growing in importance, as a large number of women work in
low-paid jobs in either the formal or the informal labour market under tedious and
unhealthy conditions, and the number is rising. Cancers of the breast and cervix and
other cancers of the reproductive system, as well as infertility affect growing numbers
of women and may be preventable, or curable, if detected early.
101.
With the increase in life expectancy and the growing number of older women, thenhealth concerns require particular attention. The long-term health prospects of women
are influenced by changes at menopause, which, in combination with life-long
conditions and other factors, such as poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, may
increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Other diseases of ageing
and the interrelationships of ageing and disability among women also need particular
attention.
102.
Women, like men, particularly in rural areas and poor urban areas, are increasingly
exposed to environmental health hazards owing to environmental catastrophes and
degradation. Women have a different susceptibility to various environmental hazards,
contaminants and substances and they suffer different consequences from exposure to
them.
103.
The quality of women's health care is often deficient in various ways, depending on
local circumstances. Women are frequently not treated with respect, nor are they
guaranteed privacy and confidentiality, nor do they always receive full information
about the options and services available. Furthermore, in some countries, over
medicating of women's life events is common, leading to unnecessary surgical
intervention and inappropriate medication.
104.
Statistical data on health are often not systematically collected, disaggregated and
analysed by age, sex and socio-economic status and by established demographic
criteria used to serve the interests and solve the problems of subgroups, with
particular emphasis on the vulnerable and marginalized and other relevant variables.
Recent and reliable data on the mortality and morbidity of women and conditions and
diseases particularly affecting women are not available in many countries. Relatively
little is known about how social and economic factors affect tire health of girls and
women of all ages, about the provision of health services to girls and women and the
patterns of their use of such services, and about the value of disease prevention and
health promotion programmes for women. Subjects -of importance to womens health
have not been adequately researched and women's health research often lacks
funding. Medical research, on heart disease, for example, and epidemiological studies
in many countries are often based solely on men; they are not gender specific.
Clinical trials involving women to establish basic information about dosage, side-
124
effects and effectiveness of drugs, including contraceptives, arc noticeably absent and
do not always conform to ethical standards for research and testing. Many drug
therapy protocols and other medical treatments and interventions administered to
women are based on research on men without any investigation and adjustment for
gender differences.
105.
In addressing inequalities in health status and unequal access to and inadequate
health-care services between women and men. Governments and other actors should
promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all
policies and programmes, so that, before decisions arc taken, an analysis is made of
the effects for women and men, respectively.
Strategic objective C.L
Increase women's access throughout the life cycle to appropriate, affordable and quality
health care, information and related services
Actions to be taken
106.
By Governments, in collaboration with non-govemmental organizations and
employers' and workers' organizations and with the support of international
institutions:
a.
Support and implement the commitments made in the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and Development, as
established in the report of that Conference and the Copenhagen Declaration
on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for
Social Development and the obligations of States parties under the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women and other relevant international agreements, to meet the health needs
of girls and women of all ages;
b.
Reaffirm the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of
physical and mental health, protect and promote the attainment of this right
for women and girls and incorporate it in national legislation, for example;
review existing legislation, including health legislation, as well as pobcies,
where necessary, to reflect a commitment to women's health and to ensure
that they meet the changing roles and responsibilities of women wherever
they reside;
c.
Design and implement, in cooperation with women and community-based
organizations, gender-sensitive health programmes, including decentralized
health services, that address the needs of women throughout their lives and
take into account their multiple roles and responsibilities, the demands on
their time, the special needs of rural women and women with disabilities and
the diversity of women's needs arising from age and socio-economic and
cultural differences, among others: include women, especially local and
indigenous women, in the identification and planning of health-care priorities
and programmes: remove all barriers to women's health services and provide
a broad range of health-care services;
d.
Allow women access to social security systems in equality with men
throughout the whole life cycle:
e.
Provide more accessible, available and affordable primary health- care
services of high quality, including sexual and reproductive health care, which
includes family plaiming information mid services, and giving particular
125
attention to maternal and emergency obstetric care, as agreed to in the
Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and
Development.
f.
Redesign health information, services and training for health workers so that
they are gender-sensitive and reflect the user's perspectives with regard to
interpersonal and communications skills and the user's right to privacy and
confidentiality; these services, information and training should be based on a
holistic approach:
g
Ensure that all health services and workers conform to human rights and to
ethical, professional and gender-sensitive standards in the delivery of
women's health services aimed at ensuring responsible, voluntary and
informed consent: encourage the development, implementation and
dissemination of codes of ethics guided by existing international codes of
medical ethics as well as ethical principles that govern other health
professionals:
h.
Take all appropriate measures to eliminate harmful, medically unnecessary or
coercive medical interventions, as well as inappropriate medication and over
medication of women, and ensure that all women are fully informed of their
options, including likely benefits and potential side-effects, by properly
trained personnel;
i.
Strengthen and reorient health services, particularly primary health care, in
order to ensure universal access to quahty health services for women and
girls: reduce ill health and maternal morbidity and achieve world wide the
agreed-upon goal of reducing maternal mortality by at least 50 per cent of the
1990 levels by the year 2000 and a further one half by the year 2015; ensure
that the necessary services are available at each level of the health system and
make reproductive health care accessible, through the primary health-care
system, to all individuals of appropriate ages as soon as possible and no later
than the year 2015;
J-
Recognize and deal with the health impact of unsafe abortion as a major
public health concern, as agreed in paragraph 8.25 of the Programme of
Action of the International Conference on Population and Development;
k.
In the fight of paragraph 8.25 of the Programme of Action of the International
Conference on Population and Development, which states: "In no case should
abortion be promoted as a method of family planning. All Governments and
relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are urged to
strengthen their commitment to women's health, to deal with the health
impact of unsafe abortion as a major public health concern and to reduce the
recourse to abortion through expanded and improved family-planning
sendees. Prevention of unwanted pregnancies must always be given the
highest priority and every attempt should be made to eliminate the need for
abortion. Women who have unwanted pregnancies should have ready access
to reliable information and compassionate counselling. Any measures or
changes related to abortion within the health system can only be determined
at the national or local level according to the national legislative process. In
circumstances where abortion is not against the law. such abortion should be
safe. In all cases, women should have access to quality services for the
management of complications arising from abortion. Post-abortion
counselling, education and family-planning sen ices should be offered
promptly, which will also help to avoid repeat abortions", consider reviewing
laws containing punitive measures against women who have undergone
illegal abortions:
126
1.
Give particular attention to the needs of girls, especially the promotion ol
healthy behaviour, including physical activities; take specific measures for
closing the gender gaps in morbidity and mortality where girls arc
disadvantaged, while achieving internationally approved goals for the
reduction of infant and child mortality - specifically, by the year 2000. the
reduction of mortality rates of infants and children under five years of age by
one third of the 1990 level, or 50 to 70 per 1.000 live births, whichever is
less; by the year 2015 an infant mortality rate below 35 per 1.000 live births
and an under-five mortality rate below 45 per 1,000;
m.
Ensure that girls have continuing access to necessary health and nutrition
information and services as they mature, to facilitate a healthful transition
from childhood to adulthood;
n.
De\elop information, programmes and services to assist women to
understand and adapt to changes associated with ageing and to address and
treat the health needs of older women, paying particular attention to those
who are physically or psychologically dependent;
o.
Ensure that girls and women of all ages with any form of disability receive
supportive services;
P-
Formulate special policies, design programmes and enact the legislation
necessary to alleviate and eliminate environmental and occupational health
hazards associated with work in the home, in the workplace and elsewhere
with attention to pregnant and lactating women;
q-
Integrate mental health services into primary health-care systems or other
appropriate levels, develop supportive programmes and train primary health
workers to recognize and care for girls and women of all ages who have
experienced any form of violence especially domestic violence, sexual abuse
or other abuse resulting from armed and non-armed conflict;
r.
Promote public information on the benefits of breast-feeding; examine ways
and means of implementing fully the WHO/UNICEF International Code of
Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and enable mothers to breast-feed their
infants by providing legal, economic, practical and emotional support;
s.
Establish mechanisms to support and involve non-governmental
organizations, particularly women's orgamzations, professional groups and
other bodies working to improve the health of girls and women, in
government policy-making, programme design, as appropriate, and
nnplementation within the health sector and related sectors at all levels;
t.
Support non-governmental organizations working on women s health and
help develop networks aimed at improving coordmat ion and collaboration
between all sectors that affect health;
u.
Rationalize drug procurement and ensure a reliable, continuous supply of
high-quality pharmaceutical, contraceptive and other supplies and equipment,
using the WHO Model List of Essential Drugs as a guide, and ensure the
safety of drugs and devices through national regulatory drug approval
processes;
v.
Provide improved access to appropriate treatment and rehabilitation services
for women substance abusers and their families.
Promote and ensure household and national food security, as appropriate, and
implement programmes aimed at improving the nutritional status ol all girls
and women by implementing the commitments made m the Plan ol Action on
127
Nutrition of lire hitcmational Conference on Nutrition, including a reduction
world wide of severe and moderate malnutrition among children under the
age of five by one half of 1990 levels by the year 2000, giving special
attention to tlie gender gap in nutrition, and a reduction in iron deficiency
anaemia in girls and women by one third of the 1990 levels by the year 2000;
X.
Ensure the availability of and universal access to safe drinking water and
sanitation and put in place effective public distribution systems as soon as
possible;
y-
Ensure full and equal access to health-care infrastructure and services for
indigenous women.
Strategic objective C.2.
Strengthen preventive programmes that promote women’s health
Actions to be taken
107.
By Governments, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, the mass
media, the private sector and relevant international organizations, including United
Nations bodies, as appropriate.
a. »
Give priority to both formal and informal educational programmes that
support and enable women to develop self-esteem, acquire knowledge, make
decisions on and take responsibility for their own health, achieve mutual
respect in matters concerning sexuality and fertility and educate men
regarding the importance of women’s health and well-being, placing special
focus on programmes for both men and women that emphasize the
elimination of harmful attitudes and practices, including female genital
mutilation, son preference (which results in female infanticide and prenatal
sex selection), early marriage, including child marriage, violence against
women, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, which at times is conducive to
infection with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse,
discrimination against girls and women in food allocation and other harmful
attitudes and practices related to the life, health and well-being of women,
and recognizing that some of these practices can be violations of human
rights and ethical medical principles;
b.
Pursue social, human development, education and employment policies to
eliminate poverty among women in order to reduce their susceptibility to ill
health and to improve their health;
c.
Encourage men to share equally in child care and household work and to
provide their share of financial support for their families, even if they do not
live with them;
d.
Reinforce laws, reform institutions and promote nonns and practices that
eliminate discrimination against women and encourage both women and men
to take responsibility for their sexual and reproductive behaviour; ensure full
respect for the integrity of the person, take action to ensure the conditions
necessary for women to exercise their reproductive rights and eliminate
coerci ve laws and practices;
c.
Prepare and disseminate accessible information, through public health
campaigns, the media, reliable counselling and the education system,
designed to ensure that women and men, particularly young people, can
acquire knowledge about their health, especially information on sexuality and
reproduction, taking into account the rights of the child to access to
1 28
information, privacy, confidentiality, respect and informed consent, as well as
the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents and legal guardians to
provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child,
appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights
recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and in conformity
with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women; ensure that in all actions concerning children, the best
interests of the child arc a primary consideration;
f.
Create and support programmes in the educational system, in the workplace
and in the community to make opportunities to participate in sport, physical
activity and recreation available to girls and women of all ages on the same
basis as they are made available to men and boys;
g-
Recognize the specific needs of adolescents and implement specific
appropriate programmes, such as education and information on sexual and
reproductive health issues and on sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV/AIDS, taking into account the rights of the child and the responsibilities,
rights and duties of parents as stated in paragraph 107 (e) above;
h.
Develop policies that reduce the disproportionate and increasing burden on
women who have multiple roles within the family and the community by
providing them with adequate support and programmes from health and
social services;
i.
Adopt regulations to ensure that the working conditions, including
remuneration and promotion of women at all levels of the health system, are
non-discriminatory and meet fair and professional standards to enable them to
work effectively;
J.
Ensure that health and nutritional information and training form an integral
part of all adult literacy programmes and school curricula from the primary
level;
k.
Develop and undertake media campaigns and information and educational
programmes that inform women and girls of the health and related risks of
substance abuse and addiction and pursue strategies and programmes that
discourage substance abuse and addiction and promote rehabilitation and
recovery;
1.
Devise and implement comprehensive and coherent programmes for the
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, a condition that
predominantly affects women.
m.
Establish and/or strengthen programmes and services, including media
campaigns, that address the prevention, early detection and treatment of
breast, cervical and other cancers of the reproductive system;
ii.
Reduce environmental hazards that pose a growing threat to health, especially
in poor regions and communities; apply a precautionary approach, as agreed
to in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, adopted by the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and include
reporting on women's health risks related to the environment in monitoring
the implementation of Agenda 21;
o.
Create awareness among women, health professionals, policy makers and the
general public about the serious but preventable health hazards stemming
from tobacco consumption and the need for regulatory and education
measures to reduce smoking as important health promotion and disease
prevention activities
129
p
Ensure that medical school curricula and other health-care training include
gender-sensitive, comprehensive and mandatory courses on women's health.
q
Adopt specific preventive measures to protect women, youth and children
from any abuse - sexual abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence, for
example - including the formulation and enforcement of laws, and provide
legal protection and medical and other assistance.
Strategic objective C.3.
Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address sexually transmitted diseases,
BLIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health issues
Actions to be taken
108
By Governments, international bodies including relevant United. Nations
organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors and non-govemmental organizations:
a.
Ensure the involvement of women, especially those infected with HIV/AIDS
or other sexually transmitted diseases or affected by the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, in all decision-making relating to the development,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes on
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases;
b.
Review and amend laws and combat practices, as appropriate, that may
contribute to women’s susceptibility to HIV infection and other sexually
transmitted diseases, including enacting legislation against those socio
cultural practices that contribute to it, and implement legislation, policies and
practices to protect women, adolescents and young girls from discrimination
related to HIV/AIDS;
c.
Encourage all sectors of society, including the public sector, as well as
international organizations, to develop compassionate and supportive, nondiscriminatory HIV/AlDS-related policies and practices that protect the rights
of infected individuals;
d
Recognize the extent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in their countries, taking
particularly into account its impact on women, with a view to ensuring that
infected women do not suffer stigmatization and discrimination, including
during travel;
e.
Develop gender-sensitive multisectoral programmes and strategies to end
social subordination of women and girls and to ensure their social and
economic empowerment and equality; facilitate promotion of programmes to
educate and enable men to assume their responsibilities to prevent HIV/AIDS
and other sexually transmitted diseases;
f.
Facilitate the development of community strategies that will protect women
of all ages from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, provide care
and support to infected girls, women and their families and mobilize all parts
of the community in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic to exert pressure
on all responsible authorities to respond in a timely, effective, sustainable and
gender-sensitive manner;
g-
Support and strengthen national capacity to create and improve gender
sensitive policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases, including the provision of resources and facilities to
women who find themselves the principal caregivers or economic support for
those infected with HIV/AIDS or affected b\ die pandemic, and the
sun ivors. particularly children and older persons.
130
h.
i.
J
Provide workshops and specialized education and training to parents,
decision makers and opinion leaders at all levels of the community, including
religious and traditional authorities, on prevention of HIV/AJDS and other
sexually transmitted diseases and on their repercussions on both women and
men of all ages;
Give all women and health workers all relevant information and education
about sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AJDS and pregnancy and
the implications for the baby, including breast- feeding;
Assist women and their formal and informal organizations to establish and
expand effective peer education and outreach programmes and to participate
in the design, implementation and monitoring of these programmes;
k.
Give full attention to the promotion of mutually respectfill and equitable
gender relations and. in particular, to meeting the educational and service
needs of adolescents to enable them to deal in a positive and responsible way
with their sexuality;
1.
Design specific programmes for men of all ages and male adolescents,
recognizing the parental roles referred to in paragraph 107 (e) above, aimed
at providing complete and accurate information on safe and responsible
sexual and reproductive behaviour, including voluntary, appropriate and
effective male methods for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases through, inter alia, abstinence and condom use;
m.
Ensure the provision, through the primary health-care system, of universal
access of couples and individuals to appropriate and affordable preventive
services with respect to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AJDS,
and expand the provision of counselling and voluntary and confidential
diagnostic and treatment services for women; ensure that high-quality
condoms as well as drugs for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
are. where possible, supplied and distributed to health services;
n.
Support programmes which acknowledge that the higher risk among women
of contracting HIV is linked to high-risk behaviour, including intravenous
substance use and substance-influenced unprotected and irresponsible sexual
behaviour, and take appropriate preventive measures;
o.
Support and expedite action-oriented research on affordable methods,
controlled by women, to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases,
on strategies empowering women to protect themselves from sexually
transmitted diseases, including HIV/AJDS, and on methods of care, support
and treatment of women, ensuring their involvement in all aspects of such
research;
P-
Support and initiate research which addresses women's needs and situations,
including research on HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases
in women, on women-controlled methods ol protection, such as nonspermicidal microbicides, and on male and female risk-taking altitudes and
practices
131
Strategic objective C.4.
Promote research and disseminate information on women's health
Actions to be taken
109.
By Governments, the United Nations system, health professions, research institutions,
non-governmental organizations, donors, pharmaceutical industries and the mass
media, as appropriate:
a.
Train researchers and introduce systems that allow for the use of data
collected, analysed and disaggregated by, among other factors, sex and age,
other established demographic criteria and socio-economic variables, in
policy-making, as appropriate, planning, monitoring and evaluation;
b.
Promote gender-sensitive and women-centred health research, treatment and
technology and link traditional and indigenous knowledge with modem
medicine, making information available to women to enable them to make
informed and responsible decisions;
c.
Increase the number of women in leadership positions in the health
professions, including researchers and scientists, to achieve equality at the
earliest possible date;
d.
Increase financial and other support from all sources for preventive,
appropriate biomedical, behavioural, epidemiological and health service
research on women’s health issues and for research on the social, economic
and political causes of women's health problems, and their consequences,
including the impact of gender and age inequafities, especially with respect to
chronic and non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases
and conditions, cancers, reproductive tract infections and injuries, HIV/AIDS
and other sexually transmitted diseases, domestic violence, occupational
health, disabilities, environmentally related health problems, tropical diseases
and health aspects of ageing;
e.
Inform women about the factors which increase the risks of developing
cancers and infections of the reproductive tract, so that they can make
informed decisions about their health;
f.
Support and fund social, economic, political and cultural research on how
gender-based inequafities affect women's health, including etiology,
epidemiology, provision and utilization of services and eventual outcome of
treatment;
g-
Support health service systems and operations research to strengthen access
and improve the quality of service delivery, to ensure appropriate support for
women as health-care providers and to examine patterns with respect to the
provision of health services to women and use of such services by women;
h.
Provide financial and institutional support for research on safe, effective,
affordable and acceptable methods and technologies for the reproductive and
sexual health of women and men, including more safe, effective, affordable
and acceptable methods for the regulation of fertility, including natural
family planning for both sexes, methods to protect against HIV/AIDS and
other sexually transmitted diseases and simple and inexpensive methods of
diagnosing such diseases, among others; this research needs to be guided at
all stages by users and from the perspective of gender, particularly the
perspective of women, and should be carried out m strict conformity with
internationally accepted legal, ethical, medical and scientific standards for
biomedical research.
132
1.
Since unsafe abortion is a major threat to the health and life of women,
research to understand and better address the determinants and consequences
of induced abortion, including its effects on subsequent fertility, reproductive
and mental health and contraceptive practice, should be promoted, as well as
research on treatment of complications of abortions and post-abortion care;
J
Acknowledge and encourage beneficial traditional health care, especially that
practised by indigenous women, with a view to preserving and incorporating
the value of traditional health care in the provision of health services, and
support research directed towards achieving this aim;
k.
Develop mechanisms to evaluate and disseminate available data and research
findings to researchers, policy makers, health professionals and women's
groups, among others.
I.
Monitor human genome and related genetic research from the perspective of
women’s health and disseminate information and results of studies conducted
in accordance with accepted ethical standards.
Strategic objective C.5»
Increase resources and monitor follow-up for women’s health
Actions; to be taken
110.
By Governments at ail levels and, where appropriate, in cooperation with non
governmental organizations, especially Women's and youth organizations:
a.
Increase budgetaiy allocations for primary health care and social services,
with adequate support for secondary and tertiary levels, and give special
attention to the reproductive and sexual health of girls and women and give
priority to health programmes in rural and poor urban areas;
Develop innovative approaches to funding health services through promoting
community participation and local financing; increase, where necessary,
budgetary allocations for community health centres and community-based
programmes and services that address women's specific health needs;
HL
c.
Develop local health services, promoting the incorporation of gender
sensitive community-based participation and self-care and specially designed
preventive health programmes;
d.
Develop goals and time-frames, where appropriate, for improving women's
health and for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating
programmes, based on gender-impact assessments using qualitative and
quantitative data disaggregated tty sex, age, other established demographic
criteria and socio-economic variables;
€.
Establish, as appropriate, ministerial and inter-ministerial mechanisms for
monitoring the implementation of women's health policy and programme
reforms and establish, as appropriate, high- level focal points in national
planning authorities responsible for monitoring to ensure dial women's health
concerns are mainstreamed in all relevant government agencies and
programmes.
By Governments, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, international
financial institutions, bilateral donors and the private sector, as appropriate.
a.
Formulate policies favourable to investment in women's health and, where
appropriate, increase allocations for such investment;
133
b.
Provide appropriate material, fmaneial and logistical assistance to youth non
governmental organizations in order to strengthen them to address youth
concerns in the area of health, including sexual and reproductive health;
c.
Give higher priority to women’s health and develop mechanisms for
coordinating and implementing the health objectives of the Platform for
Action and relevant international agreements to ensure progress.
D. Violence against Women
112.
Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of
equality, development and peace. Violence against women both violates and impairs
or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental
freedoms. The long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedoms
in the case of violence against women is a matter of concern to all States and should
be addressed. Knowledge about its causes and consequences, as well as its incidence
and measures to combat it, have been greatly expanded smee the Nairobi Conference.
In all societies, to a greater or lesser degree, women and girls are subjected to
physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across Imes of income, class and
culture. The low social and economic status of women can be both a cause and a
consequence of violence against women.
113.
The term violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that
results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering
to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary depnvation of liberty,
whether occurring in public or private life. Accordingly, violence against women
encompasses but is not limited to the following:
a.
Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family,
mcluding battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowryrelated violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional
practices harmful to women, non- spousal violence and violence related to
exploitation;
b.
Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general
community, mcluding rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation
at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and
forced prostitution;
c.
Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the
State, wherever it occurs.
114.
Other acts of violence against women include violation of the human rights of women
in situations of armed conflict, in particular murder, systematic rape, sexual slavery
and forced pregnancy.
115.
Acts of violence against women also include forced sterilization and forced abortion,
coercive/forced use of contraceptives, female infanticide and prenatal sex selection.
116.
Some groups of women, such as women belonging to minority groups, indigenous
women, refugee women, women migrants, including women migrant workers,
women in poverty living in rural or remote communities, destitute women, women in
institutions or in detention, female children, women with disabilities, elderly women,
displaced women, repatriated women, women living in^ poverty and women in
situations of armed conflict, foreign occupation, wars of aggression, civil wars,
terrorism, including hostage-taking, arc also particularly vulnerable to violence.
117.
Acts or tlireals of violence, whether occurring within die home or in die conununity,
or perpetrated or condoned by the State, instil fear and insecurity m women's lives
134
and are obstacles to the achievement of equality and for development and peace. The
fear of violence, including harassments is a permanent constraint on the mobility of
women and limits their access to resources and basic activities. High social, health
and economic costs to the individual and society are associated with violence against
women. Violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which
women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men. In many cases,
violence against women and girls occurs in the family or within the home, where
violence is often tolerated. The neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and rape of girl
children and women by family members and other members of the household, as well
as incidences of spousal and non-spousal abuse, often go unreported and are thus
difficult to detect. Even when such violence is reported, there is often a failure to
protect victims or punish perpetrators.
118.
Violence against women is a manifestation of the historically unequal power relations
between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination
against women by men and to the prevention of women's full advancement. Violence
against women throughout the life cycle derives essentially from cultural patterns, in
particular the harmful effects of certain traditional or customary practices and all acts
of extremism linked to race, sex, language or religion that perpetuate the lower status
accorded to women in the family, the workplace, the community and societyViolence against women is exacerbated by social pressures, notably the shame of
denouncing certain acts that have been perpetrated against women; women's lack of
access to legal information, aid or protection; the lack of laws that effectively prohibit
violence against women; failure to reform existing laws; inadequate efforts on the
part of public authorities to promote awareness of and enforce existing laws; and the
absence of educational and other means to address the causes and consequences of
violence. Images in the media of violence against women, in particular those that
depict rape or sexual slavery as well as the use of women and girls as sex objects,
including pornography, are factors contributing to the continued prevalence of such
violence, adversely influencing the community at large, in particular children and
young people.
119.
Developing a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to. the challenging task of
promoting families, communities and States that are free of violence against women
is necessary and achievable. Equality, partnership between women and men and
respect for human dignity must permeate all stages of the socialization process.
Educational systems should promote self-respect, mutual respect, and cooperation
between women and men.
120.
The absence of adequate gender-disaggregated data and statistics on the incidence of
violence makes the elaboration of programmes and monitoring of changes difficult.
Lack of or inadequate documentation and research on domestic violence, sexual
harassment and violence against woinen and girls in private and in public, including
the workplace, impede efforts to design specific intervention strategies. Experience in
a number of countries shows that women and men can be mobilized to overcome
violence in all its fonus and that effective, public measures can be taken to address
both the causes and the consequences of violence. Men's groups mobilizing against
gender violence are necessary allies for change.
121.
Women may be vulnerable to violence perpetrated by persons in positions of
authority in both conflict and non-conffict situations. Training of all officials in
humanitanan and human rights law and the punishment of perpetrators of violent acts
against women would help to ensure that such violence does notAakc place at the
hunds of public officials in whom women should be able to place trust, including
pplice and prison officials and security forces.
135
122.
The effective suppression of trafficking in women and girls for the sex trade is a
matter of pressing international concern. Implementation of the 1949 Convention for
tlic Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of
Others, as well as other relevant mstruments, needs to be reviewed and strengthened.
The use of women in international prostitution and trafficking networks has become a
major focus of international organized crime. The Special Rapporteur of the
Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, who has explored these
acts as an additional cause of the violation of the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of women and girls, is invited to address, within her mandate and as a
matter of urgency, the issue of international trafficking for the purposes of the sex
trade, as well as the issues of forced prostitution, rape, sexual abuse and sex tourism.
Women and girls who are victims of this international trade are at an increased risk of
further violence, as well as unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection,
including infection with HIV/AIDS.
123.
In addressing violence against women. Governments and other actors should promote
an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and
programmes so that before decisions are taken an analysis may be made of their
effects on women and men, respectively.
Strategic objective D.l.
Take integrated measures to prevent and eliminate violence against women
Actions to be taken
124.
By Governments:
a.
Condemn violence against women and refiain from invoking any custom,
tradition or religious consideration to. avoid their obligations with respect to
its elimination as set out in the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence
against Women;
b.
Refiain from engaging in violence against women and exercise due diligence
to prevent, investigate and, in accordance with national legislation, punish
acts of violence against women, whether those acts are peipetrated by the
State or by private persons;
c.
Enact and/or reinforce penal, civil, labour and administrative sanctions in
domestic legislation to punish and redress the wrongs done to women and
girls who are subjected to any form of violence, whether in the home, the
workplace, the community or society;
d.
Adopt and/or implement and periodically review and analyse legislation to
ensure its effectiveness in eliminating violence against women, emphasizing
the prevention of violence and the prosecution of offenders; take measures to
ensure the protection of women subjected to violence, access to just and
effective remedies, including compensation and indemnification and healing
of victims, and rehabilitation of perpeirators;
e.
Work actively to ratify and/or implement international human rights norms
and instruments as they relate to violence against women, including those
contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 'Jand the Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
f.
Implement the Convention on the Elimination of AH Forms of Discrimination
against Women, taking into account general recommendation 19, adopted by
1 36
die Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women at its
eleventh session;
g-
Promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective
in all policies and programmes related to violence against women; actively
encourage, support and implement measures and progranunes aimed at
increasing the knowledge and understanding of the causes, consequences and
mechanisms of violence against women among those responsible for
implementing these policies, such as law enforcement officers, police
personnel and judicial, medical and social workers, as well as those who deal
with minority, migration and refugee issues, and develop strategies to ensure
that the revictimization of women victims of violence does not occur because
of gender-insensitive laws or judicial or enforcement practices;
h.
Provide women who are subjected to violence with access to the mechanisms
of justice and, as provided for by national legislation, to just and effective
remedies for the harm they have suffered and inform women of their rights in
seeking redress through such mechanisms;
Enact and enforce legislation against the perpetrators of practices and acts of
violence against women, such as female genital mutilation, female
infanticide, prenatal sex selection and dowry- related violence, and give
vigorous support to the efforts of non-governmental and community
organizations to eliminate such practices;
J-
Formulate and implement, at all appropriate levels, plans of action to
eliminate violence against women;
k.
Adopt all appropriate measures, especially in the field of education, to
modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, and to.
eliminate prejudices, customary practices and all other practices based on the
idea of the inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes and on stereotyped
roles for men and women;
1.
Create or strengthen institutional mechanisms so that women and girls can
report acts of violence against them in a safe and confidential environment,
free from the fear of penalties or retaliation, and file charges;
m.
Ensure that women with disabilities have access to information and services
in the field of violence against women;
n.
Create, improve or develop as appropriate, and fund the training programmes
for judicial, legal, medical, social, educational and police and immigrant
personnel, in order to avoid the abuse of power leading to violence against
women and sensitize such personnel to the nature of gender-based acts and
threats of violence so that fair treatment of female victims can be assured;
o.
Adopt laws, where necessary, and reinforce existing laws that punish police,
security forces or any other agents of the State who engage in acts of violence
against women in the course of the performance of their duties; review
existing legislation and take effective measures against the perpetrators of
such violence;
P
Allocate adequate resources within the government budget and mobilize
community resources for activities related to the elimination of violence
against women, including resources for the implementation of plans of action
at all appropriate levels;
q
Include in reports submitted in accordance with the provisions of relevant
United Nations human rights instruments, information pertaining to violence
I 37
against women and measures taken to implement the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence against Women;
125.
r.
Cooperate with and assist Che Special Rapporteur of the Commission on
Human Rights on violence against women in the performance of her mandate
and furnish all information requested; cooperate also with other competent
mechanisms, such as the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human
Rights on torture and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human
Rights on summary, extrajudiciary and arbitrary executions, in relation to
violence against women;
S.
Recommend that the Commission on Human Rights renew the mandate of
the Special Rapporteur on violence against women when her term ends in
1997 and, if warranted, to update and strengthen it
By Governments, including local governments, community organizations, non
governmental organizations, educational institutions, the public and private sectors,
particularly enterprises, and the mass media, as appropriate:
a.
Provide well-funded shelters and relief support for girls and women subjected
to violence, as well as medical, psychological and other counselling services
and free ox low-cost legal aid, where it is needed, as well as appropriate
assistance to enable them to find a means of subsistence;
L
Establish linguistically and culturally accessible services for migrant women
and girls, including women migrant workers, who are victims of gender
based violence;
c.
Recognize the vulnerability to violence and other forms of abuse of women
migrants, including women migrant workers, whose legal status in the host
country depends on employers who may exploit their situation;
d.
Support initiatives of women’s organizations and non-governmental
organizations all over the world to raise awareness on the issue of violence
against women and to contribute to its elimination;
e.
Organize, support and fund community-based education and training
campaigns to raise awareness about violence against womai as a violation of
women’s enjoyment of their human rights and mobilize local communities to
use appropriate gender-sensitive traditional and innovative methods of
conflict resolution;
f.
Recognize, support and promote the fundamental role of intermediate
institutions, such as primary health-care centres, family-planning centres,
existing school health services, mother and baby protection services, centres
for migrant families and so forth in the field of information and education
related to abuse;
a
Organize and fund information campaigns and educational and training
programmes in order to sensitize girls and boys and women and men to the
personal and social detrimental effects of violence in the family, community
and society; teach them how to communicate without violence and promote
training for victims and potential victims so that they can protect themselves
and others against stich violence;
11.
Disseminate information on the assistance available to women and families
who are victims of violence;
1.
Provide, fund and encourage counselling and rehabilitation programmes for
the perpetrators of violence and promote research to further efforts
138
concerning such counselling mid rehabilitation so as to prevent the recurrence
of such violence;
J
126.
127.
Raise awareness of the responsibility of the media in promoting non
stereotyped images of women and men, as well as in eliminating patterns of
media presentation that generate violence, and encourage those responsible
for media content to establish professional guidchnes and codes of conduct;
also raise awareness of the important role of the media in informing and
educating people about the causes and effects of violence against women and
in stimulating public debate on the topic.
By Governments, employers, trade unions, community and youth organizations and
non-governmental organizations, as appropriate:
a.
Develop programmes and procedures to eliminate sexual harassment and
other forms of violence against women in all educational institutions,
workplaces and elsewhere;
b.
Develop programmes and procedures to educate and raise awareness of acts
of violence against women that constitute a crime and a violation of the
human rights of women;
c.
Develop counselling, healing and support programmes for girls, adolescents
and young women who have been or are involved in abusive relationships,
particularly those who live in homes or institutions where abuse occurs;
d.
Take special measures to eliminate violence against women, particularly
those in vulnerable situations, such as young women, refugee, displaced and
internally displaced women, women with disabilities and women migrant
workers, including enforcing any existing legislation and developing, as
appropriate, new legislation for women migrant workers in both sending and
receiving countries.
By the Soctetary-General of the United Nations:
Provide the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence
against women with all necessary assistance, in particular the staff and resources
required to perform all mandated functions, especially in carrying out and following
up on missions undertaken either separately or jointly with other special rapporteurs
and working groups, and adequate assistance for periodic consultations with the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and all treaty
bodies.
128.
By Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations:
Encourage the dissemination and implementation of the UNHCR Guidelines on the
Protection of Refugee Women and the UNHCR Guidelines on the Prevention of and
Response to Sexual Violence against Refugees.
Strategic objective D.2.
Study the causes and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of
preventive measures
Actions to be taken
129.
By Governments, regional organizations, the United Nations, other international
organizations, research institutions, women’s and youth organizations and non
governmental organizations, as appropriate:
a.
Promote research, collect data and compile statistics, especially concerning
domestic violence relating to the prevalence of different forms of violence
against women, and encourage research into the causes, nature, seriousness
139
and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of
measures implemented to prevent and redress violence against women.
b.
Disseminate findings of research and studies widely:
c.
Support and initiate research on the impact of violence, such as rape, on
women and girl children, and make die resulting information and statistics
available to the public;
d.
Encourage the media to examine the impact of gender role stereotypes,
including those perpetuated by commercial advertisements which foster
gender-based violence and inequalities, and how they are transmitted during
the life cycle, and take measures to eliminate these negative images with a
view to promoting a violence-free society.
Strategic objective D.3.
Eliminate trafficking in women and assist victims of violence due to prostitution and
trafficking
Actions to be taken
130.
By Governments of countries of origin, transit and destination, regional and
international organizations, as appropriate:
a.
Consider the ratification and enforcement of international conventions on
trafficking in persons and on slavery ;
b.
Take appropriate measures to address the root factors, including external
factors, that encourage trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and
other forms of commercialized sex, forced marriages and forced labour in
order to eliminate trafficking in women, including by strengthening existing
legislation with a view to providing better protection of the rights of women
and girls and to punishing the perpetrators, through both criminal and civil
measures;
c.
Step up cooperation and concerted action by all relevant law enforcement
authorities and institutions with a view to dismantling national, regional and
international networks in trafficking;
d.
Allocate resources to. provide comprehensive programmes designed to heal
and rehabilitate into society victims of trafficking, including through job
training, legal assistance and confidential health care, and take measures to
cooperate with non-governmental organizations to provide for the social,
medical and psychological care of the victims of trafficking;
e.
Develop educational and training programmes and policies and consider
enacting legislation aimed at preventing sex tourism and trafficking, giving
special emphasis to the protection of young women and children.
140
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