ENB:06:06
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PROPOSED CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
DR. NAFIS SADIK: ICPD Secretary-General Dr. Nafis Sadik made a number of comments regarding the conceptual framework of the final Conference document. She expressed her hope that Part II, "Choices and Responsibilities," would reflect the new international consensus on the full integration of population concerns into economic and social activities and sustainable development. She stressed the centrality of the individual as the basis of all population policies. Sadik expressed her determination that women's perspectives on human-centered policies and programmes at all levels would be fully reflected in the work of the PrepCom. She urged that abortion be addressed as a health issue and she referred to the negative impacts of structural adjustment programmes and the need to shift emphasis back to investment in the social sector.
COLOMBIA: On behalf of the Group of 77, the delegate from Colombia recommended: a chapter on finance for international cooperation for population activities; highlighting issues such as education, empowerment of women, the role of men in family planning and crucial aspects of migration; follow-up to the Conference; and sub-headings devoted to means of implementation, following the format of Agenda 21.
DENMARK: The representative from Denmark, on behalf of the EC, identified four key areas for organizing the guiding principles: Human Rights and Population; Human Development and Population; Sustainable Development and Population; and Partnership in Population. She also recommended that: the title of Chapter I in Part Two should be "Relations between population and sustainable development"; Chapter II should include a discussion of the changing roles and responsibilities of men; Chapter III should include an assessment on the impact of AIDS; Chapter IV should deal with the broader issue of sexual and reproductive health; and Chapter V should assess gender and socio-economic differentials regarding health and mortality issues in both developed and developing countries.
EGYPT: Soliman Awaad stated that Egypt supports the overall outline of the conceptual framework and recommended including references in the Preamble to the right to development, national sovereignty, mutual responsibility and global partnership. He suggested that Part I of the conceptual framework address "Choices and Responsibilities" instead of "Essential Principles for Population and Development," which could be merged into Part I, in light of what the Preamble contains. Part II should deal with mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of the Conference outcome.
SWEDEN: Amb. Lars-Olof Edstr”m, on behalf of the Nordic countries, stated that the draft outline must be better articulated with regard to the interrelationships and dynamics between population, sustained economic growth and sustainable development. He urged that the document also address follow-up measures. He suggested that Part II of the draft outline should give special emphasis to a limited number of issues or clusters, such as: integrating population concerns into development; the role and status of women; and reproductive rights, reproductive health and family planning.
AUSTRALIA: Amb. Richard Butler said that over-consumption and the inequitable distribution of wealth are important issues that must be discussed. He also stated that additional resources are needed to improve both quality and availability of reproductive health services; control over fertility is a basic human right; and the rights of migrants must be protected.
VENEZUELA: The representative from Venezuela stated that two of the primary guidelines should be the participation of women and migration. He also stressed the important role of NGOs in the preparatory process and in the implementation of population programmes.
PAKISTAN: Senator Noorjehan Panezai stated that the final document should not merely list issues, but coherently analyze the cross-sectoral linkages between them. She added that the document must clearly identify the means of implementation of the plan of action. She pointed out that each issue should be examined from all angles. As an example, she cited that while the European Population Conference on international migration stressed the need for good governance, democracy, human rights, and education, it neglected the fact that most international migration results from job loss due to trade barriers in the country of origin.
ZIMBABWE: The delegate from Zimbabwe supported the Secretariat's conceptual framework but said that there was a need for consideration of financial provisions. He reiterated the important role that NGOs should play and added that the accreditation of over 400 NGOs and their participation here is testimony to their growing commitment. He also expressed concern that labor and unemployment problems were not sufficiently addressed.
ECUADOR: The delegate from Ecuador stressed the relationship between population problems and development. She discussed Ecuador's population policy, advocated increasing education standards, and reminded delegates that maternal mortality is in large part a result of illegal abortions.
CANADA: Michael Shenstone stated that while the final document should represent a new departure, it should be operational enough to assist national governments in developing new policies. He stated that the Conference must address how the linkages between population and sustainable development can be translated into an institutional framework. He suggested that the Commission on Sustainable Development should participate in monitoring the results of the Conference. Shenstone urged the PrepCom to give careful consideration to the Women's Declaration on Population Policies that was prepared by the coalition of NGOs -- Women's Voices '94. With respect to international migration, he stated that the Conference should focus more on the causes than the effects of migration. Shenstone hoped that the product of the Conference would not read like a typical UN document.
POLAND: The delegate from Poland called for distinctions to be maintained between regional and global recommendations, especially in light of the special socio-economic problems of countries in transition. He requested that the increase in mortality in Eastern Europe be addressed in the final document. He called for recommendations 48, 49 and 50 from the final report of the European Conference to be incorporated in the new plan of action. He also proposed that international migration and its causes should be presented in a broader context than the one set out in the conceptual framework document. He supported the thematic structure proposed by the EC.
MALAWI: The delegate from Malawi fully endorsed the outline. She stated that paragraphs 13 and 14 must reflect the link between population and the needs of people in developing countries. She requested that clear linkages between population growth, poverty and food security be established. Regarding paragraph 22, she called for careful review and incorporation of the recommendations of the World Children's Summit. She urged that special attention be given to children orphaned by AIDS. She suggested that specific measures must be drafted to assist host countries to deal with the influx of refugees as well as the root causes of migration. She urged that consideration be given to women's issues in all the chapters.
NGO STEERING COMMITTEE: The Chair of the NGO Steering Committee, Billie Miller, thanked the Secretariat for liberal access to the PrepCom. She highlighted the issues that NGOs are concerned about, such as human rights, migration, reproductive health and rights, ethical and religious perspectives, natural resource management, and AIDS.