Programme of Action
The Programme of Action (PoA), which resulted from the 1994 Cairo Conference, “underscores the integral and mutually reinforcing linkages between population and development” and “urges the empowerment of women.” Adopted by 179 governments in 1994, the PoA features Conference goals surrounding “the reduction of infant, child and maternal mortality; the provision of universal access to education, particularly for girls; and the provision of universal access to a full range of reproductive health services, including family planning.”
Highlighted within the Preamble, the PoA seeks to address the focal concern of the 1994 Cairo Conference, as “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.”
Principles 4, 8, 9, and 10 directly address issues surrounding women’s rights, reproductive healthcare, and family planning. Chapters are separated by goals and detail specific recommendations and “basis for action” to achieve such goals. Chapter IV, for example, focuses on gender equality, equity, and empowerment of women.
While the Programme of Action includes language promoting reproductive health, women's rights, and sexual equality, many groups expressed both oral and written concerns and reservations which are featured at the end of the United Nation Population Fund’s document. Many expressed concerns with implied inclusion of same-sex marriage and homosexuality, as they felt it threatened the essential nature of the family. Additionally, many claimed the “right to life” as a reservation with abortion. With those who expressed reservations in relation to abortion, a common theme was the belief that “life begins, and must be protected, at the moment of conception.” The longest of these reservations came from a representative of the Holy See. Below are the statements and reservations which directly address and focus primarily on the intersection between reproductive healthcare (specifically abortion) and religion (specifically Islamic and Catholic faith).
“The representative of Brunei Darussalem stated the following:
‘According to our interpretation, one aspect of reproductive rights and reproductive health, referring specifically to paragraphs 7.3 and 7.47 and subparagraph 13.14 (c) of the Programme of Action, contradicts Islamic law and our national legislation, ethical values and cultural background. My country wishes to place on record its reservation on those paragraphs.’”
“The representative of El Salvador stated the following:
‘... In addition, because our countries are mainly Christian, we consider that life is given by the Creator and cannot be taken unless there is a reason which justifies it being extinguished. For this reason, as far as Principle 1 of the Programme of Action is concerned, we associate ourselves with the reservation expressed by the delegation of Argentina: we consider that life must be protected from the moment of conception… we would like to express specific reservations on how the term ‘various forms of family’ is going to be interpreted, because the union is between man and woman, as is defined in our Family Code in the Constitution of our Republic… we should never include abortion within [reproductive rights, reproductive health, and family planning], either as a service or as a method of regulating fertility…’”
“The representative of the United Arab Emirates stated the following:
‘... We do not consider abortion as a means of family planning, and we adhere to the principles of Islamic law also in matters of inheritance. We wish to express reservations on everything that contravenes the principles and precepts of our religion Islam, a tolerant religion, and our laws…’”
“The representative of Yemen stated the following:
‘The delegation of Yemen believes that chapter VII includes certain terminology that is in contradiction with Islamic Sharia. Consequently, Yemen expresses reservations on every term and all terminology that is in contradiction with Islamic Sharia. In chapter VII… we wanted to delete the words ‘sexual activity’. And, if we cannot delete them, then we wish to express our reservations. In paragraph 8.25, concerning ‘unsafe abortion’, we find that the definition is unclear and is not in accordance with our religious beliefs. In Islamic Sharia there are certain clear-cut provisions on abortion and when it should be undertaken. We object to the expression ‘unsafe abortion’. We wish to express our reservations on paragraph 8.35, relating to ‘responsible sexual behaviour’.”
“The representative of Djibouti submitted the following written statement:
‘The delegation of the Republic of Djibouti… express reservations… which conflict with the principles of Islam…'”
“The representative of the Holy See submitted the following written statement:
‘...But there are other aspects of the final document which the Holy See cannot support. Together with so many people around the world, the Holy See affirms that human life begins at the moment of conception. That life must be defended and protected. The Holy See can therefore never condone abortion or policies which favour abortion… my delegation already noted its concerns about the question of abortion. The chapters also contain references which could be seen as accepting extramarital sexual activity… Nothing that the Holy See has done in this consensus process should be understood or interpreted as an endorsement of concepts it cannot support for moral reasons. Especially, nothing is to be understood to imply that the Holy See endorses abortion or has in any changed its moral position concerning abortion or on contraceptives or sterilization or on the use of condoms in HIV/AIDS prevention programmes…’
‘Regarding the terms ‘sexual health’ and ‘sexual rights’, and ‘reproductive health’ and ‘reproductive rights’... The Holy See does not consider abortion or access to abortion as a dimension of these terms… With reference to the terms ‘contraception’, ‘family planning’, ‘sexual and reproductive health’, ‘sexual and reproductive rights’, and ‘women’s ability to control their own fertility’, ‘widest range of family-planning services’ and many other terms regarding family-planning services and regulation of fertility concepts in the document, the Holy See’s joining the consensus should in no way be interpreted as constituting a change in its well-known position concerning those family-planning methods which the Catholic Church considers morally unacceptable…’”
“The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran submitted the following written statement:
‘The Programme of Action… does not take into account the role of religion and religious systems in the mobilization of development capabilities. It suffices for us to know that Islam, for example, makes it the duty of every Muslim to satisfy the essential needs of the community and also imposes the duty of showing gratitude for benefits by utilizing them in the best possible way…’”