Reproductive Rights
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:15 pm
Model United Nations --- Reproductive Rights
Work: October 28, 2009
Debate: November 11, 2009
Discussion of reproductive rights, from our American perspective, likely brings to mind the perennial abortion debate. However, throughout the world, "reproductive rights" encompasses so much more than that -- access to contraception, birth control, family planning, proper health facilities, education, nutrition, and protection from gender-based discriminatory actions. According to the World Health Organization, "Reproductive 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 and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. They also include the right of all to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence."
What must be taken into consideration, however, it that reproductive rights are not just women's rights... they are human rights. Currently, NGOs, civil servants, and experts working in international organizations have attempted to strengthen the inexorable link between the two. Reproductive rights began to appear as a subset of human rights in the 1968 Proclamation of Teheran, which states: "Parents have a basic right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and a right to adequate education and information in this respect."
Later on, these were reaffirmed and broadened with the 1994 Cairo Programme of Action: "Reproductive rights embrace certain human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other relevant United Nations 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 and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also includes the right of all 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 and their responsibilities towards the community."
Similarly, Amnesty International has argued that the realisation of reproductive rights is linked with the realisation of a series of recognised human rights, including the right to health, the right to freedom from discrimination, the right to privacy, and the right not to be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
However, not all states have acepted the inclusion of reproductive rights in the body of internationally recognized human rights. At the Cairo Conference, for instance, Ecuador stated, "With regard to the Programme of Action of the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws of Ecuador and the norms of international law, the delegation of Ecuador reaffirms, inter alia, the following principles embodied in its Constitution: the inviolability of life, the protection of children from the moment of conception, freedom of conscience and religion, the protection of the family as the fundamental unit of society, responsible paternity, the right of parents to bring up their children and the formulation of population and development plans by the Government in accordance with the principles of respect for sovereignty. Accordingly, the delegation of Ecuador enters a reservation with respect to all terms such as "regulation of fertility", "interruption of pregnancy", "reproductive health", "reproductive rights" and "unwanted children", which in one way or another, within the context of the Programme of Action, could involve abortion."
However, many concerns have been addressed. Yet the matter is unresolved. In two preparatory meetings for the ICPD+10 in Asia and Latin America, the United States, under the George W. Bush Administration, was the only nation opposing the ICPD's Programme of Action. And many nations -- especially the more conservative ones -- are against the idea of "reproductive rights," based on connotations with "abortion rights."
Nevertheless, we must overcome our differences and produce a resolution that reaffirms women's rights and seeks to broaden every state's interpretation of such. We must ensure that governments are held accountable for their discriminatory actions and are working diligently to improve the health of their citizens. We must implement a 21st century policy.
P.S.: Not having research is unacceptable. I provided you ample resources below. Research your country's position and get crackin'.
LINKS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_rights
http://reproductiverights.org/
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womrepro.htm
http://www.un.org/popin/icpd/newslett/9 ... oreps.html
http://www.dirittiumani.donne.aidos.it/ ... a_engl.pdf
Note: Reproductive rights, being human rights, are also men's rights...
http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/Network/v ... 183ch2.htm
Work: October 28, 2009
Debate: November 11, 2009
Discussion of reproductive rights, from our American perspective, likely brings to mind the perennial abortion debate. However, throughout the world, "reproductive rights" encompasses so much more than that -- access to contraception, birth control, family planning, proper health facilities, education, nutrition, and protection from gender-based discriminatory actions. According to the World Health Organization, "Reproductive 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 and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. They also include the right of all to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence."
What must be taken into consideration, however, it that reproductive rights are not just women's rights... they are human rights. Currently, NGOs, civil servants, and experts working in international organizations have attempted to strengthen the inexorable link between the two. Reproductive rights began to appear as a subset of human rights in the 1968 Proclamation of Teheran, which states: "Parents have a basic right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and a right to adequate education and information in this respect."
Later on, these were reaffirmed and broadened with the 1994 Cairo Programme of Action: "Reproductive rights embrace certain human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other relevant United Nations 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 and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also includes the right of all 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 and their responsibilities towards the community."
Similarly, Amnesty International has argued that the realisation of reproductive rights is linked with the realisation of a series of recognised human rights, including the right to health, the right to freedom from discrimination, the right to privacy, and the right not to be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
However, not all states have acepted the inclusion of reproductive rights in the body of internationally recognized human rights. At the Cairo Conference, for instance, Ecuador stated, "With regard to the Programme of Action of the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws of Ecuador and the norms of international law, the delegation of Ecuador reaffirms, inter alia, the following principles embodied in its Constitution: the inviolability of life, the protection of children from the moment of conception, freedom of conscience and religion, the protection of the family as the fundamental unit of society, responsible paternity, the right of parents to bring up their children and the formulation of population and development plans by the Government in accordance with the principles of respect for sovereignty. Accordingly, the delegation of Ecuador enters a reservation with respect to all terms such as "regulation of fertility", "interruption of pregnancy", "reproductive health", "reproductive rights" and "unwanted children", which in one way or another, within the context of the Programme of Action, could involve abortion."
However, many concerns have been addressed. Yet the matter is unresolved. In two preparatory meetings for the ICPD+10 in Asia and Latin America, the United States, under the George W. Bush Administration, was the only nation opposing the ICPD's Programme of Action. And many nations -- especially the more conservative ones -- are against the idea of "reproductive rights," based on connotations with "abortion rights."
Nevertheless, we must overcome our differences and produce a resolution that reaffirms women's rights and seeks to broaden every state's interpretation of such. We must ensure that governments are held accountable for their discriminatory actions and are working diligently to improve the health of their citizens. We must implement a 21st century policy.
P.S.: Not having research is unacceptable. I provided you ample resources below. Research your country's position and get crackin'.
LINKS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_rights
http://reproductiverights.org/
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womrepro.htm
http://www.un.org/popin/icpd/newslett/9 ... oreps.html
http://www.dirittiumani.donne.aidos.it/ ... a_engl.pdf
Note: Reproductive rights, being human rights, are also men's rights...
http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/Network/v ... 183ch2.htm