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CAIRO, 5-13 SEPTEMBER 1994:

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

DRAFT PROGRAMME OF ACTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELPMENT

Chapter II 12/

PRINCIPLES 13/

[In addressing the mandate of the International Conference on Population and Development and its overall theme of Population, Sustalned Economic Growth and Sustainable Development, and in their deliberations, the participants were guided by the following principles:

Principle 1

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. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 2)

Principle 2

Human beings are at the ce re 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 resources that any nation possesses. Countries should ensure that all individuals are given the opportunity to make the most of their potential.] In addition, they have the right to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing. (lst and 2nd sentences: Rio Declaration, principle l; 5th sentence: adapted from International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 11, para. 1)

Principle 3

Advancing gender equity and the empowerment of women is a cornerstone of population and development related programmes. Women and men have the same equal right to participate fully in policy and decision making at all levels.

Principle 4

Population goals and policies are integral parts of social, economic and cultural development, whose principal aim is to improve levels of living and the quality of life of all people. The formulation and implementation of population policies is the sovereign right of each nation, consistent with national laws and in conformity with international human rights standards. (1st sentence: adapted from World Population Plan of Action, para. 14 (a); 2nd sentence: adapted from World Population Plan of Action, para. 14)

Principle 5

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 [, in order to meetthe needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needsl. (Rio Declaration, principle 8)

Principle 6

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. The special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed and those most [environmentally] vulnerable [in the population and development sectors], shall be given special priority. The International Conference on Population and Development reaffirms the need for the full integration of the countries with economies in transition, as well as all other countries, into the world economy. (1st sentence: Rio Declaration, principle 5; 2nd sentence: adapted from Rio Declaration, principle 6; 3rd sentence: based on General Assembly resolution 48/181)

Principle 7

Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person and 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 services, including those related to [sexual and reproductive health care and family planningl. 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. (1st sentence, part 1: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 9, para. 1; 1st sentence, part 2: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 12, para. 1; 2nd sentence: adapted from Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, art. 12, para. 1; 3rd sentence: World Population Plan of Action, para. 14 (f))

Principle 8

[Sexual and reproductive health care programmes, including family planning services, must provide the widest possible freedom of choice. Coercion in those programmes, whether physical, economic or psychological, is a breach of human rights and can never be acceptable.

Principle 9

The International Conference on Population and Development reaffirms that the right to development is a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and that the human person is the central subject of development. The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet the [population and development] [developmental and environmental] needs of present and future generations. (1st sentence: Vienna Declaration, part I, para. 10; 2nd sentence: adapted from Rio Declaration, principle 3)

Principle 10

While various concepts of the family exist in different social, cultural and political systems, the family is the basic unit of society and as such is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support. Marriage must be entered into with the free consent of the intending spouses. (1st sentence: based on General Assembly resolution 47/237; 2nd sentence: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 10, para. 1)

Principle 11

Everyone has the right to education, which shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Children have the right to be cared for and supported by parents, families and society and to be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse. (1st sentence: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 13, para. 1; 2nd sentence, last part: adapted from Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 19, para. i)

PrinciPle 12

Countries receiving migrant workers should provide proper treatment and adequate social welfare services for them and their families, and should ensure their physical safety and security, in conformity with the provisions of the relevant conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organization and other international instruments. (World Population Plan of Action, para. 55)

Principle 13

In considering the population and development needs of indigenous people[s], States should recognize and support their identity, culture and interests, and enable them to participate fully in the social and political life of the country, particularly where their health, education and well being are affected.

Principle 14

Economic development must be environmentally sound and sustainable. Economic growth and social progress requires that growth be broadly based, offering equal opportunities to all people. The industrialized countries should continue their efforts to promote sustained growth and to narrow imbalances in a manner that can benefit other countries, particularly the developing countries. (Based on Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Developmen of the Developing Countries, paras. 16, 18 and 22)

Principle 15

Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. The International Conference on Population and Development reaffirms the responsibilities of States with respect to refugees as described in the Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees.] (1st sentence: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 14, para. 1)

[l.giann.]