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     UNSUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION PATTERNS STRESSED BY SPEAKERS 
     AS FACTORS AFFECTING POPULATION, DEVELOPMENT

 
     Total of 31 Speakers Address Population Conference; 
     Also Raise Issue of Migration Flows as Factor in Debate

 
     "The human race has arrived at a juncture in history which demands non-
coercive, self-imposed denial", Lionel Alexander Hurst of Antigua and Barbuda 
told the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) this 
afternoon in a continuation of the general debate.  The Conference was 
continuing its exchange of country experiences on population issues.


     As the first of several speakers who emphasized patterns of consumption 
as a factor affecting population and development, Mr. Hurst stressed that 
"humanity must decide whether to proceed with a lopsided distribution of 
incomes and possibilities along a North/South divide, or to adopt an equitable 
global distribution with a smaller global population consuming less".  
       
     Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the United Nations 
Environment Programme and one of 31 speakers participating in the combined 
afternoon and evening session, pointed out that a relatively small segment of 
rich account for about two thirds of environmental destruction. Each child 
born in North America consumes as much as three that were born in Japan, or 
147 in Bangladesh or 422 in Ethiopia.  To change the current patterns of 
population growth and consumption, the assumption of direct responsibility by 
each individual would be necessary.   
      
     Also stressing patterns of consumption, James Gustave Speth, 
Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stated:  
"It's time to stop riding the merry-go-round of denial. Population growth in 
the developing world isn't the main threat to the planet's


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sustainability. The biggest threat comes from population growth and resource 
consumption in the industrialized world."


     Joining other speakers who focused on individual rights as a core 
principle of population policies, Elisabeth Rehn, Minister for Equality 
Affairs of Finland, said "a basic right of all women, men and adolescents is 
to make free and informed choices regarding their own sexual and reproductive 
health and to have the means to exercise this right". Given the choice, people 
would freely make decisions that significantly affect population growth and 
quality of life.    


     On the status of women, Dr. Halfdan Mahler, Secretary General of the 
International Planned Parenthood Foundation, observed that "without the 
formidable resource of womenpower, all plans we make and steps we take to 
improve the local and global community will largely be in vain". He noted that 
the Federation was developing a "bill of rights" as an ethical framework for 
the human right to reproductive health. 
      
     "Equality and empowerment of women means more than just the right to 
birth control", Johanna Dohnal, Minister for Women's Affairs of Austria, told 
the Conference. "It means power-sharing; it means better access to political 
leadership; it means economic self-reliance of women. Women want 
redistribution in all aspects of life. Women want to decide on their own 
future themselves."


     On other issues, the Minister for Social Development and National 
Insurance of the Bahamas and the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia joined the 
International Organization for Migration in calling attention to the need to 
vigorously address the rapidly growing problem of international migration.  
James N. Purcell, Director-General of the International Organization for 
Migration, stated that "the answers lie not in building walls but in seizing 
opportunities created by the end of the cold war". 
      
     Statements were also made this afternoon by the Deputy Prime Minister and 
Foreign Minister of Japan; Planning Commissioner in the President's Office of 
Zimbabwe; Minister for Health of Western Samoa; Minister for National Unity 
and Social Development of Malaysia; Minister for Health of Ireland; Deputy 
Prime Minister of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and Minister for 
Development Cooperation of Belgium.


     Also speaking were the Minister for Health and Social Affairs of the 
Republic of Korea; Minister for Planning of the United Arab Emirates; Minister 
for Environment, Youth and Family of Austria; Minister for Social Welfare of 
Brazil; Minister for State of Turkey; and the representative of Papua New 
Guinea.


     Statements were also made by the Executive Director of the United Nations 
Children's Fund and the Director-General of the United Nations Education, 
Scientific and Cultural Organization.


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     The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, the Director-General 
of the North-South Relations European Commission, the President of the Inter-
American Development Bank, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization 
for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Secretary-General of the 
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also 
addressed the meeting.


     In addition, a statement was made by the representative of the Commission 
on Global Governance, speaking on behalf of the Earth Council; and the 
representative of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against 
Women.  Jacques Cousteau spoke on behalf of the Cousteau Society.


     The Conference will reconvene at 10 a.m. tomorrow,        7 September, to 
continue its discussion of national experiences on population issues. 
                












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     Conference Work Programme


     The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) met 
this afternoon to continue its discussion of national experiences with 
population policies.


     Statements


     LIONEL ALEXANDER HURST (Antigua and Barbuda): "Less than 20 per cent of 
the world's population lives in developed countries; yet, this 20 per cent 
consumes more than 80 per cent of the goods and services produced by the 
earth's resources."  A developed country of approximately 30 million, consumes 
more of everything than do the 650 million people on the continent of Africa. 
 Hence, humanity must decide whether to proceed with a lopsided distribution 
of incomes and possibilities along a North-South divide, or to adopt an 
equitable global distribution with a smaller global population consuming less. 
 We must make a conscious effort to proceed along a path not previously 
trodden; that path takes into account the many moral dimensions of our diverse 
human family. "The human race has arrived at a juncture in history which 
demands non-coercive, self-imposed denial."   There must be an abandonment of 
antiquated views on reproduction.   
     Antigua and Barbuda has joined with 18 other Caribbean countries to help 
plan the future by supporting the draft programme of action.  Small Caribbean 
island States have solved their overpopulation problem to this point by 
emigration.  That avenue is now closing and population growth must be limited 
while development continues.  If a minimum standard of living is to be assured 
for every human being in every Caribbean country, then the number of humans 
cannot grow interminably.  The islands' resources, like the planet's, are 
limited.  Wasteful production and consumption patterns of the developed 
countries must cease.  Women must be free to make their own reproductive 
choices and education and literacy must be universal. Family planning must 
become central to development policies. In Antigua and Barbuda one specific 
policy has focused on continuing education to young women who, because of 
pregnancy, were compelled to drop out of school. Bringing these young women 
back to school has been a top priority.


     YOHEI KONO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of 
Japan:  The population issue has grown more complex as the international 
community has developed and is now a global issue that requires urgent action. 
  Since the issue is related to a whole range of social and economic issues, 
it must be addressed in a comprehensive manner which includes the adoption of 
policies on basic health, education, and improvement of the status of women.  
Based on such ideas, Japan launched the Global Issues Initiative in February, 
under which it will substantially 


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 increase assistance to developing countries in the fields of population and 
HIV/AIDS.  


     The world is now confronted with a host of restrictions on the daily 
lives of individuals which are due to rapid population growth; excessive 
population flow into large cities; unstable movements of people across 
national borders; introduction of production and consumption patterns and 
technologies that heavily burden the environment, and massive generation of 
waste.  Each person needs to recognize that rapid population growth incurs 
environmental destruction and exhaustion of natural resources.  Both 
developing and developed countries have their own responsibilities in that 
regard.  Developing countries should reduce the population growth rate, while 
developed countries should change the production and consumption patterns and 
develop and diffuse environmentally sound technologies.  


     Last year Japan enacted the Basic Environment Law which aims at creating 
a society ensuring sustainable development by fostering sound economic 
development.  Japan also announced the National Action Plan for Agenda 21 last 
year.  Japan has a strong interest in the population problem because of its 
own experience with rapid population growth after Second World War.  It 
succeeded in stabilizing the growth rate through its own efforts.  Japan 
endorses the draft programme of action.   
     ELISABETH REHN, Minister of Equality Affairs of Finland: Regarding 
population policies within the context of sustainable development, "actions 
that we will agree on should result in stabilizing population growth to levels 
that could be maintained in economic, social and environmental terms. They 
must be based on the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms 
for all individuals".


     Governments must combine the interrelationships between population and 
development with the centrality of the individual in their actions. "The 
ultimate choice and responsibility is that of individuals and couples without 
any kind of coercion or imposition. We share the view expressed in the draft 
programme of action that, given the choice, an enabling environment and 
empowerment, people will freely make such decisions that have significant 
effects on population growth and quality of life.  Thus, there is no conflict 
between public policies and individual needs."


     "A basic right of all women, men and adolescents is to make free and 
informed choices regarding their own sexual and reproductive health and to 
have the means to exercise this right." While providing sexual and 
reproductive health services for all, emphasis must be placed on quality, 
acceptablility, accessibility and free choice.


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     Unless the matter of unsafe abortions is addressed, the health and lives 
of millions of women will continue to be endangered.  Abortion should not be a 
family-planning method.  However, the experience of Finland suggests that, 
given the availability of information and services on reproductive health, the 
number of abortions continues to decrease even though abortion is allowed on 
medical and social grounds.             
     RICHARD C. HOVE, Planning Commissioner in the President's Office of 
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe has a high population growth rate, and the rate of 
contraceptive usage is 43 per cent.  Zimbabwe agrees with the programme of 
action which emphasizes free choice and responsibilities. Zimbabwe's Labour 
Act legislates equal pay for all, emphasizing gender equality.


     His country's environment has been deteriorating through the over-
exploitation of natural resources. Implementation of  "Agenda 21" -- the 
programme of action adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment 
and Development (UNCED) -- must find a place in the draft programme of action 
of the Cairo Conference. Political commitment is required to achieve changes 
in the world demographic balance. The gains by developed countries will be 
eroded by developing countries losses if there is a lack of political 
commitment. In Africa, Latin America and Asia, people still die of diseases 
such as tuberculosis and malaria, and maternal mortality and infant mortality 
are also worse than in the developed North. 


     Marginalization of women is tantamount to the marginalization of 
development issues. Women must be regarded and recognized as equal partners in 
the development process.  Most illiterate people are women, an issue that must 
be addressed by the Conference. The issue of migration must also be addressed. 
 The population puzzle will be solved only by changing the quality of life 
through development. Developed countries should invest in developing countries 
to create the opportunities for development there. Zimbabwe is in the process 
of examining its population policy. In that endeavor, it will be guided by the 
programme of action to be adopted by the Cairo Conference.


     SALA VAIMILI II, Minister of Health of Western Samoa: The Pacific 
region's recognition of the population problem and the need to formulate 
appropriate regional and national strategies led to the adoption of the 
Vanuatu Declaration on Population and Development in 1993, which has formed 
the basis of the Pacific Island countries' contribution to the Cairo 
Conference.  The Pacific region's contribution to the negotiations has centred 
around capacity building, which is a core issue in any development effort. 
There is a need to tap the potential of youth and, at the same time, to 
provide for their needs and aspirations in any national policy. Higher urban 
growth, which is already a common problem for all Pacific countries, and 
changing


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 lifestyles, which is a potential concern for all countries, have also been 
emphasized by the Pacific countries here at Cairo.


     He reviewed policies and programmes of his country in the area of 
population and development. In the early 1970, a maternal and child health and 
family-planning programme was launched in Samoa geared primarily to improve 
the health of mothers and children, as well as to counter rising population 
problems.  It has provided valuable maternal and child health services, 
community education on population issues and improved access to safe 
contraception methods. "Like other countries, we have faced religious, as well 
as cultural, constraints. However, the complementary efforts of both 
governmental and non-governmental organizations through communications, 
education, and effective information strategies have resulted in changes in 
behaviour and attitudes." 


     An effective response to the population problem must also include 
investment in the well-being, education and participation of women as they are 
central to the success of population and development programmes. The 
establishment of a Ministry for Women's Affairs in 1990 has given significant 
impetus to Samoa's efforts in the furtherance of its policies and programmes 
relating to women and development. In 1992, the country ratified the 
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.


     ELIZABETH DOWDESWELL, Executive Director of the United Nations 
Environment Programme: The individual human being's quality of life and 
environment are inextricably linked. Sustainability requires a comprehensive 
approach. Both the "number of people and the way in which we are living place 
an incredible burden on this planet".  More than 3 million hectares of rain-
fed crop lands are currently in danger of desertification, putting 900 million 
lives at risk. As many as 140 species are becoming extinct each day. The 
growing human population has increased the rate of extinction to inconceivable 
levels. It is abundantly clear that we are overconsuming in all our human 
activities.  


     In developing countries, rapid growth often forces people into 
unsustainable practices such as clearing of forests which lead to such 
environmental degradation as erosion and water contamination and leads to a 
large number of "environmental refugees". "A relatively small segment of rich 
account for about two thirds of environmental destruction." Each child born in 
North America consumes as much as three that are born in Japan, or 147 in 
Bangladesh or 422 in Ethiopia. The mistakes of the developed world are already 
being emulated in the developing world. The answers lie not in the restriction 
of legitimate human aspirations or coersion. Both population and consumption 
patterns require an assumption of individual responsibility. These are


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 questions of ethics and values in caring for each other and for future 
generations. "By each claiming some responsibility, we can change the patterns 
of consumption and population." Timetables for action should hold each 
individual accountable at the global, national and local level.  


     By working together, countries have the unique opportunity to leapfrog 
the mistakes of the developed world. Human beings are blessed with the 
abililty to choose. In Cairo, there is a unique opportunity to improve the 
global human condition. What is needed most is the courage to take action.


     Dr. HALFDAN MAHLER, Secretary-General of the International Planned 
Parenthood Foundation: The admirable draft plan of action should be adopted in 
a spirit of ethical consensus for the common global good. The number of women 
of child-bearing age in the developing world will rise from 1 billion in 1990 
to 1.5 billion by 2010.  In order to meet demands for family planning, the 
availability of high-quality reproductive health care will have to be 
massively expanded.  Most of the unmet needs emanate from people living in 
poverty who lack health services, education and employment and who hardly know 
how to express their own demands. The draft programme of action correctly 
views family planning in the broader context of health, including physical, 
mental and social well-being. Addressing pressing issues of sexuality, 
transmission of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases will help people 
everywhere to lead productive lives.


     Quality health care is a woman's basic right. Unsafe abortion poses a 
major threat to the lives of women. "The only way to fight unwanted and 
unnecessary abortion is to provide all women everywhere with quality 
reproductive health care, including contraception and, if indispensable, safe 
abortion." Adolescents, who often lack support and education to help them 
understand their sexuality, have a high incidence of pregnancies, sexually 
transmitted diseases and abortions. The Federation was working to meet that 
and other challenges, including the empowerment of women, who must be full 
participants in decision-making at all levels.  Girls must have equal access 
to education. "Without the formidable resource of womenpower, all plans we 
make and steps we take to improve the local and global community will largely 
be in vain." The Federation was developing a "bill of rights" as an ethical 
framework for the human right to reproductive health. Its strategic "Vision 
2000" initiative was designed to tackle today's reproductive health 
challenges.


     NAPSIAH BTE OMAR of Malaysia: The principles in the draft programme are 
largely acceptable, but the sovereign right of countries to develop their own 
population policies and programmes should be the overriding principle in 
chapter II. "Though we would earnestly hope for a consensus document, the 
demographic, economic and social diversities of our countries have to be


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 acknowledged, and local ethos, values and norms be given due respect and 
recognition." Ethical and moral perspectives must be incorporated into the 
draft and related issues. "While we recognize the need to respect basic human 
and individual rights in dealing with issues such as the centrality of the 
individual, reproductive and sexual rights and freedom of choice, we believe 
that values and responsibilities cannot be sacrificed on the alter of human 
and social development." Malaysia's Constitution does not allow the provision 
of abortion services as a reproductive health service. "We maintain that 
prevention, and not interruption, of pregnancy should be the method of 
choice."


     Malaysia faces the difficulties of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions 
and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. "We should take 
immediate steps to strengthen provision of knowledge and education, guidance 
and counselling services, improve parenting and family life, education and 
skills and instil responsible behaviour among youth and adolescents." Due 
caution must be taken so as not to give the impression of sexual 
permissiveness and unhealthy sexual and reproductive practices and lifestyles. 
The institution of the family must be strengthened. "We believe that the 
concept of the traditional family must not be lost as there is a need to 
protect rights and to exercise responsibility of spouses and family members in 
view of the diversity of families existing today." Practices which endanger 
women, children and families must be eliminated, including child marriages, 
genital mutilation, child prostitution and abuse.


     BRENDAN HOWLIN, Minister for Health of Ireland:  "The formulation and 
implementation of population policies must be recognized as being the 
sovereign right of each nation, in conformity with international human rights 
standards."  Those policies must respect the rights of couples to choose the 
number and spacing of their children, free of coercion or discrimination. "The 
availability of comprehensive family- planning information and services will 
enable couples to make choices about the number of their children, thus 
facilitating a humane and sympathetic approach to the limitation of excessive 
population growth." Ireland has made considerable progress in providing ready 
access to contraception.  Comprehensive family planning services are an 
integral part of Ireland's national health strategy.  


     The draft programme of action links family planning and reproductive 
health with the empowerment of women.  Those links can only be achieved if 
women are educated to enable them to both demand and make choices in relation 
to family planning.  Ireland endorses the inclusion in the final document of 
"clear statements that abortion must in no case be promoted as a method of 
family planning". Ireland has a constitutional provision on the right to life 
of the unborn, and its Supreme Court has prohibited


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 abortion, except in circumstances where there is "a real and substantial risk 
to the life of the mother which could not be averted by any other means".


     Population policies cannot be considered in isolation from the need to 
devote sufficient resources to relieving problems of poverty and malnutrition 
in developing countries. Ireland will be increasing the level of financial and 
technical assistance to enable specific programmes of action to be established 
which will tackle some of the population-related problems of a number of 
countries.  Population policy should not be limited to family planning, but 
should form part of an integrated approach to fight poverty and the promotion 
of sustainable development.      
     JAMES GUSTAVE SPETH, Administrator of the United Nations Development 
Programme: The Conference must not become a battleground between religious and 
secular forces. Those present had come because they had faith and hope that a 
just world order can be built. "That is what all religion is about -- caring 
and loving, dignity and justice, faith and hope -- and that is what this 
Conference is about. This is not a meeting of the divided, but a gathering of 
the united." Population programmes must be fused with powerful measures to 
promote sustainable human development if the Conference's goals are to be 
realized. The alternative would be a continued surge in population growth 
placing additional demands on the job market, food supplies, housing, water, 
health and education services.


     The industrialized world was part of the problem. "It's time to stop 
riding the merry-go-round of denial. Population growth in the developing world 
isn't the main threat to the planet's sustainability. The biggest threat comes 
from population growth and resource consumption in the industrialized world." 
The average United States citizen consumes about 20 times as many natural 
resources as the average citizen of India, so an additional 10 million people 
in the United States puts as much pressure on the planet as an additional 200 
million Indians. The trend towards waning international commitment to 
development must be reversed. Donors and developing countries must provide new 
assistance for development. "Robbing one worthy objective for another is not a 
worthy answer." The Conference must score a victory over ignorance, 
intolerance, discrimination, subjugation and inaction.             


     RISTO IVANOV, Deputy Prime Minister of The Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia: Population explosion, even if it occurs in only one country, 
affects the entire globe. The Conference is working to review problems 
globally, while supporting local action.  


     Regional wars and tensions are due to socio-economic problems. The 
Balkans is a troubled region, with tensions that


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 affect the ability to move towards economic development.  It is impossible to 
separate development from population policy.  None the less, The Former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continually took into account issues of 
population.  Data on the local population will be used to conduct national 
planning.  On a global level, international cooperation is needed to address 
the population situation.


     FREDERICO MAYOR, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):   Population policy must form 
part of an integrated sustainable development strategy.  "To be effective, the 
strategy must be radical and go to the root of the problems." Investment must 
be made in education, in knowledge and in knowledge creation.  Enormous 
dividends come from investment in education. Investment, however, continues to 
be made in a short-sighted way. Everywhere, and in all social and cultural 
contexts, increased educational levels for women means lower fertility rates, 
as well as reduced mortality levels.  Training for economic self-reliance and 
enhancement of the status of women has been made a major emphasis of UNESCO.  
The latest step in the process was the meeting in New Delhi of the nine most 
populous countries of the world, which adopted a forward-looking approach to 
curb population growth. 


     The Cairo Conference must build on the commitment for gender equality. 
The family is a basic unit of society and reflects local cultural and 
religious patterns.  The control of fertility must not be based on coercion or 
on the imposition of external models.  The empowerment of women in full 
consciousness of their rights is the solution. Such changes must be matched by 
firm commitments by the Government at the highest levels.  "For too long the 
lives of too many people have been dependent on powers exercised by others."  
Education is liberation.  It is the main gateway to liberty and justice.  "Our 
aim should be to curb population growth by giving to all individuals their 
share of world responsibility."  "The world as one or none" should be the 
guiding ethical perspective.  


     IVICA KOSTOVIC, Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia:  There are currently 
some 70 regions in the world that are conflict-ridden. Croatia is a vivid 
example of what the violation of fundamental principles means for the 
development of a sovereign country. "Peace is the basic prerequisite for the 
well-being of every person and the development of the community in which a 
person lives." The number of refugees in Croatia -- estimated at 379,908 -- 
has reached critical proportions, accounting for almost 10 per cent of the 
country's population. In 1993, Croatia took care of 3 per cent of the planet's 
refugees, while its population was less than one tenth of 1 per cent of the 
world. The international community must take a determined stand on the matter 
of displaced persons and refugees, based on their right to return home in 
safety.


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     Over the past three decades, the population of Croatia has been declining 
due to a decrease in the birth rate. The most tragic consequence of the war in 
Croatia are 15,000 killed and missing persons, most of them civilians, and 
more than 6,000 people physically and mentally abused in detention camps. 
Almost 4 million people in the region have, in one way or another, been 
affected by the war and, therefore, require international aid. "This war has 
introduced a new word to demographic terminology: 'ethnic cleansing'. The term 
means a planned strategy of terror and violence, including arbitrary killings 
and the harassment of people into leaving their homes with a view to creating 
nationally homogeneous territories." The objectives before the Conference can 
only be achieved by exercising the political will to jointly respect adopted 
decisions, especially those concerning the preservation of peace and security 
in the world.


     ERIK DERYCKE, Minister for Development Cooperation of Belgium: Population 
policies must be based on the premise that sexual and reproductive rights and 
responsibilities are undoubtedly part of human rights. It is extremely 
important that family planning goes together with other actions in the field 
of sexual and reproductive life, such as HIV/AIDS and activities for control 
of sexually transmitted diseases and safe motherhood initiatives. Free choices 
by individuals and couples can only exist when they have appropriate 
information and education. "Information and education, particularly in the 
field of sexual behaviour and fertility regulation, are to be valued as one of 
the major tools for increased and sustainable development." 


     Women's empowerment is essential, and great importance should be placed 
on all measures leading to the active involvement of adolescents and men. 
Common gender responsibility is the ultimate goal. "It is our intention to 
increase our efforts in development cooperation in the domain of population 
issues, education and health, particularly sexual and reproductive health."   
 
     JAMES P. GRANT, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund 
(UNICEF): The well publicized disagreements relating to the Conference must 
not obscure the consensus that has consolidated around the draft programme of 
action. It has been agreed that population and development must be responsive 
to a new strategy. For population efforts to be successful, there must be an 
improvement in education and empowerment of women, and people must be 
confident that their children will survive.  Development efforts must work to 
break the chain of poverty.


     The actions needed to achieve the new development paradigm are achievable 
within a decade or two and are politically acceptable to both developed and 
developing countries, and they are affordable. The breakthrough at the core of 
the programme of action is the application of a holistic approach to 
population.


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 The vigorous application of efforts on several fronts could slow population 
growth to the low United Nations estimates for the year 2000. Women must be 
empowered to control their lives and fertility.  Special emphasis must be 
placed on the education of young people and support must be offered to allow 
them to live happy and productive lives. 


     The modest additional funds needed to implement the action in the draft 
programme are vital and must be made available quickly. Support must be given 
to the "20/20 concept" which calls upon developing countries to commit 20 per 
cent of their budgets to social programmes and upon developed countries to 
commit 20 per cent of their ODA to support sustainable human development.  To 
date, developing countries have responded positively to the concept. The donor 
countries must now work to meet that initiative.  


     As Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan, told the Conference 
yesterday, "Our destiny is not in the stars, it is in each person".


     SUH SANG-MOK, Minister for Health and Social Affairs of the Republic of 
Korea:  Although the plans of action from the two previous world conferences 
on population have been extremely useful, "our current concerns are now more 
far-reaching than those faced originally in Bucharest in 1974". The world has 
since undergone unprecedented developments on many levels. Most countries are 
adopting national population policies, and the world population growth rate 
has significantly declined over the last decade. "The growing synergy between 
population, environment and development, the rapid increase in international 
migration, and the spread of HIV/AIDS have added greater complexity to 
population issues."  


     The Republic of Korea adopted a national family-planning programme as an 
integral part of its successive five-year economic development plans from 
1962. The success of those plans resulted in a stable rate of economic growth 
of 8 per cent per annum in the last three decades, which has contributed to 
higher levels of income, increased access to education, improvement in the 
status of women and changes in the role of the family.  With that development, 
the total fertility rate dropped from 6.0 in 1960 to 1.6 in 1990.  The rate 
change was not only due to a vigorous family-planning programme, but also to 
the various socio-economic changes that took place.  Industrialization has 
also resulted in increased urbanization, which has caused chronic 
overpopulation in urban areas.  


     "The last 30 years of the Republic of Korea's experience in population 
policy clearly demonstrates that population programmes can only succeed when 
they are part of a development strategy, when priority is placed on investing 
in people, and when women


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are empowered through education to play a key role in determining family size 
and in reducing infant, child and maternal mortality."  Korea's population and 
family-planning programmes can be described as very successful and can be used 
as models for other developing countries.    
     SHEIK AL-MU'ALLA, Minister for Planning of the United Arab Emirates:  His 
country's development strategy is based on the principle that "no good will 
come from money that is not used in the service of man". The Constitution of 
the United Arab Emirates, which is based on the principles of Islam, called 
for the provision of goods and services to those in need.  The Government, 
therefore, aimed to provide all appropriate population-related services. The 
population of the United Arab Emirates is not large, and the challenges it 
faces are not the same as those faced by other developing countries.


     Women are accorded a high place in the Emirates' development plans, and 
legislation is in place to provide them with health and education services, as 
well as maternity leave. Priority is accorded to addressing environmental 
concerns. Environmental problems must be tackled at the international level as 
well. The United Arab Emirates was coordinating its development efforts with 
other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, based on the principle that 
problems must be tackled at all levels. Such an approach will lead to 
appropriate international action. Developed countries must assist developing 
countries so that they can overcome their economic difficulties and address 
their population problems.


     MARIA RAUCH-KALLAT, Federal Minister for Environment, Youth and Family 
Affairs of Austria:  "The key concept that couples and individuals should be 
in a position to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their 
children is not new.  It remains as valid as before.  To decide freely means 
that there should be no coercion, which again means that population policies 
must be fully consistent with human rights."      


     Reproductive health efforts, including family planning, must be increased 
so that men and women in all countries are in the position to determine the 
number of children they will have.  Slowing population growth in poor 
countries will make it easier to combat poverty and achieve continuous 
economic growth.  Population programmes should be developed specifically for 
each country and should be under the authority of individual Governments.


     JOHANNA DOHNAL, Federal Minister for Women's Affairs of Austria: 
"Equality and empowerment of women means more than just the right to birth 
control. It means power-sharing, it means better access to political 
leadership, it means economic self-reliance of women. Women want 
redistribution in all aspects of life. Women want to decide on their own 
future themselves."


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     Women's health problems relating to their reproductive systems has 
reached an alarming proportion.  Women's health services must be ensured, 
including sexual and reproductive health-care measures.  Effective counselling 
services must be provided so each woman can find the contraceptive method most 
appropriate for her. 


     THERESA MOXEY-INGRAHAM, Minister for Social Development and National 
Insurance of the Bahamas:  The population increase in the Bahamas is expected 
to be large for years to come.  Its economy currently depends almost entirely 
on tourism.  Growth in that industry has been stagnant, and the Bahamas has 
been searching for new sources of economic growth.  Rural areas have little 
access to economic opportunities.  Several different concerns face the Bahamas 
in making population policies,including the fact that because of the 
archipelagic nature of the country, a complete duplication of services is 
necessary for each of the islands.  


     There is great concern over the growth of one-parent families, as well as 
concern over accessible and affordable health care.  A significant problem is 
the unrelenting inflow of undocumented immigrants into the islands. It places 
a great strain upon already over-extended services.  "The time has come for 
the international community to move beyond self-serving pursuits and confront 
the problem of migration.  The Bahamas no longer has the capacity to absorb 
illegal immigrants."  The international community should recognize and 
acknowledge the efforts of the Bahamas in that regard.  


     The role of women in society is a key to any population policy.  The 
Conference should commit to a plan of action that will ensure the future 
quality of life for all people.  "The time is short and need for action is 
acute."  Little things are dividing the participants at the Conference.  The 
overall objective should be to enhance the health of the world's people, 
improve the lives of women and children, protect the environment and approve 
population policies that are consonant with local customs and practices.


     LEONOR BARRETTO FRANCO, Minister for Social Welfare of Brazil:  The Cairo 
Conference is one of many efforts being undertaken by the international 
community to promote broad-based economic development. A new approach of 
viewing population issues within their social context is being applied. There 
is a strong relationship between demographic policies and human rights, 
particularly those of women.  Since population policies reach down into the 
value systems of cultures and societies, it is not surprising that different 
views exist.  As the draft programme of action is developed, the sovereignty 
of nations must be respected in its text .

 
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     In Brazil, decisions on family planning are made by individuals.  It is 
the responsibility of the Government to provide information and services.  
Nothing in the draft programme of action suggests that abortion should be a 
method of family planning, which is an issue of great concern to Brazil. In 
Brazil, abortion is illegal except in cases where the women's life is 
threatened or pregnancy is a result of rape. To address the problems relating 
to overpopulation, Brazil will work to strengthen the family system, as it 
provides the means for individuals to make their own decisions.  


     Every country has a responsibility to deal with issues regarding 
population.  None the less, international cooperation is needed, and the 
recent commitment of funds by countries to support population programmes is 
welcome. Brazil has participated in a regional effort to draft a regional plan 
of action relating to population.  That work will continue in New York during 
the forthcoming General Assembly session.


     ONAY ALPAGO, Minister for State of Turkey:  "Having been involved in 
development planning for 30 years, Turkey constitutes one of the good examples 
of the efforts to integrate population variables in development planning."  
The Government's traditional attitudes on population policy began to change in 
the 1950s.  But in spite of all the improvements that have taken place in 
maternal and child care, high risk pregnancies still are one of the major 
health issues.  The role of women in development is becoming more clear as the 
overall education, awareness and consciousness of population issues improve.  
Women are becoming fully integrated into society, taking responsibilities in 
all aspects of life.  The international community  should provide all the 
support possible for the strengthening of the family as the natural and 
fundamental unit of society. The Turkish Constitution considers the family as 
the basic element of society.  


     Many women throughout the world await relief from their anguish through 
the policies and programmes to be derived from the recommendations of this 
Conference.  Women all over the world suffer from reproductive and sexual 
health problems. Utilization of reproductive and sexual health services should 
be promoted in order to achieve physical, mental and social well-being.  
Deciding freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of children and 
implementing the decisions is a basic and human right.  Failure to respect 
such rights constitute a strong barrier to enhancing the status of women.  "We 
do not support abortion as a method of family planning.  However, we recognize 
the woman's right to safe motherhood."  In view of high infant  and maternal 
mortality rates, as well as regional differences in the health of the entire 
population, the Turkish health-care system puts special emphasis on 
accessibility, availability, acceptability and affordability of health 
services.

 
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     UTULA U. SAMANA (Papua New Guinea): His country has many different 
cultures and traditions with 900 known languages spoken by about 4 million 
people, mostly in rural areas. "You can imagine the enormous task that my 
Government must endure in delivering basic services in health and education." 
Many of the areas concerned are only accessible by light aircraft. The 
formulation of Papua New Guinea's population policy requires careful 
coordination among individuals, institutions, non-governmental organizations, 
as well as governmental agencies. Papua New Guinea has also embarked on major 
educational reform.  Family-planning services are crucial for the health and 
safety of mothers, fathers and children. With the outbreak of AIDS and the 
threat of other sexually transmitted diseases, the Government has moved to 
introduce sex education at all appropriate levels.


     The rapid changes in Papua New Guinea resulting from the introduction of 
material goods has required a new approach. The most pressing challenges are 
urban drift, unemployment, adequate shelter and the application of laws and 
regulations in a predominantly traditional system of tribal legacy and kinship 
security. "A country blessed with natural resources, such as mine, needs 
international support to encourage jobs in rural areas, where people can enjoy 
a far better life while contributing effectively to the economy."


     JUAN PRAT, Director-General for North-South Relations of the European 
Commission: The results obtained in the domain of migrations reflect a 
preoccupation with addressing issues in a spirit of tolerance and openness 
towards cultural and religious differences.   The programme of action 
recommends integrating legal migrants in the host countries, whilst combating 
racism, ethnocentrism and xenophobia, on the one hand, and ensuring that 
migrants contribute to the development of their countries of origin, on the 
other hand. 


     The programme of action embodies four key areas of action in order to 
slow demographic growth: education, particularly that of girls; the reduction 
of infant mortality; the reinforcement of the rights and the role of women; 
and the generalization of services in the fields of sexuality and reproductive 
health, including family planning.  The Conference must recommend policies 
that will respond to the fact that about 300 million men and women lack access 
to family planning and the possibility that there would be 50 million 
abortions, some of which could lead to the death of mothers.  The 
recommendations should be made with due regard to each country's sovereignty. 
      
     The draft final document of the Conference provides the basis for a solid 
final agreement which represents a significant advance on the programme of 
action of Bucharest.  Agreement is within  reach on life expectancy, maternal 
and infant mortality.  Issues relating to sexual health and reproduction, 
rights in the


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field of sexuality and reproduction and the matter of abortion can be 
addressed in substantive consensus.  The European Union will present papers on 
these different points to contribute to the consensus.


     On the question of finance, there is wide agreement to mobilize funds 
from all over the world.  It is up to the developing countries themselves to 
contribute, in a substantive way, to the actions and efforts necessary in the 
field of population.  Donor countries must also make their contributions, 
which is crucial in the case of the least developed countries.  The European 
Commission will propose to the Council of the European Union and to the 
European Parliament that efforts to assist population programmes should be 
raised to ECUs 300 million between now and the year 2000.  That amount should 
be generated partly by transfers and in part by the reinforcement of 
appropriate budgetary lines, on the condition that their developing partners 
propose to the Commission the necessary projects that would use the 
Community's aid.


     AHMED ESMAT ABDEL MEGUID, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States: 
 The Cairo Conference, for the first time, establishes a link between 
demography and development. As the Conference attempts to reduce the negative 
impact of population on development, the many dimensions of the problem are 
challenging the international community. Due to the great increase of the 
population in Arab countries, Arab States place great importance on the 
establishment of the link between population and development.  


     The family is the basic unit of society.  The well-being of the family 
and respect for all its members must be assured.  The Conference should adopt 
a more global understanding of the issues so international cooperation can be 
established on a solid basis.  Each country has its own position and each Arab 
country has its own views, based on religion and values.  Procreation, 
mortality and migration are all factors that must be addressed.  



      The particular situation of the Arab territories under Israeli 
occupation must be studied, and a special approach used to solve their 
population questions. The resistance of the people in the territories to 
population policies, as well as the political situation, must be taken into 
account.  The Arab League supports peace throughout the Middle East; the 
Council of the League took a decision in 1991 recognizing the international 
efforts to establish peace there.


     An effective solution to population problems depends on changes in the 
international arena. A global strategy to meet individual needs that is 
implemented through a system of close cooperation among States is needed. To 
achieve the objectives of the Conference, it is necessary to rework portions 
of the draft programme of action that address controversial issues.


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     JAMES N. PURCELL, Director-General of the International Organization for 
Migration:  The growing significance of migration in national affairs is well 
represented in the draft programme of action.  Unprecedented numbers of people 
are on the move worldwide.  Nearly 1 billion people have been involved in 
migratory movements since 1975.  Currently, there are some 125 million 
migrants in the world, and serious new challenges are ahead.  Increasing 
recognition of migration problems is understandable in view of global trends. 
 The world has seen a 55 per cent increase in the number of immigrants in the 
last 10 years.  Governments are expressing their concerns about their ability 
to absorb new migrants.  Migration reflects the failures of individual 
Governments to provide such basic services as adequate health care, employment 
opportunities, as well as their failure to protect the environment and overall 
to provide sustainable development. Migrants are the visible messengers of the 
failures of national policies.  But all too often the messengers become 
scapegoats.  National concerns about security mask the real concerns of the 
individual migrants.  


     The question to be posed is how the international community can respond 
to the challenge to prevent, channel and utilize migration.  Countries of 
origin and destination should make every effort to face and solve problems 
that force migration.  A comprehensive global approach is required. Migration 
policies must be revised, and Government must develop mechanisms to handle 
migration flows.  Women frequently bear a larger burden in migration.  
Programmes supporting migrants who return to home countries deserve greater 
support.  Basic human rights and principles must be upheld for migrant 
populations. "The answers lie not in building walls but in seizing 
opportunities created by the end of the cold war."    


     ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, President of Inter-American Development Bank: There 
should be dialogue to create understanding between the various positions on 
the issues before the Conference.  Population growth rates in Latin America 
has been falling since the 1960s due to the efforts of the countries there.


     There are some factors that affect the growth rate of populations: 
poverty and the problems faced by women.  Others include discrimination, lack 
of employment, lack of education, and violence.  In addition, other issues 
that threaten societies are the growth of unemployment, the ageing of the 
societies and environmental degradation.  Latin American countries have 
introduced economic modernization to tackle the problems of population growth 
and poverty.  Economic growth will help check some of the problems relating to 
population growth.  Education, in particular, is one of the best means to 
improve the status of women who can then help their societies.


     There is a need to protect the sovereign right of couples to make their 
own choices; social programmes and education help 


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them make informed judgements.  In order to help pay for those services, the 
Inter-American Development Bank will allocate half of its resources towards 
social policies and programmes.


     MAKOTO TANIGUCHI, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for 
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): The different situation of each 
developing country should always be carefully noted, and development models 
implemented flexibly so as to avoid "technocratic straitjackets". "But it 
seems equally important to avoid the 'paralysis through analysis' syndrome 
when urgent action is needed." Population matters should play a more prominent 
role in the bilateral and multilateral policy dialogue with developing 
countries. Funding should be increased for voluntary family-planning 
programmes.


     The member countries of the OECD have taken a strong interest in the 
subject of migration and its linkages to development. Efforts would focus on 
promoting sustainable and equitable growth which offers the long-term prospect 
of beneficial migratory patterns. This strategy includes enabling broader 
participation of all people in the development process and its benefits, 
including employment. "Improved access to OECD markets will be of critical 
importance for the many developing countries which have implemented far-
reaching reforms." The OECD countries have a special responsibility to pursue 
their efforts towards continued trade liberalization and improved access to 
their markets for products from developing countries.


     GEORGE WEBER, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red 
Cross and Red Crescent Societies:  It is most cost-effective to prevent 
massive migration by dealing with key root-causes and factors influencing 
migration. The Red Cross and Red Crescent local structures can contribute to 
the stabilization of rural populations by improving facilities and services. 
Women and their dependants make up the largest percentage of vulnerable 
victims during conflicts and in more peaceful times. Their underlying 
vulnerabilities are based on the interrelationship between poverty, 
discrimination, human rights abuses, poor health, illiteracy, lack of 
information and violence. "We believe that there is both a prevention and 
alleviation dimension to incorporating population issues with humanitarian 
assistance."


     In some countries of central and eastern Europe, despite high literacy 
rates, maternal mortality rates are up to 10 times higher than those in 
western countries of the region. This is due in part to the extremely high 
rate of abortion which has been resorted to as a means of fertility 
regulation, since modern contraceptive methods are not available or promoted. 
All individuals must be in a position to make informed choices within their 
socio-cultural context.     
     JACQUES-YVES COUSTEAU, of the Cousteau Society:  There is hopeful 
speculation that after the year 2035, the world's


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 population will stabilize at about 11 to 13 billion.  The developed countries 
must decide how they will welcome those numbers because without their help, 
famine will spread, the environment pilfered, and there could be a rise in 
hatred and bloody confrontation between the old rich and the new poor.  


     It is necessary for the West to share its resources with the newcomers 
because it became rich by systematically underpaying for the resources it 
acquired from the poor.  The economic weapon -- born from the concept of the 
market economy -- has reduced three quarters of the world to misery and 
hunger.  While these facts are not yet officially admitted, they are realized 
by most people.  The West should look ahead to the year 2030 when resources 
will be difficult to share and evaluate the world's resources for later 
exploitation in a way that will assure equitable access.  Those resources 
include energy, water, health care and education.


     SHRIDATH RAMPHAL, of the Commission on Global Governance and the Earth 
Council:  Rights and responsibilities regarding  population and development 
should be balanced.  One relevant set of responsibilities is in the area of 
consumption -- which is many more times more culpable than population growth 
in relation to the breakdown of the earth's life-support systems.  Global 
governance should not be limited to single issue conferences at a time when 
several issues have become so interlocked as to be inseparable.  For instance, 
at Rio the problem of the environment was discussed but not that of 
population.  In Cairo, population is being discussed and consumption is being 
left out.


     Failure to reach firm conclusions on several issues will be self-
defeating for the Conference, but lack of resources to pay for recommendations 
of the programme of action will be worse.  Since there were no new and 
additional resources for Agenda 21, it should be asked whether lack of 
resources will be the "Achilles" heel of the Cairo Conference, too. 
Industrialized countries and developing countries must together share the 
responsibility for the planet's future.  South-South cooperation on the issue 
of population must also be encouraged.  Donor countries and the United Nations 
system must help them in those efforts.


     The Earth Council will present to the Conference a special paper on the 
importance of consumption vis-a-vis population and development and discuss 
their direct linkages.  The Council will question the notion that countries 
with larger populations pose a greater environmental risk.  Actually, its 
estimates show, for example, that the United States and the former Soviet 
Union, each with relatively low populations, have populations that consume 
dramatically more than those of more populated but less developed China and 
India.  Sustainable development is premised on a balance between population 
and consumption, within the overall


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 limits imposed by nature.  The Conference must bear in mind that not only 
population but also consumption have to be reduced if sustainability is to be 
achieved. What is needed is a cut in the consumption levels of the North and a 
reduction of population growth in the South.


     IVANKA CORTI, Chairman of the Committee for the Elimination of 
Discrimination against Women: The Committee monitors the implementation of the 
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which has 134 
ratifying countries, regrettably not including the United States. The 
Committee fully endorses the draft programme of action, which is in full 
accord with the Convention. "In the past three months, the terms 'family 
planning' and 'abortion' have been attacked with great vehemence and 
unjustifiably. The Convention has the right to 'family planning' inscribed in 
two of its articles -- article X, on education, and article XII, on health.  
The Convention is the human rights treaty with the greatest number of 
reservations, but none have been expressed in relation to these paragraphs. 
Why should the Population and Development Conference not use it, and why 
should there be no education teaching women how to avoid unwanted motherhood?" 
she asked.


     The draft programme of action calls for helping women to avoid abortion, 
which should, in no case, be promoted as a method of family planning, and 
wherever possible, provide for the humane treatment and counselling of women 
who have had recourse to abortion. "Shall we be realistic or are we going to 
turn a blind eye to the situation as it is?" Some 25 to 40 per cent of all 
pregnancies are unplanned, with 15,000 terminated each day, about one third of 
which are performed under illegal, often unsafe, conditions. The Conference 
must overcome all controversies. Problems faced by girls, including son-
preference, must be overcome. The draft programme of action must also defend 
street children and work to end teen pregnancies in the interest of both 
mothers and children.  





 
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