Res. No. 869

Resolution in support of the United Nations’ International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Actions, also known as the “Cairo Programme of Actions,” which establishes consensus on a variety of development goals including gender equality, equity and the empowerment of women.

By Council Members Quinn, Reyna, Brewer, Gioia, Moskowitz, Arroyo, Barron, Clarke, Gonzalez, James, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr. and Vann

Whereas, In September 1994, The United Nations hosted an international conference on population and development in Cairo, Egypt, with the goal of establishing a consensus on a variety of development goals; and

Whereas, The conference recognized that status of women’s health as an indicator of national and world health; and

Whereas, The conference also recognized that currently too many women throughout the world do not have access to adequate healthcare; and

Whereas, According to a report, entitled “A Promise to Save Women’s Lives Through Family Planning,” by the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), an estimated 515,000 women die every year - 98 percent of them in developing countries - as a result of pregnancy or childbirth; and

Whereas, The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that for every maternal death that occurs worldwide, an additional 30 women - some 15 million women annually - experience pregnancy-related health problems that often are serious and result in long-term disability; and

Whereas, According to a report by Population Action International (PAI), entitled “A Promise to Improve Reproductive Health,” every year 80 million unintended pregnancies occur world wide, with more than half of these pregnancies ending in an abortion; and

Whereas, PAI also reports that an estimated 120 million women in developing countries say they would prefer to plan their families but lack access to contraception; and

Whereas, Voluntary family planning and other reproductive health services can help couples avert high-risk pregnancies, prevent unwanted childbearing and abortion, and avoid diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections that may lead to death, disability and infertility; and

 Whereas, According to the Safe Motherhood Initiative (SMI), at least 30 to 40 percent of infant deaths are the result of poor care during pregnancy and delivery, which could be avoided with improved maternal health, adequate nutrition and health care during pregnancy and appropriate care during childbirth; and

Whereas, A report by SMI, entitled “A Promise to Keep Mothers Safe,” found that poor maternal health and nutrition contributes to low birth weight in 20 million babies each year - almost 20 percent of all births; and

Whereas, A report by Women’s Edge, entitled “A Promise to Educate Girls,” argues that women around the world have difficulty educating themselves about improving their families’ health, since two-thirds of the 880 million illiterate adults around the world are women and 60 percent of the 113 million children not enrolled in primary school world wide are girls; and

Whereas, The United Nations’ International Conference on Population and Development drafted a programme of actions, now known as the “Cairo Programme of Actions,” which established principles that countries should follow in order to ensure a healthier population and world community; and

Whereas, the Cairo Programme of Action reflects an historic global consensus of 179 countries and presents a concrete plan to save women’s lives, promote human dignity and preserve our planet through family planning and reproductive health care services; and

Whereas, March 8, 2005 is International Women’s Day; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports the United Nations’ International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Actions, also known as the Cairo Programme of Actions, which establishes consensus on a variety of development goals including gender equality, equity and the empowerment of women.

DP

LS# 2563

3/4/05