Resolution 1399 (2004)[1]
European strategy for the
promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights
1. The right to
protection of health is part of the Council of Europe acquis (Articles 11
and 13 of the Revised European Social Charter). Every individual has the
right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is
defined by the World Health Organization as a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being.
2. The right to sexual
and reproductive health implies that people are able to enjoy a mutually
satisfying and safe relationship, free from coercion or violence and without
fear of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/Aids, or unwanted
pregnancies. Individuals and couples should be able to regulate their
fertility without adverse or dangerous consequences.
3. The International
Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) (Cairo, 1994) and the 4th World
Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) have put sexual and reproductive rights
firmly on the human rights agenda. The objectives of the ICPD Programme of
Action have shifted the focus to the needs and rights of the individual.
4. A large number of
objectives were adopted in Cairo in 1994 as part of the ICPD Programme of
Action. A total of 179 countries pledged to reduce maternal mortality and
combat HIV/Aids and to improve people’s sexual and reproductive health and
rights. The ICPD objectives were further reaffirmed in the Millennium
Development Goals, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in
2000.
5. In 2002
parliamentarians from over seventy countries around the world adopted the Ottawa
Statement of Commitment, endorsed by the Parliamentary Assembly in September
2003 and in which they pledged to “give high priority to achieving universal
access to reproductive health services and commodities in national health and
poverty-reduction frameworks, both in terms of budget allocations and in terms
of programme activities”.
6. This year, 2004, marks
the tenth anniversary of the ICDP Programme of Action. To mark this
important benchmark, a review has been initiated by the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) to assess progress and shortfalls. The Assembly
itself has adopted Resolution
1394 (2004) on the involvement of men, especially young men, in
reproductive health. This text calls on Council of Europe member and
Observer states to involve men and boys in all aspects of sexual and
reproductive health, through special awareness-raising and education programmes,
and improved access to reproductive health services.
7. Many Council of Europe
member states have very high standards of sexual and reproductive health, taking
into account indicators such as contraceptive use, HIV/Aids prevalence, abortion
rates, maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates. Their experiences
can serve as useful examples to other member states in finding solutions to
improve the sexual and reproductive health situation in their own countries.
8. However, there is an
enormous disparity of standards between member states and even within member
states. In many Council of Europe member states there are issues for
concern: increase in teenage pregnancies, high rates of STIs including HIV/Aids,
rising infertility rates, poor access, availability and affordability of sexual
and reproductive health commodities and services and a lack of use thereof, as
well as poor relationship and sex education.
9. In many
eastern-European countries contraceptive use remains low, leading to unwanted
pregnancies; abortion rates in some areas are among the highest in the world as
a result of a lack of appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and
services. In some member states women are still forced to resort to illegal,
backstreet and therefore unsafe abortions.
10. Maternal and child
morbidity and mortality and cancers of the reproductive system are issues of
great concern in many countries, as is sexual violence and exploitation,
including trafficking in human beings.
11. The Assembly calls
upon member states to:
i. work together to design a European
strategy for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and
prepare, adopt and implement comprehensive national strategies for sexual and
reproductive health which address the following issues:
a. sexual and reproductive
health information and education, especially for children and adolescents;
b. increase in teenage
pregnancy rates;
c. rise in the rates of
sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/Aids;
d. infertility;
e. high abortion rates,
including unsafe abortions in the member states where abortion is illegal;
f. lack of affordable,
accessible and available sexual and reproductive health commodities and
services;
g. cancers of the reproductive
system, including breast cancer;
h. sexual violence and
exploitation, including trafficking in human beings;
i. maternal and child
morbidity and mortality;
ii. take all appropriate measures to
ensure equality between men and women in all aspects of life, including in
relation to access for all to comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare
services;
iii. increase STI screening, treatment
and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV and subsequent treatment
for those found to be HIV positive;
iv. facilitate access to a wide range
of affordable contraceptives and services;
v. provide age- and gender-appropriate,
comprehensive sexual and reproductive information and education;
vi. respond
to the specific needs of young people, with specific reference to safeguarding
confidentiality and to appropriate youth-oriented services;
vii. respond to the specific needs of
vulnerable population groups, including migrants, minorities and the rural
population;
viii. take into account the changing
sexual and reproductive health needs over a person’s life cycle;
ix. encourage the whole of society,
particularly the public sector, and international organisations to adopt, in
response to the HIV/Aids issue, humane, constructive and non-discriminatory
policies and practices, which protect the rights of individuals who have been
infected.
12. In order to attain
the above goals, the Assembly encourages member states to:
i. work with and support national and
regional non-governmental organisations and the private sector in the
formulation and implementation of national strategies for sexual and
reproductive health;
ii. engage in dialogue with young
people and vulnerable population groups in the formulation of appropriate
strategies and programmes, which respond to these groups’ sexual and
reproductive health needs;
iii. encourage the creation, in
national parliaments, of mechanisms and structures which tackle the sexual and
reproductive health situation, in the national context, such as all-party
parliamentary groups;
iv. provide appropriate funding in
national health budgets to achieve these objectives.
[1]. Assembly
debate on 5 October 2004 (27th Sitting) (see Doc. 10266,
report of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Ms
McCafferty; and Doc. 10310,
opinion of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, rapporteur:
Ms Zapfl-Helbling).
Text adopted by the Assembly on 5 October 2004 (27th Sitting).
