For Immediate Release:	July 1, 2004
For More Information:	Jodi Jacobson, Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), jjacobson@genderhealth.org, 301-270-1182
Sponsor Organization:	Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
Ironically, Mr. Smith has undermined other nations' sovereignty by spreading misinformation about the ICPD
A UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) conference of decisionmakers on population and reproductive health is underway in Puerto Rico. The purpose of the meeting is to reaffirm to the 1994 Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), a persuasive international document that guides countries' economic development and population growth policies. Key ICPD goals include investing in reproductive health services and promoting women’s health and rights. The United States was once the ICPD's largest funder and biggest ally. The U.S. is now engaged in a concerted effort to block reaffirmation of the ICPD and to omit the terms “sexuality” and “reproductive rights” from the ICPD. An extremely conservative member of Congress, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), is attending the ECLAC conference in order to undermine consensus at the meeting and to insert himself into other countries' negotiation processes. Mr. Smith has unilaterally contacted other nations’ Heads of State to urge them "to consider instructing [their] delegation[s] NOT to reaffirm" the ICPD. In a fax to the President and First Lady of Guatemala, Mr. Smith describes Cairo statements affirming women's rights and sustainable development as "direct attacks on the right to life, family rights and national sovereignty." A copy of Mr. Smith’s letter to the President of Guatemala is available at http://www.genderhealth.org/pubs/SmithFax.pdf . Ironically, Mr. Smith has undermined other nations' sovereignty by spreading misinformation about the ICPD and endeavoring to influence countries' votes on the ICPD. The ICPD has served as a basis for countries' increased funding to reproductive and maternal health care, thus helping to improve women's and children's survival and to strengthen families. By disparaging the ICPD, Mr. Smith wages a direct attack on women worldwide. # # # For more information in this issue or about our database, please e-mail change@genderhealth.org. The Center for Health and Gender Equity is a U.S.-based international reproductive health and rights organization. We seek to make public health and human rights principles integral to all relevant U.S. international population and health policies and programs. Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 910, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912 Phone (301) 270-1182 Fax: (301) 270-2052 http://www.genderhealth.org