The Terms of Discussion-What's in a Word?

Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA Executive Director, speaking in Bangkok Dec. 16, 2002:

"The language of the ICPD Programme of Action is extremely clear. There is no hidden agenda, nor any secret codes." The programme says that "in no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning." It says that its goals are "to reduce the recourse to abortion through expanded and improved family planning services. Prevention of unwanted pregnances must always be given the highest priority and every attempt should be made to eliminate the need for abortion." She added: "This paragraph means exactly what it says, no more, no less."

Matters involving women, marriage, sexuality and children are highly charged in every culture, so some people expect us to use code words to talk about them. What do we really mean when we use the following terms?

Adolescent reproductive health-education, counseling, information and reproductive health services to protect young people from unwanted pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. While young people should be advised that abstinence from sexual relations until marriage as the safest course, the reality is that many will not heed this advice. Many young women are given no choice. They need to know about more ways than abstinence to protect themselves. [See Statement by Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA, regarding the ICPD text: Information "that helps them attain a level of maturity required to make responsible decisions." "And while "recognizing the rights, duties and responsibilities of parents and other persons legally responsible for adolescents to provide…appropriate direction and guidance in sexual and reproductive matters," programmes for adolescents should "not restrict the access of adolescents to appropriate services and the information they need, including on sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse."]

Cairo goals-The Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in 1994 in Cairo. In sum, they are to provide access for everyone to reproductive health care, to ensure primary education for girls, to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and HIV/AIDS, and advance gender equality.

Consistent condom use-This does not mean that men should wear a condom 24/7, only that they should use one in every sexual encounter. The ICPD Programme of Action recommends this as one way of reducing the risk of getting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections.

Family planning-Information, counseling, contraceptives, services and materials-including barrier, natural and other voluntary methods-that allow individuals to freely and responsibly decide the number, timing and spacing of their children.

Gender equality-Legal, social, political and economic equality between males and females.

Human rights-The concept of every person's right to the basic freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly, and to freedom from fear and want, from violence, from arbitrary detention, and from discrimination on the basis of race, sex or ethnicity.

ICPD Programme of Action-A set of actions, investments and policies that 179 nations reached consensus on at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 as necessary to achieve worldwide sustainable development. [Read the full text here]

Reproductive health-A state of physical well-being that involves protection from and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS; protection from gender-based violence; education and counseling on sexual and reproductive function; voluntary family planning; and safe motherhood.

Reproductive health services-Education, counseling, information and materials necessary to allow an individual to achieve reproductive health.
[Statement by Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA: "Reproductive health services is not code for promotion or support for 'abortion services.' Nothing in the Cairo agenda or the Five-year Review [of that agenda] justifies that assertion. Countries have the sovereign right to make laws on all aspects of reproductive health."

Reproductive rights-The basic right of all people to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children, and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It is also the right of all to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence, as expressed in human rights documents.

Safe motherhood-Health care, counseling, information and trained attendants during pregnancy, labor and at birth that will allow a woman to bear children without permanent damage to herself or to the child. Access to emergency obstetric care could save one woman's life every minute.

Unsafe abortion-Efforts to terminate a pregnancy made under unsanitary or illegal conditions, or by an untrained, unqualified person, or both. More than 65,000 women die every year as a result of unsafe abortions.