ECLAC: Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 1:01PM We have received the following from the International Planned Parenthood Federation:
The Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development was adopted on August 15 by official representatives from 38 member countries and associate members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), who participated at the First Session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in LAC, in Montevideo, Uruguay from 12 to 15 August. More than 800 people participated, bringing together 24 regional and international agencies and approximately 260 NGOs.
The Consensus is ground breaking, in that it re affirms and advances the ICPD PoA. It agrees to promote, protect and guarantee sexual health and rights and reproductive rights. It recognizes the right to make free and informed choices about sexuality regardless of sexual orientation an d gender identity, that penalization of abortion directly increases maternal mortality rates and states should make efforts to provide safe and legal abortion services and remove legislation which prohibit access to abortion services. It also recognizes the link between development and equality by protecting the rights and autonomy of women, gender equality and exercising their sexual and reproductive rights.