Reps. Lee, Frankel, Meng Introduce Resolution Reaffirming U.S. Commitment to International Reproductive Health and Rights
Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12), Lois Frankel (FL-22), and Grace Meng (NY-06) introduced a resolution to reaffirm the goals of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, advancing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights. The resolution commends the notable progress made in achieving the goals set in 1994 at the ICPD and subsequent conferences, recognizes that sexual and reproductive health and rights—including abortion access—are human rights, and champions the right to bodily autonomy and self-determination for all. The resolution also acknowledges the remaining challenges in global reproductive health, including unmet contraceptive needs, rising maternal death rates, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the need for humanitarian assistance, as well as recent backsliding in the fight for reproductive freedom domestically and the egregious impact it has had globally.
“All people around the world deserve access to comprehensive reproductive care,” said Rep. Lee. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reaffirming our goals outlined 30 years ago at the ICPD and the strides we’ve made in that time while acknowledging the challenges ahead. As the Democratic Congressional Representative to the United Nations, I will keep working with my colleagues in Congress to advance sexual and reproductive health care and rights.”
“When women have the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions and have access to the care they need, their communities and the world are safer, healthier, and more prosperous,” said Rep. Frankel. “This resolution reaffirms our commitment to delivering reproductive care and rights worldwide, recognizing the progress we’ve made. It also acknowledges the devastating obstacles women and girls still face in accessing care, and the need to fight back against continued attacks on reproductive freedom at home and around the world.”
“From improving access to contraception, to promoting HIV treatment and preventing unsafe abortions, investments in international family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights save lives,” said Rep. Meng. “Thirty years ago, at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the United States helped lead the way to expand these fundamental human rights. But today, we are seeing a dangerous and disturbing trend threatening that progress in the U.S. and across the globe. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this resolution marking the 30th anniversary of the ICPD. Together, we are recommitting our nation and the world to reducing child and maternal mortality, increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services, and empowering women and all people to seek education, health, and full economic participation.”
The resolution highlights UNFPA's reporton the progress that has been made to improve worldwide sexual and reproductive health since the original ICPD conference 30 years ago. The report finds that in the last 20 years, global maternal mortality declined by 34 percent, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 19 percent, and the number of women using modern contraception doubled. The report also notes that the number of girls subjected to female genital mutilation has decreased significantly.
The resolution also recognizes that there is more work to do. It states that 218 million women worldwide still have unmet contraceptive needs, 287,000 women are still dying each year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and 1 out of 4 maternal deaths could be prevented with better access to contraception. The resolution calls for continued efforts to address these challenges and improve reproductive health and rights for women and girls across the world.
The resolution is endorsed by more than 20 leading international development and reproductive health organizations, including the Center for Reproductive Rights, Guttmacher Institute, Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, National Council of Jewish Women, Oxfam America, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Reproductive Freedom for All. Quotes from organizations are available upon request.
For full text of the resolution, click here.