, and
there are reasons to be hopeful that the subjects of
population, along with empowering women, will be
attracting more positive attention and obtaining more
positive results.
We are
really excited about the London Summit on Family
Planning, sponsored by the Gates Foundation and the UK Department for International
Development. The world needs to get behind really
investing in voluntary family planning services by
making contraceptives more affordable and accessible,
with a steady supply, and increase R&D for better
and safer contraceptives.
The goal
of the gathering is to give 120 million women in the
world's poorest countries access to family planning
information, services and supplies by 2020, and to raise
$4 billion to do so.
It's hard
to fathom that something that is well-known to be a
cost-effective strategy to reduce unwanted births,
abortions and maternal deaths (not to mention reduce our
CO2 emissions and our demands on our environmental
resources) is so underfunded and controversial. Yet
between 1995 and 2007, financial investment in family
planning programs fell by 65% - from $980
million to $340 million.
The Guttmacher Institute
recently reported that 222 million women in developing
countries want to avoid pregnancy, but lack effective
contraception. And in 2012, it is estimated that 80
million untended pregnancies will be in the developing
world due to contraceptive failure and non-use among
women who do not want a pregnancy soon. Whatever the
outcome in London, family planning services should meet
this need and provide a wide selection of methods at a
cheaper cost for women and their families.
There has
been some concern directed at the
London Summit by human rights and women's rights groups.
They want to ensure that expanding contraceptive access
is done with "full respect for women's human rights". On
the surface any attempt to bring voluntary family
planning services to those who desire it is a great
thing, but given the dark history of coercive population
measures, everything possible should be done to ensure
that efforts undertaken today are based on complete
choice without any coercion.
A
separate declaration by civil
society groups emphasized choice, stating "We recognise
the need for urgent action to increase women and men's
access to a broad range of contraceptives, which is
essential for free and informed choice, and increased
use of FP" (family planning). Many eyes will be watching
the summit closely and making sure the results are
positive.
On a
related note, in the wake of the disappointment at the
UN Rio+20 conference - that is, leaving reproductive
rights out of the official text due to Vatican
opposition - this is something activists and civil
society can campaign on and link to sustainability. In
the closing day of the Rio talks, a Danish minister for
development cooperation called for just that, saying
omission of reproductive rights "has created a campaign
here in Rio that hasn't been seen" and more and more
people will be standing up for these rights.
Lastly,
as we reflect on World Population Day 2012, it is
important to bring more men into discussions and
outreach efforts. For family planning efforts to be
completely successful, men and boys need to be educated
and involved as well as women and girls.
Talking
about population is unfortunately a contentious issue,
but it doesn't have to be so. If choice, voluntary
measures, improved education and access, inclusivity,
interconnectedness, and rights-based and holistic
approaches are made the norm, then the world should be
able to come together for the sake of women, families,
and the planet. Empowering women and striving for
universal access to family planning services would
result in healthier families, improved gender equality
and social equity, more food security, opportunities for
better economic livelihoods, poverty reduction, and a
more sustainable environment.
Hopefully
the Gates Foundation can get governments, foundations,
and the private sector to support family planning and
reproductive rights and deliver what women want and
need, not just what developed countries think they
should have. Simply having this summit is a wonderful
step forward towards raising global awareness.
Perhaps
the most important point to remember is that women's
rights are human rights and reproductive rights are
central to this. And when women are empowered, the world
wins - both people and the planet.
Best
wishes,
Suzanne York & Searle Whitney, IPS
Global Population Day - July 11, 2012
