Held September 5-13 in Cairo, the Conference brought together delegations representing some 180 governments and more than 10,000 representatives from non-governmental organizations and civil society.
Although marked by intense worldwide media coverage over the role of abortion in population programs, the Conference nevertheless reached a high level of accord on most issues, producing a 16-section, 118-page program of action that lays out a series of principles and actions which are seen as necessary to stabilize the growth of world population, which is currently increasing by 86 million people a year.
The empowerment of women is at the center of this program. "Advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women, and the elimination of all kinds of violence against women, and ensuring women's ability to control their own fertility, are cornerstones of population and development-related programs," states the Program of Action.
"Perhaps the most significant outcome of the Conference was the near universal recognition that the first order of business on the population and development agenda is to raise the status of women and to view them as equal partners with men," said Dr. Beth Bowen, who was one of two Bahá'í International Community representatives to the Conference. "The acceptance of this principle alone opens the door to far better consultation and unity on every level, from the family to the nation to the planet."
The program of action also draws attention to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, calls for the elimination of poverty, defines the family as the fundamental societal unit and affirms the universal right to education. "The world community has a special responsibility to ensure that all children receive an education of improved quality and that they complete primary school," states the document.
On abortion, it was agreed that governments "should take appropriate steps to help women avoid abortion, which in no case should be promoted as a method of family planning, and in all cases provide for the humane treatment and counselling of women who have had recourse to abortion."
The program of action also called for a "broad and effective partnership" between governments and NGOs "to assist in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population and development activities. The "essential role" of women's organizations was especially noted.
Not every aspect of the program was unanimously accepted. Formal
reservations were expressed by 24 delegations on such issues as
sexual relations outside of marriage, family reunification, the
regulation of fertility, reproductive and sexual rights, abortion,
and the definition of family.