Population and development conference commences

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) opened in Cairo, Egypt, on September 5, [1994] with meetings during the first two days devoted primarily to discussions of the abortion issue. As the RFN [Reproductive Freedom News] goes to press, it appears as if the majority of the world has reached agreement on some abortion-related language for the conference's report. One reference emphasizes that abortion should not be promoted as a method of family planning. A second phrase concerning the worldwide epidemic of unsafe abortion states: "[a]ll governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations are urged to deal openly and forthrightly with unsafe abortion as a major public health concern." Although the statements were approved by a near-global consensus, a handful of governmental delegations--led by the Holy See--have rejected both phrases; those nations include the Catholic countries of Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Malta. Many governmental delegates have expressed frustration over the amount of time spent negotiating about this one issue. These representatives are fearful that the abortion issue will continue to dominate the talks at the expense of other matters. Look for a more in-depth report on the ICPD, scheduled to conclude on September 13, in the next issue of the RFN. [Center for Reproductive Law and Policy]'s International Program has prepared a briefing paper on the legitimacy of the Holy See's status at the UN.