LRK 6/30/78 Draft for a Resolution on Reproductive Science and Contraceptive Technology for the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development The United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development, Recalling that the World Population Plan of Action, adopted by 136 governments in Bucharest in 1974, reaffirmed the principle agreed to in many other international instruments that "all couples and individuals have the basic right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information, education and means to do so”, Recognizing that approximately one billion individuals in the world, and especially in the developing world, are unable to exercise that basic right effectively because of poor social conditions, social norms, inadequate methods, and the unavailability of contraceptive services, Knowing that even the most up-to-date contraceptive technology has some limitations with respect to efficacy, safety, and continuity of use that result in unacceptability in some situations, tod high failure rates, and in large-scale resort to abortion, Realizing that the inability of millions of individuals, to determine bear children results in serious health problems -- whether and when they wil d Gusersr edi re Cb Od robber OES MS prematurity, 4 ant—me mortality and—merbptdtty -- and in intractable social and economic problems -- illegitimacy, early marriage, family disruption, education disadvantage and perpetuation of poverty, . . ~ Ue - pe ha 4 nar Aid ceber> "ce yo Haherches Jon bows Cun: J wo Le Page Two Realizing also that the inability of millions of individuals to regulate pregnancy contributes to the current unprecedented rate of world population growth that retards economic development in many developing countries and that. this has led most developing countries, accounting for over 95% of the population . of the developing world, to announce policies to reduce fertility or to improve health through the provision of contraceptive services, Noting that the diversity of personal, cultural, religious and economic circumstances of human life, as well as the varying needs of individuals at different stages in the life cycle, impose diverse demands upon contraceptive technology, Bearing in mind that the present population of four billion people will continue to grow throughout this and the next century at unwanted high birthrates and high death rates unless effective, safe, low cost, culturally and morally acceptable contraceptives are made available to all people and particularly to the poor in the urban slums and rural* areas of developing countries, Bearing in mind also that there are a substantial number of promising research efforts now underway that could result in new contraceptives with. increased support and that it takes substantial support and at least ten to twenty years to develop new contraceptives, Reaffirming the Recommendation of Action adopted by all countries at the World Population Conference which called for: "The assessment and improvement of existing and new methods of fertility regulation by means of research, including basic biological and applied research; the evaluation of the impact, both in short-term and long-term effects, of different methods of fertility regulation on ethical and cultural values and on mental and physical health; and the assessment and study of Page Three policies for creating social and economic conditions so that couples can freely decide on the size of their families." Now calls upon all governments, international agencies and private institutions and organizations, both non-governmental and commercial, to ensure: (a) That a broad array of contraceptive methods are developed that require less complex distribution systems; that are safer, less discomforting and more convenient than present methods; that combine high acceptability with high continuation of use; and that are suited to the diversity imposed by the diversity of conditions throughout the world; (b) That there is a substantial increase in the allocation for research in the reproductive science and contraceptive development that is, in real terms, DA Mynell Werte Ye% or “4 five times the present allocation by 1985; (c) That a sustained and expanded program for research in reproductive science and contraceptive technology involves a balanced international division of labor with increased participation by the industrial nations, and with greatly increased participation, to the extent that the capacity can be made available effectively and efficiently, by developing nations,with more collaborative projects and greater exchange of information; (d) That bilateral and multilateral agencies, and particularly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the World Health Organization, give higher priority to supporting reproductive science and contraceptive development and training by the developing countries, in accord with "a" and "c" above; (e) That there is increased and higher priority consideration for clinical and safety testing by the organizations best equipped to perform this function; ‘Squnds te 0S tokd _ . } . - | / ASS Acad Cok You Sheost Page Four (f) That there are serious government efforts to involve the private sector and private industry more deeply in both basic research and product development and testing by the provision of appropriate incentives that will, at the same time, attract increased industry participation, shorten the time-lag between the scientific idea and the usable product, and provide safe, low cost, culturally and morally acceptable contraceptives. wu edtomnt ad [spedoteas ? 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