IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 102

Reaffirming the principles of the Programme of Action of the International

Conference on Population and Development with respect to the sovereign

rights of countries and the right of voluntary and informed consent

in family planning programs.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 9, 1999

Mr. TIAHRT (for himself, Mr. SHOWS, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. HILL

of Montana, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and

Mr. BUYER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Reaffirming the principles of the Programme of Action of

the International Conference on Population and Development with respect to the sovereign rights of countries

and the right of voluntary and informed consent in family planning programs.

Whereas the United Nations General Assembly has decided

to convene a special session from June 30 to July 2,

1999, in order to review and appraise the implementation

of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development;

Whereas chapter II of the Programme of Action, which sets

forth the principles of that document, begins ‘‘[t]he im-
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plementation of the recommendations contained in the

Programme of Action is the sovereign right of each country, consistent with national laws and development priorities, with full respect for the various religious and ethical

values and cultural backgrounds of its people, and in conformity with universally recognized international human

rights’’;

Whereas chapter VII of the Programme of Action states

‘‘[a]ny form of coercion has no part to play’’ in family

planning programs; and

Whereas section 7.17 of the Programme of Action states

‘‘[g]overnments should secure conformity to human

rights and to ethical and professional standards in the

delivery of family planning and related reproductive

health services aimed at ensuring responsible, voluntary,

and informed consent and also regarding service provision’’: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—

3 (1) bilateral assistance, multilateral assistance,

4 or any other form of assistance or benefits to any

5 country should not be conditioned upon, or linked to,

6 that country’s adoption of population programs, tar7 gets, goals, or quotas, or to any other relinquish8 ment of the country’s sovereign right to implement

9 the Programme of Action of the International Con10 ference on Population and Development consistent

11 with its own national laws and development prior12 ities, with full respect for the various religious and
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1 ethical values and cultural backgrounds of its people,

2 and in conformity with universally recognized inter3 national human rights;

4 (2) family planning service providers or referral

5 agents should not implement, or be subject to, nu6 merical quotas, goals, or targets, of total number of

7 births, number of family planning acceptors, or ac8 ceptors of a particular method of family planning;

9 (3) a family planning project or program should

10 not include payment of incentives, bribes, gratuities,

11 or other material reward to any person in exchange

12 for becoming a family planning acceptor or to pro13 gram personnel for achieving a numerical target or

14 quota of total number of births, number of family

15 planning acceptors, or acceptors of a particular

16 method of family planning;

17 (4) a family planning project or program should

18 not deny any right or benefit, including the right of

19 access to food or health care, as a consequence of

20 any person’s decision not to accept family planning

21 services;

22 (5) a family planning project or program should

23 provide family planning acceptors with full, com24 prehensible information on the health benefits and

25 risks of the method chosen, including those condi-
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1 tions that might render the use of the method inad2 visable and those adverse side effects known to be

3 associated with the method;

4 (6) a family planning project or program should

5 ensure that experimental drugs and devices and

6 medical procedures are provided only in the context

7 of a scientific study in which participants are ad8 vised of the experimental nature of the drug, device,

9 or procedure and of the potential risks and benefits;

10 (7) a family planning project or program should

11 provide each individual approached to participate in

12 that project or program with full, comprehensible in13 formation about that individual’s right to decide

14 freely, without coercion, bribery or withholding of

15 benefits, whether to participate in the project or pro16 gram;

17 (8) a health care provider or project or program

18 personnel should not be required to participate in

19 any method or program of family planning that vio20 lates the provider’s or project or program person21 nel’s rights of conscience or religion; and

22 (9) the United States should reaffirm the prin23 ciples described in paragraphs (1) through (8) in the

24 special session of the United Nations General As25 sembly to be held from June 30 to July 2, 1999,
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1 and in all preparatory meetings for the special ses2 sion.

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