Resolution number: 01
Title: The Global Improvement of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Submitted by: Open VLD (Belgium)
The Congress of Liberal International, convened in Andorra, on 20 May 2017
Recalling that:
- The Liberal declaration of Oxford (1967), which states that family planning must be facilitated with respect for the responsibility and freedom of choice of individual couples,
- The Helsinki declaration of the Environment (1990), in which family planning features prominently,
- The Resolution on “Improve maternal health” adopted by the 58th LI Congress,
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal nr.3 (“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”) and Goal nr.5 (“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”).
Recognises that:
- The US government has issued an executive order to reinstate the global gag rule, which was first introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1984, and which blocks American aid to international organizations that discuss abortion as a family-planning option with clients.
- “She decides”, a joint Global Fundraising Initiative by the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden, tries to fill the ensuing large funding gap through increased funding by governments, aid organizations and private donors. During a conference on 2 March 2017 in Brussels 181 million Euros were already raised.
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights are an essential element of good health and human development. More progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights is critical to meet Goal nr.3 and Goal nr.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Most maternal and new-born deaths could be prevented by improved access to well- integrated reproductive health services.
- Family planning and modern contraception offer choice and opportunity for women to make informed decisions and have more control over their lives. Its aim is to empower people to take their own decisions about their sexual and reproductive situation.
- Poor sexual and reproductive health and rights as a huge unmet need for family planning, which threatens wider development, especially in developing countries in Africa.
Calls on governments, international organizations and all member parties:
- To develop strategies aimed at improving education concerning all aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights;
- To redouble their efforts in supporting sexual and reproductive health and rights in developing countries, including through official development aid.
