Aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries

PURPOSE : proposal for aid to secure reproductive and sexual health for people in developing countries. CONTENT : the sustained improvement in health and well-being of people in developing countries is an important outcome of development. In 1997, the Council adopted Regulation 1484/97/EC on aid for population programmes and policies in developing countries, due to expire on 31/12/02. This regulation replaces the latter, and has the following objectives: - to reinforce the Cairo Plan of Action by giving all couples and individuals the basic right and opportunity to fully protect their reproductive and sexual health, in particular against unsafe abortion and other existing harmful practises; - to provide universal access to health care, services and products; - to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates, which are disproportionately high in developing countries, in particular amongst the poorest young girls and women; - to give people the right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information, education and means to do so; The Community is committed to reaching the Millennium Development Goals in the area of reproductive health by 2015. Compared to the previous regulation, the financial framework for the implementation of this Regulation reflects a considerable increase needed to scale up the resources needed for reproductive health in developing countries. The final amount should be decided based on the APS 2003 decision, expected by the end of February 2002.�