Annotation:
This report by Amnesty International
discusses the implementation of the United
Nations' 20-Year Programme of Action,
adopted at the International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo
in 1994, with a focus on sexual and
reproductive rights. The Programme of
Action acknowledged for the first time
that effective population and development
policy is only possible through women's
empowerment and equality. The report
examines the challenges of nationally
implementing the Programme of Action,
highlighting the discrimination and
barriers to sexual and reproductive health
services women face. It also addresses
gaps in the Programme of Action, including
the need to recognize sexual rights as
fundamental human rights. Finally, the
report recommends that sexual and
reproductive health strategies should be
aimed at ending discrimination, should
ensure participation of women, should
protect sexual and reproductive rights as
human rights, and should improve
participation and accountability of member
states.