UNFPA is guided by,
and promotes, the principles of the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and Development
(1994). In particular, UNFPA affirms its commitment
to reproductive rights, gender equality and male responsibility,
and to the autonomy and empowerment of women everywhere.
UNFPA believes that safeguarding and promoting these
rights, and promoting the well-being of children, especially
girl children, are development goals in themselves.
All couples and individuals have the right to decide
freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their
children as well as the right to the information and
means to do so.
UNFPA is convinced
that meeting these goals will contribute to improving
the quality of life and to the universally accepted
aim of stabilizing world population. We also believe
that these goals are an integral part of all efforts
to achieve sustained and sustainable social and economic
development that meets human needs, ensures well-being
and protects the natural resources on which all life
depends.
UNFPA recognizes that
all human rights, including the right to development,
are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated,
as expressed in the Programme of Action of the International
Conference on Population and Development, the Vienna
Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted by the
World Conference on Human Rights, the Convention on
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women,
the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social
Development, the Platform for Action of the Fourth World
Conference on Women and in other internationally agreed
instruments.
UNFPA, as the lead
United Nations organization for the follow-up and implementation
of the Programme of Action of the International Conference
on Population and Development, is fully committed to
working in partnership with governments, all parts of
the United Nations system, development banks, bilateral
aid agencies, non-governmental organizations and civil
society. UNFPA strongly supports the United Nations
Resident Coordinator system and the implementation of
all relevant United Nations decisions.