(k)
In the light of paragraph 8.25 of the Programme of Action of the
International Conference on Population and Development, which states:
"In no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family
planning. All Governments and relevant intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations are urged to strengthen their
commitment to women’s health, to deal with the health impact of unsafe
abortion 16/ as a major public health concern and to reduce the
recourse to abortion through expanded and improved family-planning
services. Prevention of unwanted pregnancies must always be given the
highest priority and every attempt should be made to eliminate the
need for abortion. Women who have unwanted pregnancies should have
ready access to reliable information and compassionate counselling.
Any measures or changes related to abortion within the health system
can only be determined at the national or local level according to the
national legislative process. In circumstances where abortion is not
against the law, such abortion should be safe. In all cases, women
should have access to quality services for the management of
complications arising from abortion. Post-abortion counselling,
education and family-planning services should be offered promptly,
which will also help to avoid repeat abortions", consider reviewing
laws containing punitive measures against women who have undergone
illegal abortions;
(l)
Give particular attention to the needs of girls, especially the
promotion of healthy behaviour, including physical activities; take
specific measures for closing the gender gaps in morbidity and
mortality where girls are disadvantaged, while achieving
internationally approved goals for the reduction of infant and child
mortality - specifically, by the year 2000, the reduction of mortality
rates of infants and children under five years of age by one third of
the 1990 level, or 50 to 70 per 1,000 live births, whichever is less;
by the year 2015 an infant mortality rate below 35 per 1,000 live
births and an under-five mortality rate below 45 per 1,000;
(m)
Ensure that girls have continuing access to necessary health and
nutrition information and services as they mature, to facilitate a
healthful transition from childhood to adulthood;
(n)
Develop information, programmes and services to assist women to
understand and adapt to changes associated with ageing and to address
and treat the health needs of older women, paying particular attention
to those who are physically or psychologically dependent;
(o)
Ensure that girls and women of all ages with any form of disability
receive supportive services;
(p)
Formulate special policies, design programmes and enact the
legislation necessary to alleviate and eliminate environmental and
occupational health hazards associated with work in the home, in the
workplace and elsewhere with attention to pregnant and lactating
women;
(q)
Integrate mental health services into primary health-care systems or
other appropriate levels, develop supportive programmes and train
primary health workers to recognize and care for girls and women of
all ages who have experienced any form of violence especially domestic
violence, sexual abuse or other abuse resulting from armed and
-40-
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents