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Compilation
of the Family-Specific recommendations of the UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development - known as the Earth Summit - was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992. It was convened to devi se strategies to halt and reverse the effects of environmental degradation in the context of increased national and international efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally sound development in all countries. Agenda 21, adopted by the Conference, is a comprehensive programme of action to be implemented in every area where human activity affects the environment. With regard to families, the Conference served notice that environment permeates all aspects of development; that for sustainable development to succeed, it must become the concern and commitment of all segments of society, including families; and that in order to secure the future of the planet, all actors, inc1uding households, must change the way they behave. In addressing unsustainable patterns of consumption, Agenda 21 stressed the role of households as consumers. In the context of addressing demographic dynamics and sustainability, it made recommendations relating to family welfare, family credit schemes, the responsible planning of family size and responsible parenthood. Agenda
21 The Agenda 21 contains four sections: I. Social and economic dimensions, II. Conservation and management of resources for development, III. Strengthening the role of major groups, IV. Means of implementation. 1. Social and economic dimensions 3. Combating poverty Activities [Paragraph 3.8.] Governments, with the assistance of and in cooperation with appropriate international, non-governmental and local community organizations, should establish measures that will directly or indirectly: (e) Set up an effective primary health care and maternal health care system accessible to all; (j) Implement, as a matter of urgency, in accordance with country-specific conditions and legal systems, measures to ensure that women and men have the same right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and have access to the information, education and means, as appropriate, to enable them to exercise this right in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values, taking into account ethical and cultural considerations. Governments should take active steps to implement programmes to establish and strengthen preventive and curative health facilities, which include women centered, women-managed, safe and effective reproductive health care and affordable, accessible services, as appropriate, for the responsible planning of family size, in keeping with freedom, dignity and personally held values, taking into account ethical and cultural considerations. Programmes should focus on providing comprehensive health care, including pre-natal care, education and information on health and responsible parenthood and should provide the opportunity for all women to breast-feed fully, at least during the first four months post-partum. Programmes should fully support women's productive and reproductive roles and well-being, with special attention to the need for providing equal and improved health care for all children and the need to reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality and sickness,' 4. Changing consumption patterns B. Developing national policies and strategies to encourage changes in unsustainable consumption patterns Means of implementation [Paragraph 4.27.] This programme is concerned primarily with changes in unsustainable patterns of consumption and production and values that encourage sustainable consumption patterns and lifestyles. It requires the combined efforts of Governments, consumers and producers. Particular attention should be paid to the significant role played by women and households as consumers and the potential impacts of their combined purchasing power on the economy. 5. Demographic dynamics and sustainability A. Developing and disseminating knowledge concerning the links between demographic trends and factors Means of implementation [Paragraph 5.12.] Awareness should be increased of the fundamental linkages between improving the status of women and demographic dynamics, particularly through women's access to education, primary and reproductive health care programmes, economic independence and their effective, equitable participation in all levels of decision-making. B. Formulating integrated national policies for environment and development, taking into account demographic trends and factors Activities [Paragraph 5.22.] An assessment should be made of the implications of the age structure of the population on resource demand and dependency burdens, ranging from educational expenses for the young to health care and support for the elderly, and on household income generation. [Paragraph 5.32.] Appropriate socio-economic policies for the young and the elderly, both in terms of family and state support systems, should be developed. c. Implementing integrated environment and development programmes at the local level, taking into account demographic trends and factors Activities [Paragraph 5.46.] …. Special emphasis should be placed on those programmes that achieve multiple objectives, encouraging sustainable economic development, and mitigating adverse impacts of demographic trends and factors, and avoiding long-term environmental damage. Food security, access to secure tenure, basic shelter, and essential infrastructure, education, family welfare, women's reproductive health, family credit schemes, reforestation programmes, primary environmental core, women's employment should, as appropriate, be included among other factors. [Paragraph 5.48.] Special attention should be given to the critical role of women in population/environment programmes and in achieving sustainable development. Projects should take advantage of opportunities to link social, economic and environmental gains for women and their families. .... [Paragraph 5.49.] Reproductive health programmes and services, should, as appropriate, be developed and enhanced to reduce maternal and infant mortality from all causes and unable women and men to fulfill their personal aspirations in terms of family size, in a way in keeping with their freedom and dignity and personally held values. [Paragraph 5.50.] Governments should take active steps to implement, as a matter of urgency, in accordance with country-specific conditions and legal systems, measures to ensure that women and men have the some right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children, to have access to the information, education and means, as appropriate, to enable them to exercise this right in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values taking into account ethical and cultural considerations. [Paragraph 5.51.] Governments should take active steps to implement programmes to establish and strengthen preventive and curative health facilities that include women-centered, women-managed, safe and effective reproductive health core and affordable, accessible services, as appropriate, for the responsible planning of family size, in keeping with freedom, dignity and personally held values and taking into account ethical and cultural considerations. Programmes should focus on providing comprehensive health core, including pre-natal core, education and information on health and responsible parenthood and should provide the opportunity for all women to breast-feed fully, at least during the first four months post-partum. Programmes should fully support women 's productive and reproductive roles and well being, with special attention to the need for providing equal and improved health core for all children and the need to reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality and sickness. [Paragraph 5.52.] Consistent with national priorities, culturally based information and education programmes that transmit reproductive health messages to men and women that are easily understood should be developed. [Paragraph
5.56.] Proposals should be developed for local, national and
international Means of implementation [Paragraph 5.61.] Surveys of changes in needs for appropriate services relating to responsible planning of family size, reflecting variations among different socio-economic groups and variations in different geographical regions should be undertaken. 6. Protecting and promoting human health A. Meeting primary health care needs, particularly in rural areas Basis for action [Paragraph
6.3.]
The health sector cannot meet basic needs and objectives on its B. Control of communicable diseases Means of implementation [Paragraph 6.16.] ...". Health education materials should be developed for use by community workers and for the education of mothers for the prevention and treatment of diarrheal diseases in the home. C. Protecting vulnerable groups Basis for action [Paragraph 6.21. Women.] In developing countries, the health status of women remains relatively low, and during the 1980s poverty, malnutrition and general ill-health in women were even rising. Most women in developing countries still do not have adequate basic educational opportunities and they lack the means of promoting their health, responsibly controlling their reproductive life and improving their socio-economic status. Particular attention should be given to the provision of pre-natal core to ensure healthy babies. Objectives [Paragraph 6.25.] Governments should take active steps to implement, as a matter of urgency, in accordance with country specific conditions and legal systems, measures to ensure that women and men have the same right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children, to have access to the information, education and means, as appropriate, to enable them to exercise this right in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values, taking into account ethical and cultural considerations. [Paragraph 6.26.] Governments should take active steps to implement programmes to establish and strengthen preventive and curative health facilities which include women¬centered, women-managed, safe and effective reproductive health care and affordable, accessible services, as appropriate, for the responsible planning of family size, in keeping with freedom, dignity and personally held values and taking into account ethical and cultural considerations. Programmes should focus on providing comprehensive health care, including pre-natal care, education and information on health and responsible parenthood and should provide the opportunity for all women to breast-feed fully, at least during the first four months post-partum. Programmes should fully support women's productive and reproductive roles and well-being, with special attention to the need for providing equal and improved health care for all children and the need to reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality and sickness. Means of implementation [Paragraph 6.30.] The development of human resources for the health of children, youth and women should include reinforcement of educational institutions, promotion of interactive methods of education for health and increased use of mass media in disseminating information to the target groups. This requires the training of more community health workers, nurses, midwives, physicians, social scientists and educators, the education of mothers, families and communities and the strengthening of ministries of education, health, population etc. 7. Promoting sustainable human settlement development B. Improving human settlement management Activities [Paragraph 7.16.] (b) Accelerating efforts to reduce urban poverty through a number of actions, including: (iii) Encouraging the establishment of indigenous community-based organizations, private voluntary organizations and other forms of non-governmental entities that can contribute to the efforts to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for low-income families; 14. Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development A. Agricultural policy review, planning and integrated programmes in the light of the multifunctional aspect of agriculture, particularly with regard to food security and sustainable development Means of implementation [Paragraph 14.13.] Governments at the appropriate level and with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations should assist farming households and communities to apply technologies related to improved food production and security, including storage, monitoring of production and distribution. c. Improving farm production and farming systems through diversification of farm and non-farm employment and infrastructure development Activities [Paragraph 14.28.] Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should: (a) Analyze the effects of technical innovations and incentives on farm-household income and well-being; E. Land conservation and rehabilitation Means of implementation [Paragraph 14.50.] Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should help farming household communities to investigate and promote site-specific technologies and farming systems that conserve and rehabilitate, while increasing agricultural production, including conservation tillage agroforestry, terracing and mixed cropping. 24. Global action for women towards sustainable and equitable development Objectives [Paragraph 24.2.] The following objectives are proposed for national Governments: (g) To implement, as a matter of urgency, in accordance with country-specific conditions, measures to ensure that women and men have the same right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and have access to information, education and means, as appropriate, to enable them to exercise this right in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values; Activities [Paragraph 24.3.] Governments should take active steps to implement the following: (e) Programmes to establish and strengthen preventive and curative health facilities, which include women-centered, women-managed, safe and effective reproductive health core and affordable, accessible, responsible planning of family size and services, as appropriate, in keeping with freedom, dignity and personally held values. Programmes should focus on providing comprehensive health core, including pre-natal core, education and information on health and responsible parenthood, and should provide the opportunity for all women to fully breastfeed at least during the first four months post-partum. Programmes should fully support women's productive and reproductive roles and well-being and should pay special attention to the need to provide equal and improved health core for all children and to reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality and sickness; (f) Programmes to support and strengthen equal employment opportunities and equitable remuneration for women in the formal and informal sectors with adequate economic, political and social support systems and services, including child core, particularly day-care facilities and parental leave, and equal access to credit, land and other natural resources; 25. Children and youth in sustainable development B. Children in sustainable development Activities [Paragraph 25.14.] Governments should take active steps to: (c) Promote primary environmental core activities that address the basic needs of communities, improve the environment for children at the household and community level and encourage the participation and empowerment of local populations, including women, youth, children and indigenous people, towards the objective of integrated community management of resources, especially in developing countries; (e) Mobilize communities through schools and local health centres so that children and their parents become effective focal points for sensitization of communities to environmental issues; 32. Strengthening the role of fanners Basis for action [Paragraph 32.2.] The rural household, indigenous people and their communities, and the family farmer, a substantial number of whom are women, have been the stewards of much of the Earth's resources. Farmers must conserve their physical environment as they depend on it for their sustenance. Over the pose 20 years there has been impressive increase in aggregate agricultural production. Yet, in some regions, this increase has been outstripped by population growth or international debt or falling commodity prices. Further, the natural resources that sustain farming activity need proper care, and there is a growing COI about the sustainability of agricultural production systems. [Paragraph 32.3] A farmer-centered approach is the key to the attainment of sustainability in both developed and developing countries and many of the programme areas in Agenda21 address this objective. A significant number of the rural population in developing countries depend primarily upon small-scale, subsistence-oriented agriculture based on family labor. However, they have limited access to resources, technology, alternative livelihood and means of production. As a result, they are engaged in the over exploited of natural resources, including marginal lands. 36. Promoting education, public awareness and training B. Increasing public awareness Activities [Paragraph 36.10.] Recognizing that countries, regional and international organizations will develop their own priorities and schedules for implementation in accordance with their needs, policies and programmes, the following activities are proposed: (k) Countries, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations should encourage mobilization of both men and women in awareness campaigns, stressing the role of the family in environmental activities, women's contribution to transmission of knowledge and social values and the development of human resources;
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