1. Cairo, Egypt -1994
By: Sarah O’Shaughnessy

2.  Focus of the discussions
• Immigration policy
• Urbanization
• Reproductive health
• Access to health care
• Women’s reproductive
rights became a significant
aspect of the conference.

3. •Women are significantly linked to the
overall health and development of the
world’s population
• Therefore, improving the lives of
women will assist with improving the
health of world populations
•The Cairo conference (1994) made
significant strides towards increased
equality for women, improved health
status and ideal population health
and development.

4. • Decline in maternal mortality began
in western countries in the early 20th
century
• Women from developing countries
are still at a high risk of dying
during pregnancy
• Risk is 1/16 for women in
developing countries in contrast to
1/4800 for women in developed
countries.

5. • Newborn survival is closely
linked to the health of the
mother
•The Health of the mother
and child should be equally
addressed
•1987 Conference on safe
motherhood.

6. • UN established Decade for
women 1976-1985
• Recognized governmental
role in establishing women’s
health
• Reveals a growing trend
towards support for women’s
health rights and its
connection to the health of
the broader global community

7. • Took place in Mexico
City
• Focus on women’s
rights relevant to men
• Women’s access to
employment and
education

8. • Familial rights to
reproduction were outlined in
more detail than women’s
specific rights
• Argued that women should
be equal to men in all social
spheres
• Yet, the conference failed to
stipulate how this equality
should be achieved or
maintained

9. • Women’s rights terms
were not clearly defined
• The conference left too
much room for
governmental
interpretation and
control
• Explicit goals were not
set that would have
aided in enforcing
implementation

10. • Definition of reproductive health was
created
•The definition demonstrated the
recognition of the variety and complexity of
issues that can affect overall women’s
health and therefore the ability to
reproduce
•Provided further examples as to how
women’s health, and therefore the health of
the population, may be improved

11. • The right of women to
experience pregnancy and
childbirth safely was made
explicit
•Discussed the need to
Promote and protect the
women’s rights relating to
reproduction and sexuality
•Argued for access to fertility
regulation which includes:
family planning, delayed
childbearing, the use of
contraception, treatment of
infertility, interruption of
unwanted pregnancies and
breastfeeding.

12. • The Cairo conference distinguished itself from
the conference in 1984 by setting out specific
actions to be taken concerning reproductive
rights
• Inclusion of reproductive health in the primary
health-care system by the year 2015.
• Clearly outlined goals sets standard.
• As well reproductive health aspects that were
intended to be included were clearly outline,
leaving little room for interpretation from
governments.

13. • The conference also
discussed actions
required to implement
specific programs within
individual countries that
would encourage
reproductive health and
stipulated exactly what
the role of these
programs should be in
the lives of women, men,
families and adolescents.

14. •The 1994 International Conference on
Population and Development made
significant steps towards women’s
reproductive issues.
•The use of clearly stated definitions and
plans of action provided not only clarity
about the issues but also the provisions
needed to achieve such goals
•The conference continued the historical
trend towards increased awareness of
women’s reproductive issues and the
significant role these issues play in the
health of the global population.