International Conference on Population: Mexico, 1984

Md. Saeed AnwarSociology Discipline

Khulna University

World Population Conference

The first World Population Conference was held at the Geneva in Switzerland in 1927 (Wikipedia, 2014).

It was organized by Margaret Sanger (American birth control activist, sex educator, and nurse.) the conference was an attempt to bring together international experts on population, food supply, fertility, migration and health to discuss the problem of overpopulation (Wikipedia, 2014).

Significant International Population Conferences

World Population Conference at Geneva, 1927

World Population Conference in Rome, 1954

World Population Conference in Belgrade, 1965

World Population Conference in Bucharest, 1974

International Conference on Population in Mexico , 1984

International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, 1994

General Assembly 21st special session in New York, 1999

International Population conference in Korea, 2013 (UN, 2013)

International Conference on Population in Mexico

Mexico City hosted the second largest International Conference on Population between 6 – 14 August 1984 (UN, 2013).

It was attended by representatives of 147 Member States. At the time 123 countries promoted family planning (UN, 2013).

Many developing countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Mexico and Pakistan expressed their firm support for family planning and population programmes (UN, 2013).

Cont…

Many developed countries, including Norway, Sweden and the UK stated their willingness to increase their support for population programmes (UN, 2013).

The USA stated its policy of not funding any programmes facilitating abortion.(UN, 2013).

Aim of the Conference

Principal Aim

The principal aim of the conference was social, economic and human development.

To combat all forms of racial discrimination, including apartheid.

To promote social and economic development, human rights and individual freedom.

To ensure reproductive health facility for women (UN, 1984)

Goal of the Conference

To reduce death rate among children whose age between 1-5 years before year of 2000.

To attain life expectancy 70 years before year of 2000.

To reduce maternal morality rate at least 50% from 1984 before year of 2000.

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984).

Cont…

To reduce at least 50% unsatisfied demand for contraceptive method from 1984 before year of 2000.

To reduce infant morality rate at least 50% from 1984 before year of 2000.

To attain real knowledge about safe contraceptive before year of 2000

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984).

Issues of the Conference

Population, Development and Environment

Gender Equality, Equity and Empowerment of Women

Reproductive Health, Reproductive Rights, Family Planning and Family Well-being

Territorial Distribution of the Population and Internal Migration.

International Migration and Development

Training, Information and Research

(UN, 1984)

Objective of the Conference

To harmonize the mutual relationships among population dynamics, the environment, social and economic development.

To broaden the consideration of trend in demographic variables in sectoral and regional policies.

To adopt environmentally sustainable development strategies

To reinforce and broaden at all level of education and communication programmes.

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984)

Objective of the Conference

To improve women’s status and position in society specially it the sector of decision making.

To guarantee equal job opportunities with equitable remuneration.

To combat discrimination against women in social and political field.

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984)

Objective of the Conference

To improve the health of women, specially in the area of reproductive health, family planning and sex education.

To promote and protect the reproductive and rights of individual and couple.

To ensure the legislation on the family incorporates conciliation mechanisms and laws designed to prevent violence

To improve the quality of family planning services.

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984)

Objective of the Conference

To promote a territorial distribution of the population which is conductive to changing production patterns of the economy

To encourage the diversification of migratory destination by developing intermediate cities.

To improve and extend the basic infrastructure of essential services and raise the environmental quality.

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984)

Objective of the Conference

To address the root causes of migration especially those related to poverty.

To promote agreement with developed countries in order to reduce migration.

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984)

Objective of the Conference

To promote the development of human resources as well research

To create and implement new, low cost teaching methods in the area of population.

(United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984)

Special Focus

Much of the focus was on economic development

Improve of women status through family planning and maternal and child health (UN. 1984).

Attitudes of Developing Countries

International population comference assistance as racist, genocidal, or imperialistic

Western nations of advocating population control as a substitute for foreign aid

Recognized that problems of rapid population growth, infant and child mortality, urbanization, and migration (Mosely, 2006)

US position on Population in the Conference

Population growth is, of itself, a neutral phenomenon

Developing countries experiencing population pressures should reduce government interference in their economies in order to promote economic growth and thereby reduce fertility (Mosely, 2006).

US position on Abortion in the Conference

Much more restrictive than previously.

Previous position: US funds could not be used for direct support of abortion-related activities (Mosely, 2006).

Economy and the Conference

At Bucharest in 1974: US offended by Third World introduction of North-South economic issues

At Mexico City in 1984: US took the opportunity to advance its own political views

But developing countries had much greater influence on Plan in 1974 than US did in 1984 (Mosely, 2006).

Changing economics and the Conference

Between 1974 and 1984, developing countries had government changes toward more pragmatic and market-oriented development e.g. China, India, Mexico, Algeria

Many LDC’s highly in debt to MDC’s making them more cautious in international politics (Mosely, 2006).

Changing Outlook toward Population

By 1984, most LDC’s believed it was in their interest to reduce fertility and address population issues as part of their development strategy

China, sub-Saharan Africa had changed their 1974 views that population was unimportant (Mosely, 2006).

Achievement of the Conference, 1984 Implementation of the proramme of action of the

international conference on population and development. Improve reproductive health and reproductive rights. Gender Equality Mobilization of resources and international co-operation

Conference Declaration

1. Reaffirmed validity of 1974 World Population Plan of Action

2. Recognized progress in human welfare, but also problems especially stagnation in economic growth and increase in number of people living in absolute poverty

3. Economic difficulties and problems of resource mobilization in developing countries (Nowels, 2001).

Cont…

4. Population growth, high mortality and morbidity, and migration problems causes of great concern.

5. Confirmed principal aim of social, economic, and human development, of which population goals and policies are integral part (Nowels, 2001).

Cont…

6. Global growth rate declined from 2.03 to 1.67 % per year

7. Demographic differences between developed and developing countries remain striking

8. Population issues recognized as fundamental element in development planning (Nowels, 2001).

Cont…

9. Population policies good experience in previous 10 years

10. Population and development policies reinforce each other when they are responsive to individual, family, and community needs

11. Improving the status of women and enhancing their role is an important goal in itself and will influence family life positively (Nowels, 2001).

Cont…

12-14. Family planning

15. Maternal and child health

16. Aging

17. Urbanization

18. Migration

19-21. Role of governments, NGO’s

22. Close interrelationship of population and economic and social development (Nowels, 2001).

Concluding Remark

Mexico’s population policy has been able to construct a sound institutional structure.

In 1974 a muliti-sectoral national body was created. This body is helpful for implementing the population policy.

In 1984, more than 32 states decentralize their population policy which in extend the municipal population policy at present.

References

Mosely, W. H, 2006. Population Policy. Johns Hopkins University

UN, 2013. Outcomes on Population. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/development/devagenda/population.shtml[Accessed on 19 January, 2014]

UN, 2013. United Nations Conferences on Population Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/events/conference/index.shtml [Accessed on 19 January, 2014]

UN, 1984. Report of the International Conference on Population, Mexico City. United Nation Publication, New York

United Nations Fund for Population Activities, 1984. Mexico City Declaration on Population and Development. Retrieved from http://www.popline.org/node/405896 [Accessed on 19 January, 2014]

Wikipedia, 2014. World Population Conference. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Population_Conference [Accessed on 19 January, 2014]

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