- Concerned that the Bush administration will undermine international agreements on adolescent reproductive rights and health at the United Nations Special Session on Children next month, youth advocates and experts from around the world will brief members of Congress on the dire consequences of the U.S. rollback of these rights.

At the May 8-10 Children’s Summit, the Bush administration’s ultra-conservative positions on sexuality education and health services will be represented by Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, a well-known opponent of adolescent contraceptive use. Attempts to dismantle existing agreements on adolescent reproductive rights and health endorsed by the majority of the world’s nations more than a decade ago ignore human rights violations occurring worldwide.

"If the Bush administration insists on promoting its anti-contraception, anti-adolescent reproductive rights agenda at the United Nations, the impact will be felt by millions of adolescents worldwide who already lack basic sexual and reproductive health services," said Julia Ernst, legislative counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights.

On Monday, a letter signed by 51 non-governmental organizations was sent to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary Thompson, urging the United States to reaffirm the rights of adolescents to full and accurate information and education regarding sexuality and reproductive health.

Panelists/Presenters:

Lindy Blodgett - A 19 year-old student from the US and spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Global Partners® will address the importance of US support for international family planning and the need for greater youth involvement in the global movement for universal sexual and reproductive rights.

Julia Zajkowski, JD - Consulting Legal Advisor for Global Projects with the Center for Reproductive Rights will present findings from the Center for Reproductive Rights' report on adolescents’ reproductive rights in Zimbabwe.

Shingayi Musarurwa - Youth activist from Zimbabwe with Advocates for Youth International Youth Leadership Council (IYLC), will discuss adolescents’ reproductive rights in Zimbabwe.

Kathleen Kurz, PhD - Director of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Reproductive Health and Nutrition team will discuss the reproductive health needs of married adolescents in India and HIV/AIDS.

Lorena Redondo Delgado - A young psychologist from Veracruz, Mexico and volunteer for the Mexican Foundation for Family Planning will address the continued need for international reproductive health assistance.

Please RSVP for this event to: Molly Diachok, 202-530-2975 ext. 18 or molly.diachok@reprorights.org. For press inquiries before or after the event, please contact Suzanne Grossman at 917-637-3698.

Letter Urging the US to Reaffirm the Rights of Adolescents

April 22, 2002

The Honorable Colin Powell
United States Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Facsimile: 202-647-2283

The Honorable Tommy Thompson
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20201
Facsimile: 202-690-7203

RE: UNITED STATES POSITION AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON CHILDREN

Dear Secretary Powell and Secretary Thompson:

With respect, we write to express concern about the US position on key aspects of the outcome document for the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children. The United States is deviating significantly from agreements reached over the past eight years by the world's nations.

The United States stands virtually alone in objecting to the inclusion of "reproductive health services," a phrase repeatedly used in international agreements and clearly defined as including counseling, information, education and services for family planning, prenatal care, safe delivery and post natal care, the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and in circumstances where it is not against the law, safe abortion services. Further, the United States stands nearly alone in rejecting previous consensus documents on sexuality education and is only promoting abstinence until marriage, to the exclusion of information on any other proven, effective and necessary ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and unintended pregnancies.

We urge the United States to reaffirm the rights of adolescents to full and accurate information and education regarding sexuality and reproductive health, including information about condom use and contraception, as well as abstinence. This is what most American parents want for their children, as studies have shown. We urge the United States to reaffirm the need to provide reproductive health services for adolescents, particularly in light of pressing realities they face.

This age group is at highest risk of new HIV infections. They are also at very high risk of sexual violence and abuse, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancy. Finally, in many countries the vast majority of sexually active adolescent girls are married, commonly to older men, and face exceptionally high risk of maternal death and morbidity as well as disease without full access to reproductive health information and services.

We are happy to provide any assistance or information you might need in reshaping the US negotiation position to protect the health, lives and rights of young people. We thank you for your consideration and look forward to seeing our government reassert its leadership in negotiating a constructive outcome that will protect the rights and improve the well being of all children.

Sincerely,

Advocates for Youth
American Association of University Women
American College of Nurse-Midwives
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP)
Business and Professional Women/USA
Catholics for a Free Choice
Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
Center for Women Policy Studies
Centre for Development and Population Activities
Choice USA
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Equality Now
Executive Council Committee on the Status of Women of The Episcopal Church
Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America
International Center for Research on Women
International Women’s Health Coalition
Ipas
Margaret Sanger Center International at Planned Parenthood of New York City
Marie Stopes International
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
National Abortion Federation
National Association of Nurse
Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH)
National Coalition of Women’s Organizations
National Council of Jewish Women
National Latina Health Organization
National Women’s Political Caucus
NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Task Force
Partners of the Americas
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Population Action International
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Pro-Choice Public Education Project (PEP)
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
The Alan Guttmacher Institute
The Center for Women's Global Leadership
The Population Institute
Transformative Collaborations International
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church & Society
U.S. Committee for the United Nations Population Fund
Voters For Choice
Women's Business Development Center
Women's EDGE
Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)
Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University
Zero Population Growth
Cc: Members of Congress