The World Program of Action: A New Paradigm for Population Policy

Abstract

Population policy is, and has always been, contentious. For the last two years, the debate on population related issues-both nationally and internationally-has been difficult and sometimes acrimonious. Women have sought to articulate a position that affirms their right to control fertility and to have access to health services while criticizing current population policies and programs. Emerging from this debate is a new paradigm for population policy, one that focuses not on controlling numbers but on providing broadly defined reproductive health services and on acknowledging women's reproductive rights and their need for empowerment.