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Second IEPFPD Council Meeting - 18-19 December 2001, Moscow

Combating HIV/AIDS, preventing trafficking for sexual exploitation and protecting reproductive rights

The Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (IEPFPD) convened its 2nd Council meeting in the State Duma of the Russian Federation upon the invitation of Hon. Gennady Seleznyov, Speaker of the State Duma. Gathered together were parliamentarians from over 20 European countries discussing concrete means to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, preventing trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation and protecting reproductive rights and well-being in countries with low-fertility.

"These meetings give us the opportunity to discuss our responsibilities as parliamentarians, and to make sure that reproductive health and rights are on the political agendas in countries throughout Europe," says Marjatta Vehkaoja, MP IEPFPD President, Member of the Parliament of Finland.

The parliamentarians focused on three discussion topics of HIV/AIDS, trafficking of people for sexual exploitation, and protecting sexual and reproductive rights in countries with low fertility. These issues are vital to all countries in Europe, and also the wider development community who were represented at the meeting by the United Nations Population Fund and by members of the Executive Committees of the regional parliamentary networks on population and development from the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Arab World.

The European parliamentarians at the meeting adopted a Declaration stating that: "Parliamentarians have a vital role to play in the promotion of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, including education about safer sex and responsible sexual behaviour." The Declaration also states that: "Reproductive health remains a vital element of basic health care that must be provided to women, men and young people. Parliamentarians must ensure that their respective governments promote and provide effective, affordable and comprehensive reproductive health services both at home and also through development assistance to other countries."

The IEPFPD also welcomed as full members the newly created parliamentary groups on population and development from Russia, Belgium, Turkey and the French National Assembly. Nikolay Gerasimenko, MP (Russia) and Suat Caglayan, MP (Turkey) were both elected onto the Executive Committee of the IEPFPD. The meeting concluded with a reception to mark the 10th anniversary of the Russian Family Planning Association (FPA) celebrating the pioneering efforts of this organisation in Russia with the promotion of family planning that helps to prevent abortion, and providing information and education for young people and students.

Download:

• Programme (EN)
• List of Participants (EN)
• List of Speakers (EN)
• Final Declaration (EN | FR | RU)
• Final Report (EN)