|
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
UNFPA stands for promoting the right of all individuals
to develop to their fullest potential. To exercise this right, all
people, especially women, need access to information and services
on reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health,
to enable them to make informed and voluntary choices and decisions.
Achieving this goal is central to the work of UNFPA.
 top
No. The Programme of Action of the International
Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, Egypt, in
1994 states that abortion should not be promoted as a method of
family planning. UNFPA fully subscribes to this and does not provide
support for abortion services. We work to prevent abortion through
family planning, and to help countries provide services for women
suffering from the complications of unsafe abortion.
top
Concern for reproductive health starts in childhood
and lasts throughout the life-cycle. For example, young girls need
to be assured equal access to food, health care, life skills, education,
employment, and other opportunities to enable them to have greater
control over their lives, their development, and their health, including
their future reproductive and sexual health.
top
According to the World Health Organization, emergency
contraceptives do not interrupt pregnancy but rather prevent it,
and thus their use is not a form of abortion. Women have the right
to information and services on emergency contraception just as with
all other safe and effective methods of family planning.
top
No. Many studies show that sex education promotes
responsible attitudes and behaviour. These studies also show that
providing adolescents with information and services on reproductive
and sexual health enables them to postpone the onset of sexual activity,
and when they do engage in sex, they are more able to protect themselves
from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
top
UNFPA was established in 1969 as the United Nations
Fund for Population Activities. In 1987, the Economic and Social
Council decided to rename it the United Nations Population Fund,
but to retain the original abbreviation-acronym.
Back to top
|
