Amsterdam call for action.

We the participants of the International Conference, "Reproductive Health: Key to Poverty Reduction" (Amsterdam, 21 November 2003), call upon all stakeholders involved to take an active role in the realization of the ICPD Programme of Action (Cairo 1994).

We call for:

* Inclusion of sexual and reproductive health goals in all poverty reduction strategies and projects;

* Inclusion of sexual and reproductive health goals in the implementation process of the UN Millennium Development Goals;

* Action to realize young people's sexual and reproductive rights, including access to information and services and funding;

* Promoting active, meaningful and gender-balanced youth participation and youth-adult partnership, as well as women's participation at all levels of policymaking;

* Inclusion of youth delegates in governmental and NGO delegations related to the ICPD+10 process and the Millennium Summit +5;

* Promoting gender equity and empowerment of women, especially through education, and making comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services compatible with the needs of both sexes and readily available to both sexes.

* Improving access of women and men to sexual and reproductive health services and promoting the responsibility of men and communication and respect between men and women on sexual and reproductive health issues;

* Fulfillment of at least the agreed target of 0.7% of GNP for Official Development Assistance and make every effort to mobilize the agreed estimated financial resources needed for sexual and reproductive health programs, including HIV/AIDS;

* Creating awareness on reproductive health supplies shortages and allocating sufficient financial resources to overcome these shortages;

* Improving access to basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality;

* Making sexual and reproductive health services available to people in conflict areas, refugees and displaced persons;

* Recommitment to the ICPD Programme of Action by all stakeholders and call upon the Dutch government to use their influence to this end during the Dutch Presidency of the European Union in 2004;

* Establishment of national all-party parliamentary groups on sexual and reproductive rights and health in general and in the Netherlands specifically for the implementation of these internationally recognized sexual and reproductive rights in international and regional forums;

* Respect and fulfillment of sexual and reproductive rights through legislation and policy.

For more information, visit the website of the World Population Foundation http://www.wpf.org/