PROGRAMS  |  MY SISTERS' KEEPER  |  VIEWS OF PEOPLE OF FAITH  | UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONS

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

1996 General Resolution

Because Unitarian Universalists affirm concern for the whole earth, all of earth's inhabitants, and the future we share; and

Whereas the Unitarian Universalist Association is an advocate for women's empowerment, voluntary family planning, sustainable development, and environmental justice;

Whereas the Unitarian Universalist Association supports:

1. the right of every woman to decide whether to bear a child;
2. the right of every individual to safe, effective, and affordable birth control methods;
3. the right of every woman to safe, effective, and affordable abortion services; and
4. government protection for those who provide such services;

Whereas local, national, and international groups concerned with population, women's rights, justice, and the environment see the linkages among these issues and are beginning to collaborate in developing and implementing solutions; and

Whereas the 1994 United Nations International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, Egypt, addressed global population issues by bringing together concerns for family planning, human rights, and environmental protection, and agreed that gender equity is a key to achieving sustainable development and population stabilization and that, therefore, socio-economic and educational development programs for women ought to be at the center of planning for change;

Therefore be it resolved that the Unitarian Universalist Association condemns anti-choice violence and calls upon the nations of the world to provide education to men, women and youth regarding reproductive and sexual health, to provide reproductive health services to all who seek them, and to afford protection to those who provide such services;

Be it further resolved that the Unitarian Universalist Association endorses the Cairo Conference's final program of action to support women's economic and educational empowerment and reproductive health care, and implementation of this program entailing commitment by the world's governments of $17 billion annually by the year 2000; and

Be it finally resolved that congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists be encouraged to establish and support specific projects in their communities to help implement these goals.