SoFP-Oct2007

Handbook of WMA Policies
World Medical Association ⏐ S-1996-04-2007

WMA STATEMENT
ON
FAMILY PLANNING AND THE RIGHT OF A WOMAN
TO CONTRACEPTION
Adopted by the 48th
WMA General Assembly, Somerset West, South Africa, October 1996
and amended by the 58th
WMA General Assembly, Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2007
The WMA recognizes that unwanted pregnancies and pregnancies that are too closely
spaced can have a serious adverse effect on the health of a woman and of her children.
These adverse effects can include the premature deaths of women. Existing children in
the family can also suffer starvation, neglect or abandonment resulting in their death or
im-paired health, when families are unable to provide for all their children. Social
function-ing and the ability to reach their full potential can also be impaired.
The WMA recognizes the benefits for women who are able to control their fertility. They
should be helped to make such choices themselves, as well as in discussion with their
partners. The ability to do so by choice and not chance is a principal component of
wo-men’s physical and mental health and social well being.
Access to adequate fertility control methods is not universal; many of the poorest women
in the world have the least access. Knowledge about how their bodies work, information
on how to control their fertility and the materials necessary to make those choices are uni-
versal and basic human rights for all women.
The role of family planning and secure access to appropriate methods is recognized in the
5th Millennium Development goal as a major factor promoting maternal and child health.
The WMA recommends that National Medical Associations:
Promote family planning education by working with governments, NGOs and others to
provide secure and high-quality services and assistance.
Attempt to ensure that such information, materials, products and services are available
without regard to nationality, creed, race, religion or socioeconomic status.