Singapore - June 14, 1999
Annual General Meeting  hile RFPD can not prescribe how Rotary projects should be handled, as a member
of the Rotary family most focused on the population issue, the group has developed a set of Guidelines for consideration when Rotary clubs are working on
population projects. RFPD has recommended that Rotary International consider
adopting these or similar Guidelines, to set common parameters for our population project
service work in the future. The Guidelines presented below were adopted by RFPD at its Annual General Meeting June 14, 1999 in Singapore.
1. The Program of Action delivered from the 1994 Cairo International Conference on
Population & Development which was agreed to by 180 governments represented at the
conference, serves as a guide for Rotary's Population & Development work. It suggests attention toward:
- Extending and improving family planning and reproductive health services
- Expanding population policy to include economic development and education
- Improving the status of women
- Linking environment and sustainable development to population
- Investing in the health and development of children, especially girls
- Emphasizing male responsibility for sexual, reproductive and parenting behavior
2. Projects should attempt to include participation and support from other agencies
and/or foundations involved in the Population & Development area, including
international, national and local organizaions. Rotarians should remain actively involved in
the work, and association should only be with organizations whose published policies are
consistent with the ideals contained in paragraphs 3-6 below. Association, where possible,
with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Field Representatives is encouraged.
3. Project concepts should be respectful of local cultural and religious customs regarding
family values and reproductive health. Toward this end, projects ideally are conceived and detailed by the local Rotary sponsoring organization.
4. Projects should employ Child Spacing methods including abstinence, natural and all
medically approved methods of contraception. Projects must not use abortion or any other form of premature induced delivery.
5. Project beneficiaries should participate on a completely voluntary basis, without pressure, material inducement or compensation.
6. Projects should not specify or target certain numbers of children per family or fertility
rates, these things being better left to the discretion of the individual family units.
Generally, projects will achieve improvements in these measure areas by directing attention toward underlying causes (availability of reproductive health services, gender
equality, literacy, economic empowerment, etc.)
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