World Council resolution
Reproductive health and sexuality

Brisbane, Australia, July 2003 

Whereas perpetrators of terrorism and war are targeting women and girls and their bodies, using acts of violence, rape, and sexual humiliation as a primary form of combat, and 

Whereas actions that violate the rights of women and girls regarding their reproductive health and sexuality, including genital mutilation, are still widely practised, and 

Whereas the short and long term economic and social impacts of these acts are devastating to both women and girls, and their communities, and 

Whereas women and girls are suffering physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, cultural and economic distress because they do not have access to quality education, discussion and counselling that empowers women and girls to safeguard their reproductive rights and sexuality, and 

Whereas young women around the world have strongly expressed a shared concern about the lack of access to quality information, discussion and counselling for girls and women regarding reproductive health and sexuality, and 

Whereas women and girls must be empowered to make informed choices regarding their reproductive health and sexuality; 

Therefore be it resolved that:

The World YWCA promote and work towards the provision of extensive access to quality education, resources, information, discussion and counselling for women and girls regarding their reproductive health rights and sexuality. 

Be it further resolved that:

This education, discussion, resources, information and counselling address:

  • Care of reproductive health, including prevention of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, and other health threats,

  • Rights of girls and women to make choices and have control over their own bodies,

  • Rights of girls and women to value their sexuality,

  • Accurate information about the physical act of sex,

  • The emotional and psychological aspects of sexuality,

  • Healing for girls and women whose reproductive rights and sexuality have been violated.

World Council resolution
Reproductive health and sexuality

Brisbane, Australia, July 2003 

Whereas perpetrators of terrorism and war are targeting women and girls and their bodies, using acts of violence, rape, and sexual humiliation as a primary form of combat, and 

Whereas actions that violate the rights of women and girls regarding their reproductive health and sexuality, including genital mutilation, are still widely practised, and 

Whereas the short and long term economic and social impacts of these acts are devastating to both women and girls, and their communities, and 

Whereas women and girls are suffering physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, cultural and economic distress because they do not have access to quality education, discussion and counselling that empowers women and girls to safeguard their reproductive rights and sexuality, and 

Whereas young women around the world have strongly expressed a shared concern about the lack of access to quality information, discussion and counselling for girls and women regarding reproductive health and sexuality, and 

Whereas women and girls must be empowered to make informed choices regarding their reproductive health and sexuality; 

Therefore be it resolved that:

The World YWCA promote and work towards the provision of extensive access to quality education, resources, information, discussion and counselling for women and girls regarding their reproductive health rights and sexuality. 

Be it further resolved that:

This education, discussion, resources, information and counselling address:

  • Care of reproductive health, including prevention of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, and other health threats,

  • Rights of girls and women to make choices and have control over their own bodies,

  • Rights of girls and women to value their sexuality,

  • Accurate information about the physical act of sex,

  • The emotional and psychological aspects of sexuality,

  • Healing for girls and women whose reproductive rights and sexuality have been violated.