(Update Bangkok 1991, Ottawa 1997)
Noting that the International Council of Women embraces the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and one's family, including food, clothing, shelter, medical care, social services, security, education, culture and justice;
Aware that pronounced income disparity has a profound and adverse impact on the health and well-being of the population at large;
Recognizing that Structural Adjustment Programs, "free-market" economic policy reforms imposed on developing countries by the Bretton Woods Institutions (the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund) as a condition for receipt of loans, have an unduly harsh impact on women and their families,
THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN Calls on its permanent and accredited representatives to the United Nations to work strongly to eliminate any Structural Adjustment Programs which result in the impoverishment of large segments of the population, especially women and their families; and further
Urges all member National Councils to press their respective governments to ensure that Human Rights Legislation include provisions to:
a. eliminate discrimination on the basis of low income,
b. establish minimum standards for adequacy of income based on realistic costs for basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing, medical care,
c. establish minimum standards for adequate public programs, e.g. health education, recreation, etc.
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Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — 29th General Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, July 2–8, 2000. Resolution No. 15.
