The phrase 'reproductive rights' is seen as the woman's right to abortion - a debate that has strong lobbies in favour and against it in the developed world.
The Vatican or Holy See led the opposition to the inclusion of reference to reproductive rights and won in the end. The Holy See is a non-state permanent member of the United Nations and has long argued that 'reproductive rights' is a euphemism for abortion.
The proposal to include these rights in the declaration also found opposition from the G77 block with the theme being coupled with language in the declaration promoting population control. The developing world sees the reference to curtailing population levels in context of sustainable development as an attempt by the developed countries to turn the debate away from reducing consumption levels of the rich. Several countries opposed the gender concerns as not being in compliance with their national laws.
Countries supporting the reference to population levels and reproductive rights included Norway, Iceland, the US, Canada, Switzerland, the EU and Australia.
The text agreed by the negotiators and now to be adopted by the heads of states diluted the language on gender rights while removing all reference to reproductive rights.
The earlier draft of the declaration had read, "We resolve to ensure full and equal rights and access of women to productive resources through the rights to own property, inheritance, credit and to financial and extension services along the entire value chain."
In comparison, the diluted final text read, "We resolve to undertake legislation and administrative reforms to give women equal rights with men to economic resources, including access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, credit, inheritance, natural resources and appropriate new technology.
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