overall population growth and that reproductive health is a right for everyone.

And an individual's rights and needs have to be attended to for the world to have a viable future including an end to poverty, equal economic progress and sustainable development.

Members of the Organisation of Women in International Trade heard this from the deputy executive director for the United Nations Population Fund, Kerstin Trone, on the final day of their Seventh Annual International Business Conference at the Sonesta Beach Resort and Spa.

Ms Trone told her audience that this consensus has "led to determined national action to promote population objectives, improve the health of women and work toward gender equality''.

It has also led to the recognition that the empowerment of women was essential.

"The key to the consensus was realising that it isn't governments that make population decisions, but individuals. If you offer women especially a free choice, they will have smaller families than their parents.'' Ms Trone said the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) adopted a Programme of Action which put women at the centre of the global development agenda.

"It solidified the concept of reproductive rights as human rights, including the right to enjoy the highest standard of reproductive health, and the right to determine the number and spacing of one's children.'' The Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) in Beijing in 1995 took it a step further, she continued.

"It affirmed women's right to make their own decisions about sexuality and reproduction free from discrimination, coercion and violence. This is basic to their empowerment.'' But men and women must work together toward their common goal of improving everyone's quality of life.

"The ICPD places emphasis on the role of men -- urging men to be actively involved in responsible parenthood and to practise responsible sexual and reproductive behaviour, including family planning.

"The ICPD calls on men to assume their responsibilities in the family with respect to child care and household chores.'' However women's situations and conditions are diverse and they often face barriers to achieving empowerment.

Reproductive health -- including family planning and sexual health -- is neglected in many places with nearly 600,000 women dying each year for want of adequate reproductive health care.

However women do not wish to give up their reproductive roles despite the risk. They only ask for the support of the people and agencies around them to reduce the risks associated with the role.

But Ms Trone stressed: "Their remains a gender gap in addressing health issues.

"There are biological as well as socio-economic and cultural reasons for differences in the health status of women and men, but the second-class status of women has often led to the neglect of health problems specific to women.'' She said education was one of the most important means to empower women.

"Educated women tend to marry later, want fewer children, are more likely to use effective methods of contraception and have greater means to improve their economic livelihoods.'' Paid work for women is also crucial to their achieving self-reliance and the well-being of dependent family members, said Ms Trone.

"But access to such work is unequal amongst men and women.'' She said: "We need a people-centred approach to development, one that empowers all people and especially establishes equality for women.

And Ms Trone warned: "But if we are to achieve this find of people-centred development, policy makers, planners and economists will have to start taking women and gender issues seriously.

"This must be reflected in national policy and practical decisions on the ground, including decisions by corporate bodies and businesses of all sizes.''