European Parliament
Ribeiro e Castro (UEN ),
in writing
(PT)
As I stated at first reading, measures must be funded in the area of development cooperation to combat poverty and disease and to develop solutions for education, within a culture of safeguarding basic human rights.
I am, of course, unreservedly in favour of adopting measures that may contribute towards implementing the aims of helping the poorest people. At first reading, I voted in favour of the report, because I was convinced that the rapporteur’s suggestions would help to fulfil these objectives. Given that 20 of the 21 amendments tabled by Parliament were accepted by the Council and the Commission, I support this report.
I should like to pinpoint one concern, which I fear has not been properly addressed, and that is the definition of ‘sexual and reproductive health’. This is a legitimate concern, but it must not be twisted, and turned into a catch-all term covering the development of international programmes to promote abortion, which I would condemn in the strongest terms. It must be specified that the term ‘sexual and reproductive health’ refers to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, and to the provision of decent conditions for pregnancy, labour, childbirth and post-natal care.

