Abstract

PIP: The World Health Organization's (WHO) response to the challenge of reproductive health is based upon advocacy, normative functions, technical cooperation, and research. WHO will undertake international and national advocacy for the concept of reproductive health and relevant policies and programs with the goal of creating an enabling environment and securing more resources. Such advocacy will be broad-based, directed to people, international and national agencies, and institutions and nongovernmental organizations within the health sector and in related sectors. WHO will work to develop policies, strategic approaches, norms, standards, indicators, and guidelines for reproductive health programs which will be adapted in accordance with experience in country situations and the results of operational research. In its technical cooperation with countries, the WHO will continue to provide support in formulating, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive national reproductive health policies and programs, and will promote and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise to member states and others working to improve reproductive health. WHO acknowledges that reproductive health cannot be externally imposed. Finally, with regard to research, WHO will support research designed to improve the knowledge base and develop new approaches and technologies. WHO's support to research in reproductive health is intended to strengthen policy formation, program development and implementation, and capacity for essential national research.