Delegation of the French Republic
Commission on Population and Development
Family planning is an ever-growing concern globally, as we face problems with both
overpopulation and the decrease in birth rates. Family planning enables people to choose when and if
they want to have children by providing them with the knowledge, resources, and tools they need. It
involves a variety of contraceptives, including tablets, implants, intrauterine devices,
fertility-restricting surgeries, and barrier contraceptives like condoms. According to the World Health
Organization, there are 6 benefits of family planning. First, protecting women's health from
pregnancy-related hazards. Family planning enables pregnancy spacing and can postpone pregnancies
in young women who are more likely to experience health issues and early child loss. It also gives
women the option to have fewer children if they so choose. According to the evidence, women who
have more than four children are more likely to die during childbirth. Reducing infant mortality is the
second. Closely spaced and ill-timed pregnancies and births, which are a factor in some of the highest
infant mortality rates in the world, can be avoided using family planning. Third, aiding in HIV/AIDS
prevention. Family planning lowers the likelihood of unwanted pregnancies among HIV-positive
women, reducing the number of orphans and children who are infected.
Next, improving education and empowering people. People can make educated decisions about their
sexual and reproductive health thanks to family planning. Smaller families enable parents to devote
more time and money to each child. Compared to kids with plenty of siblings, those with fewer
siblings stay in school longer. reducing teenage pregnancies is the fifth. Preterm or low birth weight
births are more common in adolescent pregnancies. Neonatal death rates are greater among children
born to teenagers.
Sixth, a slower rate of population expansion. Family planning is essential for reducing uncontrollable
population increase and the detrimental effects it has on the economy, the environment, and efforts to
develop the nation and its regions.
Overall, family planning is an ever-growing concern and the UN should have a responsibility in
assisting participating nations with their family planning issues.
The Republic of France believes that they need family planning. France was one of the first countries
to legalize abortion. Law 75-17 on January 18, 1975, which allowed women to request an abortion up
until the tenth week of pregnancy, legalized abortion in France. Law 75-17 was put into permanent
effect in December 1979 after a trial period. Internationally, our delegation believes that the UN
should take some action in supporting young women and men across the world. As a precedent, there
is a law called Veil law in France. It allows for voluntary abortion before the end of the tenth week of
pregnancy legal for a five-year period under the following restrictions: scenario of distress; pregnancy
lasting 10 weeks or less.
As the delegate of France, I would like to suggest two clauses to a resolution that I would sign off on.
Firstly I would like to propose a policy to allow foreign citizens to get abortions in different states.
For example, if a French national gets pregnant in England they should be able to get assistance with
an abortion. Additionally, I would like to propose that there is higher expenditure on the spread of
sexual education and health care products, through a UN-sponsored organization.