the issues taken up in its programme of action are fundamentally related to womens human rights including gender equality the family reproductive health birth control and family planning womens health as well as immigration and education of women importantly the programme of action is explicitly grounded in human rights and proclaims that advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women and the elimination of all kinds of violence against women and ensuring womens ability to control their own fertility are cornerstones of population and developmentrelated programmes the conference was also important for its clear statement of reproductive rights explaining that these rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health