Build on progress of ICPD: In next development agenda
Governments have been called upon to build on the progress made and experiences gained from the implementation of Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) over the last 20 years in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda.
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The call was contained in a resolution adopted after the 47th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The session discussed the theme: “Assessment of the Status of Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).”
Resolution
The 27-paragraph resolution reiterated the urgent need for increased political will from all governments to address existing gaps in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and to respond to new challenges relevant to population and development.
The areas identified to have gaps were the respect, protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, unequal progress in achieving universal and equitable access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health, newborn and child health, as well as uneven progress in health conditions, life expectancy and the elimination of violence and discrimination without distinction of any kind.
The resolution further urged governments to develop, strengthen and implement effective strategies aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development addressing the needs of children, adolescents and youth, older persons, unemployed persons and persons with disabilities, as well as other disadvantaged and marginalised groups in both urban and rural areas.
In addition, it urged governments and development partners to improve maternal health, reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality, and prevent and respond to HIV and AIDS, strengthen health systems and ensure that they prioritise universal access to sexual and reproductive information and healthcare services, including family planning, prenatal care, safe delivery and post-natal care, especially breastfeeding and infant and women’s healthcare, emergency obstetric care, prevention and appropriate treatment of infertility and quality services for the management of complications arising from abortion.
It expressed deep concern about the pervasiveness of gender-based violence, in particular violence against women and girls, and reiterated the need to further intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, and harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
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The resolution also urged governments to strengthen efforts to address climate change, and emphasised that they should capitalise on the demographic dividend by increasing and sustaining investment in women and youth, especially education for girls, reproductive health as well as in job creation, with the appropriate economic reforms and policies that would result in high return on investment for the growing working-age population.
The resolution affirmed “the sovereign right of each country to implement the recommendations of the PoA or other proposals in the resolution consistent with national laws and development priorities, with full respect for the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of its people, and in conformity with universally recognised international human rights.”
Negotiation process
The resolution was adopted after long negotiations between experts, country delegations and Heads of Missions in New York.
Long before the session, some staff of African missions had demanded that the Commission should not adopt a resolution, but rather come out with a procedural document requesting countries to continue implementing the ICPD Programme of Work.
Part of Africa even rejected the preamble and some of the contents of the draft resolution facilitated by Denmark and Georgia.
At a point it was clear that the Africa group was not negotiating ‘as one.’ Some experts from the embassies were pushing for positions on issues that were always not in line with their national positions on those issues.
Some even denied African Union instruments and positions adopted by Ministers and Heads of State, describing them as written by consultants and the common Africa Position arrived adopted at the African Regional review of the ICPD in Addis Ababa as a non-transparent document.
Contentious issues
They were vehemently against the inclusion of the words, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), human rights and non-discrimination in the report of the ICPD review because of possible linkages to gay rights.
Opponents of the report, such as Mr Usman Sarki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, said the PoA did not use words like SRHR and so it should not be included in any outcome document from the session.
Some of the mission heads, including Kenya’s Mr Machria Kamau said the Africa group rejected the inclusion of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in any resolution because it was contrary to African customs. They did not also want any resolution regarding abortion.
However, after long hours of negotiations, the bureau of the CPD, in consultation with member states, finally reached a consensus with the Africa Group and other delegations that were opposed to a resolution, to agree to a resolution.
UNFPA’s statement
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), welcomed the conclusions of the CPD, which it said reaffirmed the groundbreaking and forward-looking Programme of Action of the 1994 ICPD.
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A statement issued by the Executive Director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, said: “I particularly welcome the Commission’s emphasis on the need to promote human development and gender equality and to empower girls and young women. I also strongly support the Commission’s belief that further development progress requires the realisation of human rights and full participation of young people who are a major resource for development and key agents of social change.”
“We at UNFPA strongly agree with the Commission that sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are not only essential to the realisation of social justice, but key to sustainable development,” Dr Osotimehin said.
He urged the international community to give particular attention to the areas of shortfall in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action, including universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, which includes family planning.
Dr Osotimehin commended the Commission for acknowledging the critical need to address inequality and discrimination on any ground, especially for the most disadvantaged, adding that addressing these issues would vastly enhance the common efforts to build a more sustainable and inclusive future beyond 2015.
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“I am very pleased that the Commission has called on governments to build on progress made and experiences gained from the ICPD implementation in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda,” and said the UNFPA looked forward to assisting countries in implementing the decisions they have taken.