Human Rights, Dignity, Good Health and freedom central to sustainable world
Global opinion leaders and stakeholders have held an interactive high level debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York about the centrality of human rights and dignity, good health, and freedom of mobility to a sustainable world.
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The debate, organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), centred on the triumphs and challenges the world still faces 20 years after the adoption of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
This global consensus marked a historic paradigm shift that universally recognised women and young girls as individuals entitled to the same opportunities, choices, and rights as men.
The event inaugurated the 47th session of the Commission on Population and Development, at which the world is set to renew its commitment to the ICPD Programme of Action.
The debate sought to bring worldwide attention to the findings and key messages of the agenda that emerged from the ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Report.
These findings address the single goal: To ensure sustainable development by placing the human rights of all people and individual well-being at the heart of the future development agenda.
An unfinished agenda
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of the UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin said “The Programme of Action charted a course that truly brought together the two aspects of development we are discussing today: human progress and sustainability,”
“Fewer women are dying in pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal mortality worldwide fell by nearly half between 1990 and 2010. More women have access to education, work and political participation. More children, girls in particular, are going to school, with primary school enrolment rates approaching 90 per cent,” said Dr. Osotimehin.
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He however underlined the vast scale of work that remains to be done. “Nine out of 10 adolescent pregnancies take place in the context of child marriage,” Dr. Osotimehin said. “You know what that means – it spells the end of education, risks their lives and totally wipes out their potential.”
“The last 20 years has shown that promoting and protecting human rights, investing in people and putting people at the centre of development are preconditions to sustainable development. We have achieved and attained many successes since Cairo, yet the ICPD remains an unfinished agenda.” ” Dr. Osotimehin added.
Speakers
Speakers at the high-level interactive debate included President Anote Tong of Kiribati; former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique; former President Tarja Halonen of Finland Prof, Fred Sai, Chairman of the 1994 ICPD conference and Ms Viola Onwuliri, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign affairs.
The debate started with keynote statements followed by interactive debates among a panel of high-ranking dignitaries, including: Eleonora Menicucci, Minister, Special Secretariat for Women’s Affairs, Brazil; Tedros Ghebreyesus, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia; Nana Oye Lithur, Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and Asma Khader, Secretary-General, National Commission for Women and General Coordinator of Sisterhood is Global Institute, Jordan.
Completing the journey
In his keynote address titled ‘The vision of Cairo- a Perspective from the past for the future” Prof. Sai who was Chairman of the 1994 Cairo Conference emphasised that “There is so much more we must do. There are still 220 or more million women in the world who want to prevent pregnancy but are not able to do so,” he said. “Women are still losing their lives while bringing new life into the world. Most of these deaths are completely preventable.”
“We must ensure that reproductive health is at the top of the development agenda,” said Dr. Sai. He added, to a standing ovation: “On bended knees – old and creaky – I urge you to complete the journey we started so long, long ago.”
Former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano, who is Co-Chair of the ICPD High-Level Task Force, noted that “The world has changed since 1994, and when we look to the future, we need to do so with an eye towards what needs to be done. And this must include fulfilling sexual and reproductive health and rights for everyone, especially women, adolescents and youth, now in the 21st century.”
He stressed the need for governments to put in place a mechanism to assess the ICPD issues, even with competing attention with other equally important issues.
Interactive debate
Contributing to the debate Nana Oye Lithur said the global world should ensure women and girls’ reproductive rights.
She forcefully underscored that investing in Social Protection was beneficial as it reduces poverty, addresses vulnerabilities and narrows the inequality gap.
When governments invest in Social Protection it has a direct impact on the people, particularly, women who are at the focus of social protection interventions, Nana Oye said.
She therefore stressed social protection issues should be a priority that even as governments grapple with the difficult choices on how to spend their budgets.
Written by Rosemary Ardayfio, NEW YORK
Courtesy: (UNFPA)
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