‘Speak with one voice at UN Session’
The African Population Commission (APC) has called on its member states to negotiate what they desire for themselves and the continent in the future at the forthcoming 47th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD) to be held in New York.
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The commission has, therefore, urged its members to speak with ‘one voice’ at the negotiation that will go on at the CPD to make sure that issues that are critical for its development are captured in the post 2015 global agenda.
Existing agreements
At a Special Session of the Bureau of the APC in New York, Dr M.S Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the AUC, entreated members to support international documents that their countries have signed onto.
Key among these documents, he said, were the African Charter of the rights and welfare of the child, which calls for the elimination of harmful social and cultural practices affecting the welfare, dignity, normal growth, and development of the child, and in particular those customs and practices prejudicial to the health and life of the child, such as child marriage.
The African Youth Charter, which promotes non-discrimination, is also critical in the negotiations, Dr Kaloko emphasised.
He stressed that among its many aspirations, African states must desire “an Africa whose development is people-driven, especially relying on the potential offered by its youth and women.”
Negotiate as one
Briefing members on the process of Negotiation and harmonization of Africa’s position on the CPD, Dr Benoit Kalasa, Director, UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office, said African had gained a lot in the 20 years of the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action.
“There has been substantial improvement in health; nearly all countries have population policies and programmes, women empowerment and gender equality and increasing collection and utilisation of population data through census and survey.
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But more importantly, Dr Kalasa said, “the continent has much more to lose if ICPD beyond 2014 is not strong, comprehensive and inclusive,” as an alarming high proportion of people continue to live without access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH&R).
He emphasised that despite significant gains, many, particularly women, girls, youth and people with disability, had been left behind, lacking fulfilment of basic needs, meaningful work and access to social protection, health and education.