UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
|
| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
|
"ICPD 94", No. 12
February 1994
Newsletter of the International Conference on Population and
Development
Cairo, Egypt, 5-13 September 1994
NEWS FROM THE NGOS
U.S. NETWORK ORGANIZES TOWN MEETINGS
A large and diverse group of non-profit organizations have
established a U.S. Network for Cairo '94 to coordinate United
States' NGO involvement in ICPD. From the Audubon Society to Zero
Population Growth, members represent population, health, human
rights, religious, environmental, media, women's, family planning
and development organizations. Membership is open to all U.S. NGOs
and concerned citizens.
The group aims to encourage and facilitate the widest possible
citizen involvement in the development of U.S. Government
positions, papers and action programmes for ICPD.
As part of this effort, the Network is helping to coordinate
12 town meetings across the United States. The first regional town
meeting, held in Baltimore, Maryland, generated a wide range of
discussion from a diverse group of participants on issues relating
to population and development. Recommendations from the entire set
of town meetings are intended to help influence the U.S. position
at PrepCom III.
The U.S. Network last month began publishing a monthly media
bulletin, "Cairo '94", to encourage media coverage of ICPD and
population issues in general. The January issue featured an
overview of the ICPD process as well as a directory listing
spokespersons from participating organizations in the Network.
For more information, contact Doug Hunt, U.S. Network for
Cairo '94, 1400 Sixteenth Street NW, Suite 320, Washington, D.C.
20036. Tel: (202) 332-2200; fax: (202) 332-2303.
*
PAKISTAN NGOS HIGHLIGHT FUTURE CHALLENGES
To ensure that NGOs are closely involved in preparations for ICPD,
the Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPA) at the end of the
year organized an NGO group meeting to discuss family planning and
reproductive health. FPA is an affiliate of the International
Planned Parenthood Federation.
Participants stressed the crucial role that women must play in
the development process, and welcomed the recognition among policy
makers that family planning strategies must be gender sensitive and
holistic to be effective. After outlining the current situation in
Pakistan and discussing future challenges to family planning and
reproductive health initiatives, they concluded that "the
centrality of women and choice can only be arrived at if women are
integrated into population and development as active participants,
decision makers as well as beneficiaries."
Elsewhere in the region, the FPA of India has initiated
dialogue on reproductive health in preparation for the Cairo
Conference. The FPAs in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are also
taking active roles in pre-ICPD plans by working closely with their
respective ICPD national committees.
*
NETHERLANDS NGOS PREPARE 'CAIRO PLATFORM '94'
Some 50 Dutch NGOs -- most of them active in the fields of
population, environment, development, or women and health --
started work in September 1993 on a 'Cairo Platform '94'. The
Platform aims to stimulate public debate on population issues, to
coordinate and strengthen the input of Dutch NGOs in ICPD, and to
contribute towards the Netherlands' official position in Cairo.
Various publications, workshops and public events will be organized
in connection with the Platform.
Three working groups have been set up: population policies,
"from targets to choice"; autonomy of women; and population,
development and environment. Together with a three-member task
force, they will present recommendations to two plenary Platform
workshops in February.
*
FROM THE NGO PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE ICPD
To date, over 200 NGOs have registered their intention to organize
workshops or other events at PrepCom III or at the NGO Forum which
will begin in Cairo on 3 September.
Representatives of the NGO Planning Committee recently met
with Egyptian authorities in Cairo to discuss plans for
partitioning the National Sports Complex to meet the needs of
thousands of NGO participants expected to take part in the NGO
Forum.
Meetings were also held with the Egyptian NGO Steering
Committee -- which is hosting the forum -- regarding supporting
activities and services, and with EMECO Travel Services, the agency
appointed by the Egyptian Government to coordinate travel
arrangements. EMECO assured the Planning Committee staff that there
will be a variety of accommodations in the range of $20-35 per
night at the Olympic Village, in university dormitories, in
military hotels, and perhaps even in floating tourist hotel boats.
To inquire about reservations in these low-cost facilities, NGO
representatives should call EMECO at 20-2-574-9360.
Registration forms for the NGO Forum in Cairo will soon be
sent to over 1,500 NGOs around the world. Interested groups should
contact the NGO Planning Committee for ICPD, 777 United Nations
Plaza, Eighth Floor, New York, NY 10017. Tel: (212) 545-7344; fax:
(212) 545-7581. There will be a discount for NGOs that register
ahead of time; this will also help the Planning Committee to
provide necessary services. Fees will cover such costs as
interpretation, communications facilities and the printed NGO Forum
Programme.
***
For printed or electronic copies of the "ICPD 94" newsletter, in
English, French or Spanish, or further information, please
contact:
ICPD Secretariat 220 E. 42nd Street, 22nd floor
New York, N.Y. 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 297-5244/5245
Media contact: (212) 297-5023/5030 or 5279
Fax: (212) 297-5250
E-mail: ryanw@unfpa.org or icpd@igc.apc.org
* *** *