ICPD+25 NAIROBI

Nov 12, 2019

 

THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is already 25 years since 179 governments gathered in Cairo to adopt a Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). This has guided our actions on reproductive health and rights, by providing a multilateral and comprehensive plan to progress.

The years preceding the adoption of the Programme of Action were marked by population growth worldwide, leading to individual government responses to the related challenges. The ICPD Programme of Action ensured consensus on how we responded.

While we have made progress in the years following the adoption of the Programme of Action, a considerable amount of work needs to be done to guarantee that people around the world, particularly girls and women, have access to sexual and reproductive health.

Among other things, the Programme of Action aims to ensure gender equality, safe child birth and protection against gender-based violence. While this has not been achieved, the ICPD continues to provide a veritable platform for cooperation – ensuring that we act in the best interests of those who are furthest behind.

As we enter the Decade of Delivery for Agenda 2030, I call on national governments to enact policies, strategies, and programmes geared towards the full and accelerated implementation of the ICPD agenda. This is important as the Programme for Action and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development are mutually reinforcing.

We need to recommit to upholding the rights and dignity of all people, strengthening health systems, investing in youth, leveraging our demographic diversity to achieve our shared goals.

I urge you all to evaluate the progress we have made, identify existing gaps and commit to action-orientated solutions to be undertaken by government and all other stakeholders.  

On my part, I have set priorities for the seventy-fourth session which are at the core of the ICPD agenda, namely: peace and security, poverty eradication, and zero hunger, access to quality education and inclusion.

I will continue to work with UN Member States, other organs of the United Nations, and civil society organisations to ensure the implementation of these priorities.

I thank you