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10th
Anniversary of the
International Conference on Population and Development
The International
Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in
1994 was a milestone in the history of population and development,
as well as the history of women's rights. The Programme of Action
that was adopted by 179 countries, by consensus, is a forward-looking
20-year plan. While the Programme of Action (PoA) is comprehensive
and calls for action at various levels, the strategic focus of the
recommendations is for action at the national level.
The first
five-year review of the implementation of the Programme of Action
was conducted by the General Assembly in 1999 which adopted, by
consensus, the Key Actions for the Further Implementation of
the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population
and Development . The review showed that the ICPD goals are
still valid and that much progress had been made in advancing them.
At the same time, it revealed that much greater and urgent action
was needed in certain areas. The Key Actions validated
the comprehensive approach to population and development articulated
in the Programme of Action, affirmed the ICPD goals and provided
a set of benchmarks for achieving them.
As we reach
the 10 th Anniversary of the ICPD, the mid-point of its 20-year
Programme of Action, there is much to celebrate and to look forward
to. Many countries have been able to translate the commitments
they made in Cairo into policies and action programmes designed
to transform the lives of women and men. But much remains
to be done. At this point in time, most member states, UNFPA,
and other partners believe that the best way to commemorate ICPD
is by doing a pragmatic and constructive country-by-country analysis
of achievements, of constraints, of lessons learned and to feed
back the results so as to enrich and accelerate the implementation
of the ICPD PoA. The 10 th Anniversary is also an opportunity
to reflect on the ICPD goals, and demonstrate how achieving them
will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs).
Several
activities are already planned at the national, regional and global
levels.
The cornerstone
of the review process of the implementation of the ICPD PoA is at
the national level. National activities vary among countries
to include some, or all, of the following components: responses
to regional/global inquiries, national reports, national review
meetings, updates of national programmes or strategies, and national
advocacy events. A common objective in all countries
is to: assess achievements; identify challenges, constraints and
opportunities; formulate lessons learned; and strategize on how
best to accelerate the implementation of the ICPD PoA. Ideally,
the review process will reinforce and complement efforts to track
progress in achieving the MDGs, and reflect the linkages between
ICPD goals and the MDGs.
The UNFPA
Country Offices are playing a proactive and catalytic role in the
national reviews of the ICPD PoA, and providing modest support from
the country programme funds, when possible. The Government
of Switzerland has provided some financial support to UNFPA for
national activities in several countries, as well as for the analysis
of the Field Inquiry (see below).
UNFPA has
undertaken a Field Inquiry on national experiences among all countries.
The Field Inquiry is designed to capture progress achieved by countries
in implementing the various commitments and recommendations contained
in the ICPD PoA and Key Actions, as well as the difficulties
and constraints they have faced.
The Field
Inquiry for developing countries assesses major sections of the
PoA, with a more in-depth examination of certain aspects, particularly
those of priority concerns to UNFPA programmes. The Field Inquiry
covers population and development; gender equality, equity and empowerment
of women; reproductive health and rights; behaviour change communication
and advocacy; partnership; resources; data, research and training;
and indicators.
The Field
Inquiry for developed countries looks at selected aspects of the
PoA and focuses on population, gender and reproductive health issues,
partnership with NGOs and civil society, and international cooperation
in population and reproductive health, the latter in the case of
donor countries only.
A total
of 169 countries have completed the questionnaire, and a wealth
of information has been collected. Based on this information,
the Fund is preparing a global report on national experiences in
implementing the ICPD Programme of Action and Key Actions ,
identifying lessons learned and best practices. The report will
be released in connection with the annual session of the UNDP/UNFPA
Executive Board in June 2004 , in Geneva.
See also below, on FI regional reports.
UNFPA supports
the UN Regional Commissions in marking the ICPD tenth anniversary
with regional reviews, including with regional analysis of the results
of the Field Inquiry. The emphasis is on lessons learned
and on exchange of experiences at the regional level, and countries
can identify how they can be of assistance to each other in a south-south
cooperation spirit. The Government of Sweden has provided
UNFPA with some financial support to fund the participation of developing
countries, including civil society, in these regional meetings.
Asia
and the Pacific : the Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) hosted the Fifth Asia and Pacific
Population Conference (APPC) in December 2002, on the theme
of “Population and Poverty” ( http://www.unescap.org/pop/5appc/index.htm
). The Conference adopted a Plan of Action at the conclusion
of the meeting.
The
Arab Region : ESCWA along with UNFPA and the
League of Arab States is organizing the Arab Population
Forum on 6-8 April 2004 , in Beirut,
Lebanon. The objectives of this expert meeting are to assess the
achievements in the implementation of the ICPD POA and of the Amman
2 Declaration on Population and Development; to identify emerging
issues in the framework of the ICPD POA; to enable stock-taking
of lessons learned and best practices that could be replicated in
other countries in the region.
The event
will focus on selected themes such as population, poverty and development,
youth issues from a multi-faceted perspective, and on analyzing
and addressing prevailing challenges such as persistent high maternal
mortality and RH morbidity and barriers to enforcement of reproductive
rights and gender equality, and the impact of post-demographic transition.
Finally,
the Forum will allow a review of the potential sources of support
and partnership, including financial resource mobilization, participation,
transfer and utilization of knowledge, and information and communication
technology. Members from national population commissions,
civil society, academia and selected professional associations will
be among the experts who will contribute to the various sessions.
Europe
: The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
and UNFPA, as co-organizer, and the Government of Switzerland as
the host, have convened an expert meeting - the European
Population Forum 2004: Population Challenges and Policy Responses
, in Geneva on 12-14 January 2004 .
The Forum considered important, newly emerging population
changes, examined challenges they pose and identified best policy
responses to them. In this context, the Forum examined the implementation
of the ICPD-related regional and global agreements of the 1990s
in the UNECE region, as a source of partnerships and technical assistance,
particularly in countries in transition. It also considered
how the UNECE region can further the implementation of these agreements
globally in the future. The Forum brought together noted experts
from all parts of the UNECE region; from the major partners in the
region, including the European Commission, at the highest level;
from executive and legislative branches of government, academia,
research, intergovernmental organizations and institutions, civil
society, including non-governmental organizations, youth and the
private sector. The Forum provided a platform for a rich discussion
and exchange of a wide range of views, stressed the pertinence of
ICPD to the Europe region and called for immediate attention to
further its implementation worldwide as well as to address prevailing
population issues within the region. Background papers, presentations,
statements and the Chair's Conclusions are/will soon be
posted on the website:
http://www.unece.org/ead/pau/epf/Welcome.html
Africa
: The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
conducted a survey among all African countries on the implementation
of the Dakar-Ngor Declaration (DND) and the ICPD PoA; this survey
complements the UNFPA Field Inquiry, and both will be used in the
preparation of the regional report. The Fifth
Meeting of the Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of the
DND/ICPD will be convened on 12-16 April
2004 , in Dakar, to review and endorse the Africa Regional
Report. http://www.uneca.org/POPIA
- click on “Gateway”, then on “Follow-up of the DND/ICPD”.
Latin
America and the Caribbean : The Economic Commission
for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held a meeting of the
Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC)
on 11-12 November 2003 , in Port-of-Spain, to review
progress in the implementation of the ICPD PoA in the Caribbean
region. The twenty Caribbean countries and territories that
attended reaffirmed their commitment to ICPD and adopted a declaration.
ECLAC is
also preparing for the open-ended meeting of the Presiding
Officers of the Ad Hoc Committee on Population and Development
to take place in Santiago, Chile on 10-11 March, 2004 ,
and the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Population
and Development , to be convened on 29-30
June 2004 , in Puerto Rico. The latter will
have three segments: 1) Ten year review of the implementation of
the ICPD PoA; 2) Panel discussions on HIV/AIDS and on Population
and Poverty in the framework of the MDGs; and 3) Aging as the substantive
theme of the meeting, drawing on the outcome of the November 2003
Regional Conference on Aging. http://www.eclac.org/celade/
In June
2003, the GA adopted a resolution 57/270B on
the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to
the outcomes of the major UN conferences and summits in the economic
and social fields .
The GA stressed
the importance of regular reviews in accordance with the provisions
of the respective outcomes and follow-up processes of the conferences.
Conference reviews should assess the progress made in implementation
of commitments and provide occasions to reaffirm the goals and objectives
agreed at the major conferences. The periodicity and format of reviews
“should be decided on a case-by-case basis by the GA, bearing in
mind the relevant provisions, taking into account the needs, concerns
and specific nature of the issue and the economic and political
circumstances and developments and also bearing in mind the need
to continue efforts to use the existing structures as well as the
calendar of major UN events”. The existing structures in the case
of ICPD are the Commission on Population and Development (CPD),
ECOSOC and the GA.
It was decided
that the annual agenda of the GA would include an item on integrated
and coordinated follow-up. It was also decided that ECOSOC would
review on an annual basis, through a cross-sectoral thematic approach
at its coordination segment, progress in implementation of the conference
outcomes. The CPD will be expected to contribute to the assessment
of the cross-sectoral themes by ECOSOC. Each Commission is
requested to examine its working methods and report on them to ECOSOC
no later than 2005.
The resolution
stressed that there was “scope for a major event in 2005, possibly
a comprehensive review, which could be politically attractive and
powerful” linked to the 2005 review of progress achieved towards
the implementation of the commitments in the Millennium Declaration.
The full text of the resolution can be found at
http://ods-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/418/08/PDF/N0341808.pdf?OpenElement
General
Assembly Commemoration of the tenth Anniversary
In December
2003, the General Assembly adopted decision 58/529, entitled "Commemoration
of the tenth anniversary of the International Conference on Population
and Development". By this decision, the Assembly has
decided to devote one day, during its fifty-ninth session in 2004,
to the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the International
Conference on Population and Development. The date for this
event will be announced later.
Commission
on Population and Development
As mandated
by the General Assembly resolution 49/128 and subsequent decisions
of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), the primary
responsibility for the review and assessment of the implementation
of the Programme of Action rests with the three-tiered intergovernmental
mechanism comprising the General Assembly, the Economic and Social
Council and the Commission on Population and Development.
At its 37
th session, on March 22-26, 2004 , in New York,
the CPD will review and appraise the progress made in the implementation
of the ICPD Programme of Action, following a thematic approach focusing
on selected cross-cutting themes (see below). The general debate
during the 37 th session would be on national experiences in the
implementation of the Programme of Action of the ICPD on those cross-cutting
themes. The proposed cross-cutting themes for discussions
at the CPD are:
--
Population imperatives for sustainable development
-- Building
partnerships and capacity, and mobilizing human and financial resources
for the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action.
UNFPA will
submit a report on flow of financial resources for assisting
in the implementation of the Programme of Action of the ICPD ,
to the 37 th session of the CPD.
http://www.un.org/esa/population/cpd/comm2004.htm
UNFPA is
planning to organize in 2004 and 2005, two or three small-scale
technical meetings of experts to follow up on
key issues, raised in the Field Inquiry. These meetings will
be organized by UNFPA, and as appropriate, in collaboration with
other partners, i.e. UN agencies, NGOs or international organizations.
The Government of Sweden is providing some financial support
for these technical meetings.
The UNFPA
State of World Population Report for
2004 will focus on the decadal experience in the implementation
of the ICPD PoA, and will use, inter alia , some of the
results of the Field Inquiry. A number of media and advocacy
events will be held in 2004 around the Report. The State of the
World Population Report will be released in September 2004.
The second
International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation
of the ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI/ICPD) will
be held on 18-19 October 2004, at the Council
of Europe in Strasbourg, France. The conference will be a
follow-up to the first IPCI/ICPD, which was held in November 2002
in Ottawa, Canada. More details will be provided as they
become available.
Asia
and the Pacific : The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians
on Population and Development (AFPPD) is organizing three major
events in 2004 to commemorate the 10 th anniversary of ICPD:
an Asian Women Parliamentarians and Ministers' Conference, an Asian
Medical Parliamentarians Conference and a Southeast Asian Meeting
of Professional Parliamentarians on ICPD Implementation (dates and
venues to be announced later). In addition, Parliamentarians
for Global Action (PGA), under its Population and Sustainable Development
Programme, will present a Seminar on HIV/AIDS Policy, to be held
in September in South Asia.
Europe
: The Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on
Population and Development (IEPFPD) will hold its annual Council
Meeting for parliamentarians and secretariats from its member countries
and select parliamentarians from non-member countries in Ankara,
Turkey, in April. The organization is also planning a Young
Decision-Makers Meeting for young parliamentarians, in May in Stockholm,
Sweden. IEPFPD will also host the Central and East European
Initiative in Vilnius, Lithuania, in late June or early July.
Africa
and the Arab Region : The Forum
of African and Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development
(FAAPPD) will host two conferences in 2004 highlighting the
10 th anniversary of ICPD. FAAPPD's Executive Committee,
tentatively scheduled to meet in February 2004, will focus on this
and other issues. The organization will also devote one of
the three days of its Third General Conference – tentatively scheduled
for May or June – to the matter. The Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS), in conjunction with PGA (under its
Population and Sustainable Development Programme), will hold a Parliamentary
Seminar on Human Trafficking in Abuja, Nigeria, on 24-25 February.
Latin
America and the Caribbean : The Inter-American
Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (IAPG) is planning
national meetings for parliamentarians in Argentina (tentatively
scheduled for mid-March) and Mexico (tentatively scheduled for late-March).
There are
several activities, at all levels, being organised by NGOs, including
the following:
'Countdown
2015: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All '
comprises a series of activities and events that will be held throughout
2004 and into 2005 - and is a key element of efforts by NGOs and
civil society to mark the 10 th anniversary of ICPD at the national,
regional and international levels. ' Countdown 2015 ' began
as an initiative of Family Care International (FCI), International
Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Population Action International
(PAI) that now involves a wide range of NGO and donor partners committed
to making the ICPD vision a reality. ' Countdown 2015 '
activities include:
- An International Round Table
to be held in London, 31 August - 2 September
2004, preceded by a Youth Day
on the 30th of August;
- A series of six regional
meetings to be organized jointly by IPPF Regions
in partnership with other NGOs and networks;
- A Report Card
and supplementary materials aimed at assessing country performance
on ICPD goals;
- A communications campaign
aimed at refocusing attention on the importance
of the goals of the ICPD.
http://www.countdown2015.org/index.htm
The Population
Institute and Population 2005 are organizing a three-day conference
entitled ‘ The Global Population Forum 2004 ,'
from the May 13–15, 2004 in Washington, DC. The
forum is open to participation by program managers, policy makers
and NGO representatives. It will entail plenary sessions,
workshops and feature four focal topics: HIV/AIDS , Family
Planning and Reproductive Health , Aging and Migration
. http://www.population2005.org/news.htm
At the International
Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) 2005 International
Congress , July 18-23, 2005 , Tours,
France, UNFPA will sponsor a scientific plenary session on the topic
of: The ICPD Vision: How Far Has the 11-Year Journey
Taken Us ? http://www.iussp.org/France2005/index.php
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