Rio+20: What about population dynamics and reproductive health?

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) 'Rio+20' will take place in June this year. The conference will be an important event that is set to not only drive the sustainable development agenda, but influence the international development agenda post-2015. Yet unless the SRHR community acts soon, population dynamics and sexual and reproductive health are likely to remain off the agenda.

The zero draft of the outcome document was published last month, but contains no reference to reproductive health and rights, and very limited focus on population dynamics. The social pillar of sustainable development is somewhat overlooked, and the limited focus on gender inequality is particularly concerning.

To address these concerns, the Population and Climate Change Alliance (PCCA) has produced a document setting out recommendations and suggested text in response to the zero draft. The document has been circulated widely and organisations undertaking advocacy work on sexual and reproductive health and rights in relation to Rio+20 are invited to use the document as they wish, to inform negotiations on the zero draft and thereafter on the road to Rio+20.

In particular, the PCCA is encouraging organisations to share the document with the national delegations for Rio+20, as well as with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders. We know that at least eleven national delegations have received the recommendations to date.

Last week initial discussions took place at the UN on the first two chapters of the zero draft. Informal negotiations will take place 19-23 March on the remaining chapters, for which delegations have until 29 February to submit written input.

It’s promising at least that so far, during the discussions last week, the EU expressed “surprise and concern” at the lack of reference to population-related issues in the draft, and called for the document to refer to ICPD. Additionally, UNFPA urged for reference to universal access to family planning and reproductive health, and calls for greater attention to the importance of gender equality for sustainable development came from a number of sources. Whether these calls fall on death ears, or become a serious sticking point of course remains to be seen.

The PCCA’s recommendations and suggestions for the Rio+20 zero draft and further information is available on the Population and Sustainability Network website: http://www.populationandsustainability.org/2080/news/pcca-responds-to-the-rio20-zero-draft.html

Article by: Sarah Fisher, Population and Sustainability Network