Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing - Report of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability

Tarja Halonen, Source: WikipediaResilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing, the Report of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability was presented to the Secretary-General in Addis Ababa at the end of January 2012.

The 22-member Panel, co-chaired by Tarja Halonen, President of Finland and Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa was established in August 2010 to formulate a new blueprint for sustainable development and low-carbon prosperity. The Report includes important recommendations on Gender equality and reproductive rights and family planning.

In Chapter III on Empowering people to make sustainable choices, the High-level Panel recognizes that “improving access to family planning, reproductive rights and health services is … fundamental to sustainable development”. It not only provides immediate health benefits and reduced maternal and child mortality, but also slows population growth, thereby helping to end poverty passed from one generation to another. This contributes to lightening the burden on countries with poor natural resource endowments. 

Jacob Zuma, Source: WikipediaAccess to family planning and reproductive health services is closely linked to overall gender equality.  Gender equality tends to be higher where family planning and reproductive health services are available, and vice versa.1

Recommendation 3, one of 56 made by the Panel, says that 

‘Governments should accelerate the implementation of commitments to advance gender equality and women’s rights, including through the repeal of discriminatory laws and removal of formal barriers, the reform of institutions and the development and adoption of innovative measures to address informal and cultural practices that act as barriers. Particular emphasis should be given to: 

(a) Ensuring that women have full and equal access to and control over productive resources through the equal right to own property and the right to inherit, and equal access to credit, financial and extension services along the entire value chain;

(b) Ensuring women’s equal rights and opportunities in political decision-making processes that are participatory, responsive, equitable and inclusive;

(c) Ensuring universal access to quality and affordable family-planning and other sexual and reproductive rights and health services. 

The report of the High-level Panel is an important contribution to the preparations for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) in Brazil in June 2012.

For further information please visit the United Nations Secretary-General's High Level Panel on Global Sustainability website. 

A copy of the report Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing is available for download from here. 

1 Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing pp 28-29 

2  p30