Caribbean Forum: the Road Map for Population, Migration and Development beyond 2014

The Recommendations of the Caribbean Forum on Population, Migration and Development are in the form of a Road Map, which will provide inputs from the Caribbean to the First Regional Conference on Population and Development and the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.

Preamble

The Preamble begins by recalling the ICPD Programme of Action and the key actions for its further implementation, adopted in 1999. It also refers to the Latin American and Caribbean Consensus on Population and Development, adopted in Mexico City in May 1993, and the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Plan of Action on Population and Development of 1994 as well as other documents including those related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) and the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) The future we want.

Road Map recommendations

Participants of the Caribbean Forum on Population, Migration and Development make recommendations in the Road Map on the following areas:

• Population dynamics, youth, ageing, poverty and inequality: poverty eradication; older persons: persons with disabilities; and adolescents and youth;


• Gender Equality, Equity and Empowerment of Women: policy development; economic community; gender-based violence;


• Achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights: sexual and reproductive health and rights; male involvement; comprehensive sexual education; gender based violence; and reproductive health services; and


• Migration.

The Road Map specifies that comprehensive sexual education programmes should be designed and implemented that provide accurate information about human sexuality, including growth and development, sexual anatomy and physiology; reproduction, contraception; pregnancy and childbirth, HIV and AIDS and sexually treansmitted infections (STIs); family life and inter-personal relationships; culture and sexuality, human rights empowerment; non-discrimination, equality and gender roles, sexual behavior, sexual abuse, gender-based violence, harmful practices; and opportunities to explore values, attitudes and norms concerning sexual and social relationships. The involvement of young people’s leadership should be promoted and their meaningful participation in policy and decision making processes ensured.

While the first draft included references to no discrimination on the ground of age, sex, SOGI and also comprehensive sexuality education (as opposed to comprehensive sexual education), these references were deleted because of the strong opposition from Jamaica.

It is to be noted that the Road Map calls for the achievement of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. In addition Governments should provide comprehensive integrated and quality sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services through the primary health care system, with particular attention to the needs of vulnerable populations and most at risk populations. Highest priority should be given to the prevention of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies through improving access to information, technologies, commodities and services that increase the ability of couples and individuals to make free and informed decisions about the number and timing of children, making every effort to eliminate the need for abortion.

See The Road Map for Population, Migration and Development beyond 2014.