Part III – UN Economic Regional Conference – Enabling Choices: Population Priorities for the 21st Century, Geneva 1-2 July 2013
The high-level regional conference Enabling Choices: Population Priorities for the 21st Century was held in Geneva on 1-2 July 2013, organized jointly by UNFPA and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and hosted by the Government of Switzerland.
Following the presentations and discussions the Chair’s Summary was presented at the final session. In its Progress and Recommendations it includes the following in the various sections.
Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development
People in the region are living longer and healthier lives and have higher levels of education than past generations and against the ‘backdrop’ of the economic crisis’ the region is experiencing lower fertility, ageing populations and more complex migration policies.
Participants recommended the promotion of healthy lifestyles among adolescents and young people with access to youth-friendly health services and social security coverage. With respect to the human rights of migrants, almost half of whom are women and girls and are particularly vulnerable, more attention should be given to protecting and fulfilling their human rights.
Families, Sexual and Reproductive Health over the Life Course
Participants underscored that the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential to achieving gender equality, social justice and sustainable development. Governments should take a human-rights based approach to sexual and reproductive health and there is a need for national legislation to be free of any form of discrimination, coercion and violence, including intimate partner violence. In addition Governments, in partnership with parliamentarian networks and CSOs should take steps to combat practices violating the reproductive rights of women and adolescent girls, such as spousal or parental consent requirements to receive health services, forced sterilization and forced abortion, or discrimination in education and employment due to pregnancy and motherhood. Legal barriers should be removed preventing women and girls from access to safe abortion services as well as for protecting the rights of people living with HIV to access sexual and reproductive health education and services.
Gender-sensitive and life-skills based comprehensive sexuality education, consistent with evolving age was recognized as being essential for adolescents and young people. It was also recommended that professional groups should be provided with training to enhance their understanding of human rights based , gender sensitive and responsive non-discriminatory approaches to all individuals regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, class , religious affiliation, marital status, occupation, disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, immigration status, or language.
The role of policy makers and was others was reaffirmed in fostering an enabling environment for the full and equal enjoyment of human rights, including sexual and reproductive health rights. Furthermore, barriers to access to contraceptives should be removed and emergency contraception and counseling should be made available in a timely and non-judgmental manner to all women and adolescent girls.
Participants also called for the revision of restriction within existing abortion laws and they also noted that laws and practices that criminalize consensual adult sexual behaviours, including outside marriage and including those of voluntary sex work, potentially marginalize the status of individuals in society, while constituting a public health threat. They also underscored the need for Governments to ensure zero tolerance for gender-based violence and called for measures to criminalize violence against women and girls. Programmes should also be introduced to end sex selection in affected countries.
Inequalities, Social Inclusion and Rights
Among the recommendations made, participants called for inclusive education with gender-sensitive curricula. The need for accountability, participation and transparency was highlighted in addition to the importance of continuing to strengthen partnerships with NGOs.
Partnerships and International Cooperation
Again, the role of NGOs and CSOs was recognized and the need to increase funding to CSOs to enable them to continue to play their multiple roles effectively. Governments should also respect the commitment of 0.7% of GDP for Overseas Development Assistance.
Cross-cutting issues
There was a call for more attention to quality, timely and disaggregated census, survey and vital registration data. This was particularly important in countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia where better data is required on migration, human trafficking, early marriage, gender-based violence etc. Furthermore youth should be involved in the design of programmes and policies and in their monitoring and evaluation.
There was a call for the integration of the results of the ICPD Beyond 2014 review into the post-2015 Development Agenda. In addition, the Government of Switzerland is committed to forwarding the Summary to the UN Secretary General.
The NGOs Beyond 2014 website will be posting the final version of the Chair’s Summary as soon as it comes available. Copies of presentations are also going to be posted in the next few days.