ISRRC - ICPD CSO consultation. Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: The Africa we want update

We have received the following from the International Planned Parenthood Federation:

IPPFAR, UNFPA, UNECA convene ICPD review consultations by CSOs

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Africa Region is committed to leverage the necessary efforts and partnerships to facilitate civil society organizations (CSO) consultations and contributions to the beyond 2014 ICPD agenda.

IPPF Africa Regional Director Lucien Kouakou was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) CSO consultations in Addis Ababa Ethiopia which was attended by around 150 participants from across the region: “The role of CSOs in influencing policies related to critical development issues is key. RHANA a network of national and international CSOs with an Africa-wide representation has undertaken a review of the ICPD Programme of Action,” he said.

RHANA (Reproductive Health Advocacy Network for Africa) is an IPPFAR rights based coalition of CSOS for the advancement of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa.

UNFPA's Kwabena Osei-Danquah Executive Coordinator, ICPD Beyond 2014 Coordination Secretariat made a presentation on the ICPD at 20. CSO consultations must respond to new challenges of population, development, and changes to the development arena, as he said: "We must ensure we have a systematic integrated approach to population and development issues." as he said the five focus areas of the CSO consultations should be dignity, health, place (mobility, migration), governance and sustainability.

Hassan Yousif, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said the role of CSOs is very important in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action "Fifty-two countries participated in the review and of these 27 prepared the optional country specific reports." He praised governments for their success, "progress is impressive but we need to sustain achievements." Highlighting the gaps, Mr Yousif reported that 87 per cent of the countries in the region reported that they were behind schedule in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action. He noted that in the area of reproductive health access to safe abortion services was limited. Similarly, the disabled, indigenous communities and minorities continue to have limited access to SRHR services.

RHANA participant Dr Namuunda Mutombo from the African Population and Health Research Centre said, "My main expectation is that delegates will take time to fully participate in the proceedings underpinning the main issues that Africa must address going forward."

On 27 September, the CSOs delivered recommendations to be presented to government officials and experts during the Africa Conference on Population and Development- Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: The Africa we want next week.

ISRRC - ICPD CSO consultation. Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: The Africa we want update