Background to the 5threview of the ICPD Programme of Action (cont)
While the ICPD Programme of Action (PoA) did not have a built-in review and follow-up process such as that included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (See para 74)[1], it called for “a regular review of the implementation”.[2] The UN General Assembly, in its resolution 49/128,[3] by which it formally adopted the PoA, while recognizing its own role in organizing such a review, requested the UN Economic and Social Council also to take on this function “including a quinquennial review and appraisal of the progress made in achieving the goals and objectives of the Programme of Action…”
In addition, this resolution changed the name of from the Population Commission to the Commission on Population and Development and stipulated that it should meet on an annual basis. It also refers to the role of the regional commissions in the implementation of the Programme of Action.
Regional preparatory meetings
The regional reviews which will take place this year, 2018, will focus on follow-up to the regional meetings that took place in 2013 in preparation for ICPD Beyond 2014, the 20-year review of the ICPD PoA. A regional meeting was held in each of the five UN regions, namely the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; the Economic Commission for Europe; the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Insofar as the meetings outcomes were different from each other, there will be significant differences in the ICPD Beyond 2014 + 5 Regional Reviews. In coming postings we will be providing available information on each of them.
[1] United Nations General Assembly. 2015. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, 70.1 Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York.
[2] Report Of The International Conference On Population And Development* (Cairo, 5-13 September 1994) http://undocs.org/A/CONF.171/13 para 16.21