The International Sexual and Reproductive Rights Coalition (ISRRC)* welcomes the outcome resolution of the 54th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on the special theme on population, food security, nutrition and sustainable development.
After several years of difficult negotiations without outcomes, this year’s consensus agreement is the recognition of the Commission’s crucial mandate on the review of implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, reaffirming the global commitment from Member States to accelerate implementation of 2019 CPD Political Declaration and Nairobi Summit for ICPD+25.
We applaud the Chair’s initiative to include civil society inputs for the first time on the Methods of Work for the Commission as well as the CSO consultation undertaken by the co-facilitators on the draft outcome document. ISRRC welcomes these initiatives and stresses that subsequent sessions of the CPD, whether in person or virtual, should also continue with this inclusive approach to ensure meaningful participation in the process.
ISRRC is very pleased to see the outcome resolution has maintained the lines of previously agreed language on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We also welcome the resolution’s strong reference linking sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights and the impacts of the COVID-19 on health systems and the need for Universal Health Coverage. Additionally, the text sufficiently addresses the current impacts of the pandemic on food insecurity, malnutrition and humanitarian needs as well as its disproportionate impacts on women and girls, including child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, sexual and gender-based violence, domestic violence, unintended pregnancies and violence in digital contexts, among others. The outcome resolution also recognizes the ability and potential of adolescents and young people and urges the removal of all types of barriers to protect their health and to actively support and invest in increased participation of young people and in youth-led and youth-focused organizations. Furthermore, it also reaffirms the outcomes of the ICPD reviews as they are an integral part of the Cairo agenda and part of the accountability framework to assess the progress towards the implementation of the Programme of Action.
The outcome document reflects Member States’ commitment towards the ICPD agenda and its implementation. This year’s outcome is also a product of the outstanding work of the co-facilitators and the Commission’s Chair, who played an instrumental role in ensuring a consensual outcome. Lastly, we also commend the flexibility and spirit of compromise exhibited by various Member States to ensure the adoption of an outcome during this year’s session, which reaffirms the crucial importance of the Commission as the only UN intergovernmental body entrusted with the implementation and follow-up of the ICPD Programme of Action.
* Established in 2011, the International Sexual and Reproductive Rights Coalition is a global coalition with more than a 100 organisations worldwide in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights who engage in CPD sessions with the purpose of information sharing and strategizing to reach progressive SRHR outcomes.
Follows is the adopted resolution in all UN official languages: https://undocs.org/en/E/CN.9/2021/L.5