UN General Assembly Special Event, 25 September, key issues

The long-awaited UN General Assembly Special Event took place on 25 September, with the Opening session, chaired by HE John Ashe, President of General Assembly. During the Opening session, there were a number of speakers representing the different groups of countries. Before they spoke, however, there were statements from the UN Secretary-General and the President of ECOSOC and the outcome document was endorsed, to be submittd for adoption by the General Assembly as a President’s text.

A summary of the speeches in the Opening session and the key issuess raised in the Roundtables that followed is below.

Click to read more ...

High-Level Task Force for ICPD calls on African leaders to accelerate gender equality, empowerment of women and young people and sexual and reproductive health and rights

At a press conference held during the African Regional Conference on Population and Development, the High-Level Task Force for ICPD has issued a press release in which it calls on  top decision-makers in the Africa Region to step up political will and investments for advancing gender equality, the  empowerment of women and young people, and sexual and reproductive health and rights – fundamental human rights issues and also critical for the sustainable development of the region.

Click to read more ...

African CSO Statement on ICPD Beyond 2014

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

The African Civil Society Organization (CSO) statement on ICPD Beyond 2014 was presented to the Africa Conference on Population and Development Experts Meeting in Addis yesterday.

Click to read more ...

ICPD Beyond 2014 Review Expert Meeting on Women’s Health: rights, empowerment and social determinants

The ICPD Beyond 2014 Review Expert Meeting on Women’s Health: rights, empowerment and social determinants begins today, 30 September 2014 in Mexico City.

As stated in the Concept Paper the primary purpose of this three-day meeting is to review existing evidence and information on, produce insights about, and generate recommendations on ways to accelerate progress toward universal access to an integrated package of core SRH services, and toward protection of girls’ and women’s human rights, including reproductive rights. Drawing on background papers and commissioned country case studies as well as their own individual experiences and knowledge, participants will review the effectiveness of national level actions taken to date and make recommendations to:

Click to read more ...

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. 

Click to read more ...

[csw-cpd2013] ICPD Youth Pre- conference. Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: The Africa we want

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

In the opening session of the International Conference on Population and Development Youth Pre-conference on 24- 25 September, the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) called for the recognition of young people’s sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) as human rights. Over 150 youth participants drawn from across Africa discussed education, sexual and reproductive health and rights and Security. IPPFAR sponsored 20 members of its Youth Action Movement.

Click to read more ...

[SRHRPlatform2015] Are you in(volved)? Are you in(vited)? Are you in (ICPD)? AIDS Accountability International

A message from AIDS Accountability International

Are you in (ICPD)? 

On 30th September – 4th October 2013, the African Regional Conference on Population and Development will be held in Addis Ababa to review progress toward the ICPD Programme of Action. This conference will bring together representatives from African government, civil society and youth organisations, and will agree a set of priorities, challenges and emerging issues for the African region. 

Click to read more ...

Events related to the UN General Assembly Special Event beginning week of 22 September No 2

Major groups and other stakeholders’ briefing and NGLS event, Sunday 22 September

A large number of civil society organizations (CSOs) attended two events at the UN on Sunday 22 September in preparation for the UN General Assembly Special Event. The first was the Major groups and stakeholders’ briefing and the second was the event entitled, Advancing regional recommendations for post-2015: a dialogue between civil society, governments and UN representatives.

Click to read more ...

Secretary-General’s high-level forum to catalyze and accelerate further action to achieve the MDGs

Ahead of the special event of the President of the General Assembly to follow up the efforts made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on 25 September 2013, the Secretary-General is hosting a high-level forum to catalyze and accelerate further action to achieve the MDGs on 23 September. The programme is as follows:

Click to read more ...

Asian and Pacific declaration on population and development

History was made in the Asia Pacific Population Conference as thirty eight member states voted to adopt the draft declaration on population and development.

After a week of intense and passionate debate and negotiation the region overwhelmingly voted to adopt, support and promote progressive language on sexual and reproductive rights, comprehensive sexuality education (the first time it has been mentioned in such a document), and the need to address discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 

Click to read more ...