TST – Selected Follow-up and Review Processes and Platforms: An illustrative, non-exhaustive compilation – ICPD Beyond 2014 Monitoring Framework cited

At the end of the 5^th session of intergovernmental negotiations, the UN Technical Support Team released a list of existing mechanisms that could be used for follow-up and review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to support discussions on the post-2015 development agenda. The document, which is entitled ‘TST – Selected Follow-up and Review Processes and Platforms: An illustrative, non-exhaustive compilation,' includes potential review mechanisms which could address cross-cutting issues.

They include, for example, the UN General Assembly, the UN Economic and Social Council's (ECOSOC) Annual Ministerial Review (AMR), the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), UN Statistical Commission, the UN Commission on Population and Development, UN Human Rights Council, and the UN regional commissions...

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ICW/WGNRR World AIDS Day Statement on the SRHR of Young Women Living with HIV

My Life, My Choice, My Sexual & Reproductive Rights!

December 1st 2014 

This World AIDS Day, the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW)’s Chapter for Young Women, Adolescents, and Girls (CYWAG), and the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) are emphasizing the need to realize the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young women and girls living with HIV!

Gender inequality is still a major issue affecting many girls and young women around the world, playing a huge role in increasing their vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The current context of HIV clearly illustrates the importance of acknowledging how the virus affects young women and girls, where:

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RESURJ Statement to the General Assembly Special Session on the 20th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development UN

Last week, the United Nations held a “High Level Meeting” to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of the groundbreaking International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo. Twenty years ago, it was groundbreaking because it amassed world leaders who committed to approaching population and development policies placing women’s health and our human rights at its center. Last week’s commemorative meeting failed to replicate this spirit and momentum, even after considerable resources were spent in countries, regionally and globally to galvanize political will and commitment to this end.

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Further information on UN General Assembly Debate on follow-up to ICPD Programme of Action

The following information and clarifications about the UN General Assembly Debate on follow up to ICPD Programme of Action on 9 October have been made available to us by Kwabena Osei-Danquah and members of the UNFPA ICPD Beyond 2014 staff:

There will be no resolutions at the end of the debate.

At the end of the UNGASS, the General Assembly agreed, without objection or reservation, to the procedural conclusion of the session. It reads:

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UN General Assembly discusses follow-up to ICPD Programme of Action

Under the topic  “Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences”, the President of the General Assembly will hold a debate on agenda item 13 “Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields. The second part of this agenda item is on “Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development”. It will take place tomorrow, Thursday 9 October 2014, at 10.00 am in the General Assembly Hall, New York. 

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29th Special Session of the UN General Assembly on ICPD Beyond 2014

The 29^th Special Session of the UN General Assembly on ICPD Beyond 2014 took place on Monday 22 September 2014. The main item on the agenda was the “Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population Development beyond 2014.”

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said in opening the meeting, "As we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Cairo Conference and look ahead to the future, we cannot afford to short-change development," He noted that some 800 women still died each day from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and an estimated 8.7 million young women in developing countries resorted to unsafe abortions every year. Millions of people, particularly in the world’s poorest countries, also still suffered from poverty, hunger, unemployment, low life expectancy and scant access to health care and education.

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IPCI Side Event at UNGA: Implementing the promise of the Stockholm Declaration

Over 100 parliamentarians, government ministers, representatives of diplomatic missions and civil society members attended a side event on the outcome of the 2014 International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD (IPCI). The event took place on the eve of the UNGA Special Session On The Follow-Up To The Programme Of Action Of The ICPD Beyond 2014.

At IPCI 2014, held in Stockholm from 23 to 25 April, parliamentarians from 134 countries agreed a Statement of Commitment (SoC) representing their strongest call ever to implement the ICPD Programme of Action.

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Address by South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, MP, on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly on the commission on population and development

Ms Bathabile Dlamini, speaking as South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, gave a strong presentation at a meeting of the commission on population and development on harnessing the demographic dividend and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health at the UN in New York. In the context of the Addis Ababa Declaration, she discussed sexual and reproductive health and rights, reproductive justice and the links between human rights and development.

The Minister reaffirmed her government’s  position in relation to population and development, saying  “The South African Population Policy, in accordance with the South African Constitution and guided by the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD), emphasises the attainment of sustainable development and places people at the centre of that development. Development is seen as a process of enlarging people’s capabilities and ensuring that they enjoy long, healthy and creative lives. This is based on an approach that fundamental human rights and sustainable development cannot be separated if we are to improve the lives of people.”

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Breakfast side event on ‘Education Matters: Empowering Young People to make Healthier Choices’

A breakfast side event ‘Education Matters: Empowering Young People to make Healthier Choices’ organized by Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the High-Level Task Force for ICPD, and DSW which will take place on the morning of the UNGA, September 22nd, 8:30 – 10:00 am. For more information see here.

SAVE THE DATE: Building on regional SRHR positions for post-2015

The International Planned Parenthood Federation invites you to a high-level event co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN and the Government of Liberia (tbc):

THURSDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2014
3.00 – 5.00PM EST

Panellists to be confirmed.

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