Summit of the Future No 47: Silence broken on Pact for the Future Rev 3

The following message has been circulated on behalf of the Co-Facilitators:

“Please be advised that silence on the Rev.3 has been broken. Delegations are invited to informal consultations at the ambassadorial level on Wednesday, 4 September at 11 a.m. in conference room 2. There will be no opportunity for general comments; each of the paragraphs on which silence was broken will be discussed in turn.”

“Smart Investments for Financing the Post-2015 Development Agenda” from High-Level Task Force for ICPD

The High-Level Task Force for ICPD has published a new advocacy brief: “Smart Investments for Financing the Post-2015 Development Agenda”. It  gathers compelling data available on the costs of inaction and the economic and financial returns on investing in four key areas: gender equality/human rights of women and girls; sexual and reproductive health and rights; ending gender-based violence; and adolescents and youth. It is  available here.

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.

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High-Level Task Force For ICPD Releases: Policy Recommendations for ICPD Beyond 2014: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All

The High-Level Task Force for ICPD, has circulated the following release on its launch of its position paper  “Policy Recommendations for ICPD Beyond 2014: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All” in New York on April 25. The HLTF is the only high-level group in the world dedicated to advancing a forward-looking agenda for the ICPD review process, is urging governments and the international community to take much bolder action to meet and build on commitments made at the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994. 185 participants, including representatives of 27 governments from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, 29 civil society organizations and networks and 11 UN agencies and the Secretariat, joined in the high-level launch co-hosted by the Governments of Finland and Mozambique, and the Ford Foundation.

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Young people are active at the High Level Task Force for ICPD and Commission on Population and Development

At the launch of the Policy Recommendations for ICPD Beyond 2014: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All in New York, Ishita Chaudhry, Task Force member and Founder of The YP Foundation in India, gave a graphic account of the beatings that a young Muslim Peer Educator received from her own brother for spending time with non-Muslims until she had the courage to tell him to stop. 

Young people made an oral statement to the 46th Session of the Commission on Population and Development and also found time to make a video (below) explaining why they were taking time to participate a meeting on the subject of migration.

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Global Panel of Experts Calls for Bolder Action From Governments and International Community to Meet Commitments Made at International Conference On Population And Development (ICPD)

The High-Level Task Force for ICPD (HLTF) launched its position paper Policy Recommendations for ICPD Beyond 2014: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All in New York on 25 April 2013. It proposes specific steps that should  be taken to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality and the empowerment of women, adolescents and youth become central components of ICPD Beyond 2014, as well as of the post-2015 and SDGs agendas.

Key recommendations for action include:

1. Respecting, protecting and fulfilling sexual and reproductive rights for all through public education and 
legal and policy reforms.
2. Achieving universal access to quality, comprehensive and integrated sexual and reproductive health 
information, education and services.
3. Ensuring universal access to comprehensive sexuality education for all young people.
4. Eliminating violence against women and girls and securing universal access to critical services for all.

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High-Level Task Force for ICPD - CSW Event Press Statement

(March 7, New York) At a roundtable meeting on March 5 hosted by the High-Level Task Force for the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD), Government Ministers, delegates to the 57thCommission on the Status of Women (CSW), and representatives from UN agencies and non- governmental organizations—164 individuals representing 36 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East—shared recommendations for action around the event’s theme, Charting a Forward- Looking Agenda–Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and Fulfilling Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All. 

The full press statement can be downloaded here.

High Level Task Force for ICPD: Rights, Dignity & Health for All

Prioritizes gender equality, youth health and rights, in international development efforts

The first meeting of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) members  has taken place in New York and the Task Force is being launched officially today 1 October 2012. The HLTF, chaired jointly by former Presidents Tarja Halonen of Finland and Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, comprises 26 eminent government, civil society and private sector leaders.

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Maria Jose Alcalá appointed Director of the Secretariat for the High Level Task Force for ICPD

The High Level Task Force (HLTF), which is co-chaired by former Presidents Tarja Halonen of Finland and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique has appointed Maria Jose Alcalá as the Director of its Secretariat. 

The Task Force will help to “galvanize political will to support and advance the ICPD and subsequent agreements on sexual and reproductive health and rights as part of the ICPD+20 and MDGs+15 review processes and the follow-up work on Rio+20”. It will produce a position paper based on wide national and international consultations to provide “a bold strategic vision that will be used to inspire both government leaders and civil society to mobilize the strongest possible support for sexual and reproductive rights in the ICPD+20, MDGs+15, and the post 2015 development agenda.”

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Former Presidents Halonen of Finland and Chissano of Mozambique to co-chair the High-Level Task Force for Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Former Presidents Tarja Halonen, of Finland, and Joaquim Chissano, of Mozambique, will co-chair a new High-Level Task Force for promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide.

At the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994, 179 governments agreed on an ambitious Programme of Action (POA) to advance sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Despite the progress has been made in many areas, the world is still far short of meeting the ICPD goals.

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