Assessing the Fourth Session of the Open Working Group

Looking back at the Fourth Session of the Open Working Group (OWG4), it is possible to see the commitment of a number of Governments to the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights. This was particularly evident in the statement that was delivered by H.E. Ambassador Jose Luis Cancela, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations, on behalf of the Governments of Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Mozambique, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Rwanda, South Africa, Slovenia, Turkey, United Kingdom. It was unique as it was a major cross-regional statement from countries in Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, Eastern Europe, as well as countries in Western Europe.

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Caribbean Forum on Population, Development and Migration will assess progress and challenges in population matters at a Regional Forum in Guyana

The following information has been received about the Caribbean Forum on Population, Development and Migration which opens at the Guyana International Conference Centre on 9 July 2013:

Caribbean authorities and members of civil society will be meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, to assess the region’s progress in implementing the Programme of Action of the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (adopted in Cairo in 1994).

The Caribbean Forum on Population, Development and Migration, which will be held on 9 and 10 July 2013, is being organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Government of Guyana and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  It will give participants the opportunity to share successful experiences and identify new challenges faced by the region in terms of achieving the aims of the ICPD.

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ICPD Beyond 2014 International Conference on Human Rights Social Media

7–10 July 2013, The Netherlands

The ICPD International Conference on Human Rights is taking place in The Netherlands from 7-10 July 2013. Part of the UN mandated review of the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action, it will bring together representatives from government, civil society and UN agencies, as well as experts and human rights defenders to identify key achievements, barriers and emerging challenges to delivering the goals of ICPD.

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Secretary-General’s report on achieving the MDGs and post-2015

The Secretary General's report on achieving the MDGs and post-2015 is currently being finalized for the 25 September 2013 Special Event. It is understood to be weak on gender equality and women's rights and not to address sexual and reproductive health or rights.  

It was decided to encourage civil society organizations (CSOs) to write to the Secretary General using the attached letter as a basis for their communications during the Regional  civil society meeting “ICPD Beyond 2014 – From Promise to Action, CSOs Defining the Way Forward”, co-hosted by IPPF European Network and the regional networks ASTRA and European Women’s Lobby, and attended by over 70 participants from across the region. 

Other CSOs are also urged to send letters recognizing that time is of the essence and may also wish to use the attached as a guide.

Regional UNECE Conference; Enabling Choices: Population Priorities for the 21st Century

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 

The Regional UNECE Conference; Enabling Choices: Population Priorities for the 21st Century , 1-2 July has concluded after a two day review  of the achievements of the ICPD Programme of Action in the region. Discussion was oriented around the UNECE Regional Report  - based on the results from the global surveys from the countries in the UNECE region. Discussion was organised into three themes:

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UNECE Regional Conference Enabling Choices: Population Priorities For The 21st Century

Attached is the Chair's summary for the ECE ICPD Regional Population Conference Enabling Choices: Population Priorities For The 21st Century.

• Chair's summary ECE ICPD Regional Population Conference

Process gears up for inputs into the Operational Review through the initial findings of the Global Survey and start of the Regional Conferences

Part III – UN Economic Regional Conference – Enabling Choices: Population Priorities for the 21^st Century, Geneva 1-2 July 2013

The high-level regional conference Enabling Choices: Population Priorities for the 21^st Century was held in Geneva on 1-2 July 2013, organized jointly by UNFPA and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and hosted by the Government of Switzerland.

Following the presentations and discussions the Chair’s Summary was presented at the final session. In its Progress and Recommendations it includes the following in the various sections.

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Process gears up for inputs into the Operational Review through the initial findings of the Global Survey and start of the Regional Conferences

Part II – Regional Conference on Population and Development in the Arab States: Development Challenges and Population Dynamics in a Changing Arab World, Cairo Egypt, 24-26 June 2013 

(The following reports on the Civil Society meeting, the Youth Forum and the Regional Conference are based on the report from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF))

The ICPD review process is gaining momentum as the first of five regional inter-governmental population conferences has concluded with successful outcomes in Cairo, in a conference hosted by the League of Arab States.

The Inter-governmental meeting was preceded by a civil society meeting convened by IPPF Arab World Regional Office and a Youth Forum convened by the Arab Youth Coalition for Population and Development.

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Process gears up for inputs into the Operational Review through the initial findings of the Global Survey and start of the Regional Conferences

Part I -- UNFPA presents findings on the Global Survey to Governments

UNFPA presented the initial findings of the Global Survey to United Nations member states to review the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. Completed by 176 governments, the Survey will contribute to the Operational Review, which was called for in General Assembly resolution 65/234. As stated on the ICPD Beyond 2014 website “the survey set out to capture what had been achieved since 1994 as well as gaps, challenges, emerging issues and future priorities of governments in relation to the ICPD agenda. It is the first time in the 20 years since the ICPD Programme of Action was created that such a comprehensive and rigorous approach has taken place to assessing progress.”

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Special Event towards achieving the MDGs

Governments under the leadership of the Co-chairs, the Permanent Representatives of South Africa and Ireland, held open consultations in New York on 24 June on the zero draft of the Outcome document for the Special Event towards achieving the MDGs, to be held on 25 September 2013. 

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