
Dr Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director stated: “The political declaration shows that what unites us is stronger than what divides us. ICPD is a benchmark for certain truths on which we can all agree: No woman should die giving life. Individuals and couples should be able to choose whether or when to have children and how many they will have. No one should be subjected to gender-based violence. Today is a new beginning, a new surge of momentum for the ICPD agenda. It’s time to bring the promise of Cairo to every person on the planet.”
A joint statement of 49 member states, including Belgium, emphasised that the ICPD Program of action was ground-breaking in 1994 as it shifted the emphasis from numeric population targets to dignity and human rights, including the right to decide if, when and with whom to have children- as fundamental to sustainable development. It stated that “Today, it remains a valid and truly transformative agenda that underpins a far-reaching set of goals linking global health, gender equality, human rights, population dynamics and sustainable development for all.”
To mark the 25th anniversary, the Nairobi Summit will be held in Kenya, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Denmark and UNFPA, 12-14 November 2019.