The major progress and challenges in addressing global population issues since a landmark UN conference in 1994 have been the focus of the 47th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, held at UN Headquarters from 7 to 12 April.

This year’s Commission reviewed the outcomes of the decisions taken 20 years ago at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994, that established that increasing access to health and education, and protecting human rights, especially those of women and adolescents, would help secure a better social and economic future and lead to more sustainable population trends.

“With the ICPD Programme of Action, governments set out an ambitious agenda to deliver inclusive, equitable and sustainable development,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his opening remarks. “Over the past two decades, this agenda has contributed to significant advances. Fewer people are living in extreme poverty.

Gender equality and the empowerment of women are gaining ground worldwide. More people are living longer, healthier lives. More girls are in school. Fewer women are dying in pregnancy and childbirth. There are more laws to protect and uphold human rights.”

Since 1994, world population grew from 5.7 to 7.2 billion today. Despite slowing population growth, UN projections suggest the world’s population could reach 9.6 billion by 2050, with most of the increase concentrated in the poorest countries. The current state of the world’s population is one of unprecedented diversity and change, as reflected in new patterns of ageing, fertility, mortality, migration and urbanization, according to a report of the Secretary-General on world demographic trends prepared for the Commission.

According to Mr. Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, the Commission’s assessment of the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the Cairo conference “is happening at a critical moment, as Member States are elaborating new sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda.”

Moreover, he said “The challenges of sustainable development are inseparably linked to population patterns and trends. Therefore, the work of this session has direct relevance for preparations for the post-2015 development agenda.”

During the session, representatives and experts from UN Member States, various UN entities and civil society gathered to consider the status of implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action.

Ms. Iryna Kushnir, Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, and Ms. Larysa Kobelyanska, Gender Advisor to the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine took part in the 47th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development as members of Ukraine's delegation.

In its statement, the Ukrainian delegation welcomed the ICPD Beyond 2014 Review report and noted that Ukraine achieved significant progress regarding the ICPD objectives to guarantee equal protection of the law and non-discrimination for people, ensure gender equality and access to quality reproductive health services, secure lifelong investment in health and education, particularly for young people.

The discussion at the Commission will help the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda and will inform the special session of the UN General Assembly commemorating the Cairo conference in September 2014.

After lengthy negotiations, the Commission adopted a resolution which reaffirms the importance of protecting and advancing the achievements of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. It recognized that population and development issues, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, the needs and rights of adolescents and older persons, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, migration and urbanisation are essential to sustainable development and pave the way to align the findings to enhance our common efforts to build a more sustainable and inclusive future beyond 2015.

Statement of the delegation of

The 47th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development

Attachments