EU Statement - UN General Assembly: Informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development

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EU Statement - UN General Assembly: Informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development

30.04.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York

New York, 29 April 2024 - Statement on behalf of the EU and its Member States Informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, delivered by Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of European Union Delegation to the United Nations.

Excellencies, colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Montenegro, Albania, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Georgia as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The 1994 Cairo conference was a landmark event and continues to guide and shape our work through the Programme of Action. The ICPD Programme of Action was visionary when it was agreed by 179 governments in Cairo in 1994. It remains visionary.

At the centre of the ICPD Programme of Actionis the rights of all persons. This includes adolescents and young people, who have the right to realise their own futures and fulfil their potential, contributing to sustainable development and prosperous societies. We are committed to highlighting the priorities and asks set out by young people for the ICPD, as outlined in the 2024 Cotonou Agenda.

We should celebrate the important gains made towards fulfilling the promise of the ICPD. For example, between 2000 and 2020, global maternal mortality declined by 34 per cent. However, the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action is unfinished and progress has stalled in some respects. 800 women still die every day while giving birth; this number has not reduced since 2016. A quarter of women cannot say no to sex with their partner, and sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV) remains widespread.

The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the ICPD and the outcomes of their review conferences and remains committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in this context. Having that in mind, the EU reaffirms its commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual to have full control over, and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, free from discrimination, coercion and violence. The EU further stresses the need for universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, health-care services and education, including comprehensive sexuality education, which is particularly important as a means to reduce teenage pregnancy, prevent HIV transmission and avert sexual and gender based violence.

The world has never been so demographically diverse. Understanding demographic diversity is key to social and economic development. In all situations, when managing population shifts, it is vital that human rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, remain a constant and steadfast commitment.

The principle of leaving no one behind is as important as ever to combat inequalities and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination (MIFD). Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls are key.

Furthermore, to fulfil the promise of the ICPD, we need to respond to the impact related challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, disasters and humanitarian crises. We should address the drivers of migration and forced displacement in light of the increasing number of conflicts. On the other hand, there are also opportunities offered by innovation, partnership and multilateralism that should be leveraged.

We welcome the collaboration with a range of stakeholders, notably civil society, youth, adolescents and women's organizations.

The implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action makes crucial contributions to regain the ground lost to reach Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030. The ICPD30 review process further provides important input to the upcoming Summit of the Future and beyond.

We have a collective responsibility to deliver on this vital agenda, to step up our efforts and renew our shared responsibility and commitment to make faster progress both in our region and across the world. We will not achieve the vision laid out in Cairo until the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all individuals have been fully secured.

The experience of the last few years has shown we must sustain and accelerate our efforts for this vital work - it must be always at the forefront of our action. The EU and its Member States intend to do just that.

I thank you.