• What is ICPD ? 

 

The full form of ICPD is "International Conference on Population and Development". The first conference was convened on September 5-13, 1994 in Cairo, Egypt with participation from 179 governments and more than 11,000 participants registered from governments, UN agencies, I/NGOs, media and other organizations. 

• How is ICPD different from other conferences ?

Today everyone accepts that addressing the rights of women and girls is central to global development. Whereas earlier world conferences on population had focused on controlling population growth in developing countries, mainly through family planning, in the Cairo conference Governments agreed that population policies should address social development beyond family planning, especially the advancement of women, and that family planning should be provided as part of a broader package of reproductive health care.

In short, ICPD today refer to the global consensus that reproductive health and rights are human rights, that these are a precondition for women’s empowerment, and that women’s equality is a precondition for securing the well-being and prosperity of all people, including the right to plan one’s family.

• What are the major outcomes of ICPD ?

1. 20-years Programme of Action (PoA) with more than 200 recommendations was developed on reproductive health and rights
2. 1st International policy document that defined reproductive health
3. 1st United Nations documents that abortion should be safe and accessible and could be legal based on the prerogative of each sovereign state.

• Who are the key players of ICPD ?

1. Women’s Organizations
2. United States of America
3. The Holy See

• How Nepal is linked with ICPD ?

Nepal has been linked with ICPD since the first conference, being one of the 179 countries to adopt the Programme of Action (PoA) of ICPD. The participation of Nepal has been significant to the country in terms of bringing Sexual Health and Reproductive Health (SHRH) issues to the forefront of the domestic health agenda.

• Who are the key players of ICPD ?

20-years Programme of Action (PoA) with more than 200 recommendations was developed on reproductive health and rights 1st International policy document that defined reproductive health 1st United Nations documents that abortion should be safe and accessible and could be legal based on the prerogative of each sovereign state.

Today everyone accepts that addressing the rights of women and girls is central to global development. Whereas earlier world conferences on population had focused on controlling population growth in developing countries, mainly through family planning, in the Cairo conference Governments agreed that population policies should address social development beyond family planning, especially the advancement of women, and that family planning should be provided as part of a broader package of reproductive health care.

In short, ICPD today refer to the global consensus that reproductive health and rights are human rights, that these are a precondition for women’s empowerment, and that women’s equality is a precondition for securing the well-being and prosperity of all people, including the right to plan one’s family.

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• What are the major goals and principles of ICPD ?

Goal:  

• Provide universal access to a full range of safe and reliable family planning methods and related reproductive health services.
• Reduce infant mortality rates to below 35 infant deaths per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality rates to below 45 deaths of children under age 5 per 1,000 live births.
• Close the gap in maternal mortality between developing and developed countries. Aim to achieve a maternal mortality rate below 60 deaths per 100,000 live births.
• Increase life expectancy at birth to more than 75 years. Countries with the highest mortality, aim to increase life expectancy at birth to more than 70 years.
• Achieve universal access to and completion of primary education; ensure the widest and earliest possible access by girls and women to secondary and higher levels of education.

Principles:

Principle 1 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of a person.

Principle 2 Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. People are the most important and valuable resource of any nation.

Principle 3 The right to development is a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights.

Principle 4 Advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women, and eliminating all forms of violence against women, are the cornerstones of population and development-related programmes.

Principle 5 Population-related goals and policies are integral parts of cultural, economic and social development, the principal aim of which is to improve the quality of life of all people.

Principle 6 Sustainable development requires that the interrelationships between population, resources and development are fully recognized and brought into harmonious, dynamic balance.

Principle 7 All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating poverty.

Principle 8 Everyone has the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. All couples and individuals have the basic right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information, education and means to do so.

Principle 9 The family is the basic unit of society and, as such, should be strengthened. It is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support. Various forms of the family exist.

Principle 10 Everyone has the right to education. Education should be designed to strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Principle 11 The child has the right to an adequate standard of living, health and education and to be free from neglect, exploitation and abuse.

Principle 12 Countries receiving documented migrants should provide proper treatment and adequate social welfare services for them and their families, and should ensure their physical safety and security.

Principle 13 Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy other countries' asylum from persecution.

Principle 14 States should recognize and support the identity, culture and interests of indigenous people and enable them to participate fully.

Principle 15 Sustained economic growth and social progress require that growth be broadly based, offering equal opportunities to all people.