Canada convenes parliamentarians to accelerate achievement of ICPD Programme of Action
The 7th International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action was held on 22-23 October 2018 in Ottawa and co-hosted by UNFPA, Global Affairs Canada, Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, and Action Canada for Sexual Rights. It brought together more than 130 parliamentarians and experts from over 70 countries. In the Ottawa Statement of Commitment, parliamentarians pledged to work towards ending preventable maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning, and gender-based violence and harmful practices. They paid special attention to the rights and prospects of young people and sexual and reproductive health and rights in humanitarian and crisis situations. It included commitments to advocate for the provision of accessible, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care, to adopt legislation that eliminates harmful practices, and to dedicate at least 10% of national development and development assistance budgets for sexual and reproductive health programmes.
SOURCE: UNFPA, 23 November 2018 ; PHOTO: UNFPA/Usenabasi Esiet