The General Secretariat's Social Affairs Sector, the Population Policy Department, serving as the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Council for Population and Development, organised a side event on 1 May at the United Nations headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development. The event was held in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
The side event, titled "Reviewing Existing and Continuing Obstacles to Repositioning the ICPD Agenda in the Context of Major Trends and New Challenges in Arab Countries," is aligned with Resolution No. (11) issued by the Arab Council for Population and Development during its fifth ordinary session on 27 November 2023. The objective is to formulate a set of actionable recommendations to realign the agenda of the International Conference on Population and Development in Arab countries, building on critical decisions and progress achieved. This entails addressing existing and persistent gaps and obstacles, while considering the impacts and opportunities presented by various major trends.
Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Social Affairs Sector, highlighted in her speech that the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 marked a significant milestone in population work. It shifted the international discourse on population towards prioritising meeting the needs of individuals within the framework of human rights standards, rather than merely focusing on demographic goals. She vehemently condemned the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, questioning the notion of prosperity and progress when women and children in Palestine are being brutally killed and victimised in full view of the world.
This marked the conclusion of the first day of the 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development. The day also witnessed the unanimous adoption of a political statement commemorating the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development and its Programme of Action. The statement serves as a directive for comprehensive and effective action to fulfil the goals outlined in the International Conference on Population and Development, reaffirming its connection to achieving the objectives of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.
