At the end of two weeks of thought-provoking and intense discussions, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) concluded on April 17, 2015 without a resolution. On the final day, the chair produced a well-balanced text reflective of the various positions staked by governments, but to everyone’s surprise, this text was suddenly withdrawn by the chair only two hours after being distributed to delegates, without the chance for governments to engage in the normal fine-tuning that is routine at CPD negotiations.
The CPD has a long history of producing strong outcomes, and for nearly 20 years has reached solid consensus on advancing and supporting full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. This has been possible because of the willingness and good faith of governments to negotiate directly with one another. It is clear that what happened at the conclusion of the CPD’s 48th session was a procedural anomaly that should be prevented from happening in future sessions.
In April 2011, the General Assembly agreed to extend the ICPD Programme of Action and ensure its follow-up beyond 2014 in order to fully meet its goals and objectives. To fulfill this mandate, it is critical that governments continue to work together at CPD to reach agreement on how best to address gaps and challenges in implementing the Programme of Action. We hope that when the CPD reconvenes in April 2016 to review its methods of work, governments will use this opportunity to strengthen the CPD as a space to build consensus through negotiations, as they have for 20 years.
The undersigned organisations are deeply committed to continuing to work at multiple levels–local, national, regional, and global–to secure the sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda for the health, human rights, and well-being of all, together with governments, agencies, and civil society organisations.
This statement has been endorsed by 49 civil society organisations from around the world.
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Advocates for Youth, African Woman and Child Feature Service, Kenya, Amnesty International, Associazione Italiana Donne per lo Sviluppo (AIDOS), ASTRA Network, ATHENA Network, AWAZ Foundation Pakistan/Centre for Development Services (AWAZCDS), Balance Promoción para el Desarrollo y Juventud, México, Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC), Nepal, Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), Centre for the Study of Adolescence (CSA), Kenya, Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education, Malawi, Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (PROMSEX), Peru, Chanan Development Association (CDA) Pakistan, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the Netherlands, Coalición de Jóvenes para la Educación y la Salud Sexual, México, Coalición Mesoamericana por los Derechos Reproductivos de las Mujeres con VIH, Coordinadora de la Mujer, Bolivia, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Diverse Voices and Action for Equality, Fiji/Pacific, Federacion Planificacion Familiar Estatal, Spain, Federation for Women and Family Planning, Poland, Fundacion Arcoiris por el Respeto a la Diversidad Sexual, México, Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer (FEIM), Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA), Grupo Impulsor Cairo+20, Guatemala, International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW), International Planned Parenthood Federation, International Planned Parenthood Federation/South Asia Region, International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, International Women's Health Coalition, Ipas, Let Girls Lead, Médicos del Mundo España, MenEngage Alliance, New Zealand Family Planning Association, PARI O DISPARE, Italy, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Reseau Jeunesse Population et Developpement du Senegal (RESOPOPDEV), RESURJ, Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR-NEW WAYS), Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights, Women's Health Foundation, Indonesia, Youth Advocacy Network (YAN) Pakistan, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Youth Empowerment Alliance Pakistan, Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO), Malawi, Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER) Pakistan.