Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
133. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the outcome of the 57th UN Commission on Population and Development, including details of statements made by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22736/24]
View answerThe 57th Session of the Commission and Development (CPD) was held at UN Headquarters in New York from 29 April to 3 May. The session assessed the status of implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994. It examined the Programme of Action’s contribution to the follow up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ireland delivered a national statement during the Commission, highlighting attempts globally to undermine human rights, especially those of women and girls. The statement noted that in both our domestic and foreign policy, Ireland has made real progress in the fulfilment of the commitment made at ICPD 30 years ago to place human rights, and the rights of women and girls in particular, at the heart of the sustainable development agenda. Ireland’s development cooperation policy recognises that access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is fundamental for the transformation of health and well-being, for everyone. Ireland will continue to support and advance the commitments framed 30 years ago in Cairo. These are as relevant now as they were in 1994.
We welcome the Political Declaration that was adopted by consensus on 29 April, which reaffirms Member States’ commitment to the full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and the follow-up to international and regional commitments. We believe, however that the statement could have more strongly set out the ambition for the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to services, information and education, and freedom of choice over family planning.
Ireland also welcomed the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the ICPD Programme of Action. The global ICPD30 report to be issued later in the year will provide an authoritative account, with evidence, of the state of implementation of the ICPD agenda, identifying and addressing emerging challenges and opportunities to accelerate ICPD implementation beyond 2024.
