Planned Parenthood Welcomes Adoption of Declaration at the UN's Commission on Population and Development
For Immediate Release: April 2, 2019
New York, NY - Planned Parenthood welcomes the adoption of the political declaration at the 52nd Commission on Population and Development to reaffirm the ICPD Programme of Action. This critical human rights agreement emerged from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in 1994 in Cairo, Egypt. This groundbreaking agenda declared that sexual and reproductive health and rights, women’s empowerment, and gender equality are cornerstones of development. It also followed the coining of the term “reproductive justice” by a group of 12 Black women in the U.S. who took their views and teachings to ICPD that year. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the UN agency tasked with implementing this important agenda, but this work has been hampered by the Trump-Pence administration’s decision to block all U.S. funding to UNFPA.
The adoption of the political declaration occurred yesterday during the opening of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD), a global body devoted to population, development, and health.
Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Twenty five years ago at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, the global community came together for the first time to affirm that people and the preservation of their human rights must be at the heart of international development efforts. Not governments. Not economies. People. Today, far too many women and communities still face systemic barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the Trump administration continues to aggressively attack human rights and access to health care globally.
“Planned Parenthood is committed to doing our part to advance this historic agenda and the vision of Cairo and we celebrate the contributions of UNFPA and the work of advocates worldwide to advance the health and rights of all as we approach the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 this November.
###
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
For more than 45 years, Planned Parenthood Federation of America has supported access to sexual and reproductive health care and advocated for reproductive rights around the world through our international arm, Planned Parenthood Global. In partnership with more than 100 organizations across 12 focus countries in Africa and Latin America, we advance the health and rights of young people, women and families, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable and underserved. Last year, our partners reached over a million people with sexual and reproductive health information and services provided by our partners. Our unique sustainability model sets us apart, as we empower partners to stand on their own. We help grassroots organizations develop solid reproductive health programs, identify other sources of funding, build their communications and advocacy skills, and develop strategic plans.