Bangkok--15 Sep--UNISBKK
A high-level United Nations meeting this week will seek redoubled efforts by countries to reach population and development targets as a crucial step towards alleviating poverty and achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA) are jointly organizing the Asia-Pacific High-level Forum on ICPD at 15: Accelerating Progress towards the ICPD and Millennium Development Goals, from 16 to 17 September at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, to mark the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
Adopted by 179 Governments in September 1994 at Cairo, the ICPD Programme of Action has been hailed as a landmark agreement bringing about a paradigm shift in thinking on population and development. This comprehensive 20-year blueprint recognizes that voluntary and universally available family planning is essential to individual and national development. It emphasizes individual rights, well-being and gender equality over broad demographic targets.
Key topics expected to be discussed at the Bangkok Forum include ensuring universal access to reproductive health, ensuring an enabling environment for gender equality, population ageing and international migration.
The Forum is scheduled to be opened by H.E. Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP; and Dr. Purnima Mane, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNFPA Deputy Executive Director.
Scheduled keynote speakers include Dr. Nafis Sadik, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Asia-Pacific; Dr. Haryono Suyono, former Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare and Poverty Alleviation; Ms. Jacqueline Koroi, President of the Pacific Youth Parliament; and Mr. Tomas Osias, Executive Director of the Commission on Population of the Philippines.
More than 100 representatives from about 30 governments, as well as civil society and other international organizations in Asia and the Pacific are expected to participate in the Forum. The meeting will be preceded by an NGO forum on 15 September aimed at highlighting the role NGOs can play in the pursuit of internationally agreed development goals.
NOTE TO EDITORS
You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the opening session on Wednesday, 16 September 2009 at 9 a.m. and all subsequent sessions.
Please send your name and the news organization you represent in advance to [email protected] in order to facilitate entrance to the UN Conference Centre.
Please note that access to the UN Conference Centre gate is limited to 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please use the main entrance to the UN compound on Rajdamnern Avenue at all other times.
Interviews with the keynote speakers can be arranged upon request. For more information, please visit www.unescap.org/esid/psis/meetings/pop_forum_2009/
Contact:
Ms. Wanphen Sreshthaputra
ESCAP/Social Development Division
Tel: +66-81-824-3825
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Thawadi Pachariyangkun
UN/ESCAP Information Services
Tel: +66-2-288-1861
Email: [email protected]