Summary of the International Conference on Population and Development, 5-13 September 1994

Earth Negot Bull. 1994 Sep 14;6(39):1.

Abstract

PIP: The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) met in Cairo, Egypt, September 5-13, 1994, with 20,000 government delegates, UN representatives, NGOs and media representatives participating. The issue of abortion received most attention, but conference participants also addressed immigration policy, reproductive health and reproductive rights, the empowerment of women, urbanization, and access to health care. Delegates negotiated a 16-chapter Programme of Action on population and sustainable development, protection of the family, combatting HIV/AIDS, protecting the health of adolescents, and closing the gender gap in education. The negotiations were not easy on such controversial issues as abortion, sexual and reproductive health, family reunification and the definition of the family. Thousands of weary delegates agreed the conference was a success and the Programme of Action represents a quantum leap. The ICPD was created by United Nations Economic and Social Council Resolution 1989/91. The Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the Conference held its first substantive session in New York, March 4-8,1991. PrepCom identified 6 clusters of priority issues: population, environment and development; population policies and programs; population and women; family planning, health and family well-being; population growth and demographic structure; and population distribution and migration. The second session of the Preparatory Committee was held in New York, May 10-21, 1993. The objective was to reach agreement on the final document to be adopted in Cairo. Delegates also reached consensus on including the relationship between population, environment, and sustained development; the empowerment of women; population aging; health and mortality; population distribution, urbanization and internal migration; international migration; reproductive health and family planning, and partnership between governments and NGOs. The ICPD was considered by the 48th session of the UN General Assembly on November 4-5, 1993.

MeSH terms

  • International Agencies
  • Organizations
  • Policy Making*
  • United Nations