Jun 10 (IPS) – It has been 30 years since the International Conference on Population and Development Action Program (ICPD30) was adopted in Cairo, transforming policy and thinking on population and development issues.
In this critical year, lawmakers participating in the 30 Year Review recognize that while significant progress has been made, this is threatened by multifaceted crises, including rollbacks on the rights and choices of women and girls, and the impact of COVID-19. 19 Plague.
Regional lawmakers will meet this week on the sidelines of the third Dushanbe Decade of Water Action conference in the Republic of Tajikistan.
The agenda includes topics related to demographic change, gender equality, youth empowerment, water scarcity and climate change, which will be milestones towards the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) to be held in Baku in November 2024.
Prior to the meeting, IPS interviewed Mavsuma M. Muini, Vice-Chairman of the Majlis Namoyandagon of the Supreme Council (Parliament) of the Republic of Tajikistan.
IPS: What role do people play in tackling climate change and ensuring that water scarcity does not worsen?
Season M. Muini: The Action Program of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) provides a good foundation for multilateral cooperation across population issues. Adopted in Cairo in 1994, this document remains relevant and relevant in the context of modern demographic processes.
With the adoption of the ICPD Program of Action, the Government sets an ambitious agenda to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable global development, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, reducing poverty, improving access to health and education, and significant improvements in environmental sustainability. contributed to The ICPD Program of Action was a landmark in the history of human rights, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.
Building on the ICPD agenda, we must now mobilize advocates and governments to implement the strategies, principles, goals and objectives identified in the Program of Action related to demography, climate change, water and food security, and improving access to renewable energy. . . To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, more specific and comprehensive climate solutions must be accelerated and scaled up.
Environmental problems such as global climate change caused by unsustainable production and consumption patterns are further worsening the well-being of future generations. This situation is further exacerbated by increasing and recurring extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, which place strain on ecosystems and have devastating consequences for global food security.
In view of the above, the Water Initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan (2013) supported by the United Nations General Assembly, including the declaration of 2003 as the International Year of Fresh Water and 2005-2015 as the International Decade of Action “Water for Life” World Water The Year of Cooperation and the designation of 2018-2028 as the International Decade of Action on ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ have strengthened the world community’s understanding of the need to move beyond discussions on the manifestation of water for sustainable development. The International Decade of Action on ‘Water for Life’, the International Year of Water Cooperation in 2013, and the International Decade of Action on ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ between 2018 and 2028, strengthen understanding of the world community’s need to move beyond debate and representation. I did. This is the international community’s new strategic goal for life and humanity.
At the World Water Forum in Istanbul, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon proposed adjusting the basic international legal instruments in the field of water resources management to take into account modern requirements and challenges. He also took the lead in declaring 2012 the International Year of Water Diplomacy to strengthen cooperation on solving water relations.
Solutions to global water problems are becoming more complex due to climate change, which is becoming increasingly evident in all regions of the world. The President of Tajikistan has recognized climate change as a major challenge to water resources and has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Conservation, defining a World Glacier Conservation Day and proposing to establish a special trust fund under the United Nations for glaciers promotion. . preservation.
On December 14, 2022, the 77th United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by the Republic of Tajikistan declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Conservation. It is inherently unique in that it simultaneously declares World Glacier Conservation Day and International Year of Glacier Conservation. All these efforts of the Honorable Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, are characterized by the desire to attract greater attention of the world community to solving water problems and improving water cooperation.
IPS: As the Member of Parliament responsible for the legislative framework and financial resources of the ICPD POA, what key messages would you like to convey at future summits regarding reproductive health rights and the empowerment of women in the region?
Mine: The commitment of parliamentarians as bridges between citizens and governments is vital in creating the support and environment to accelerate and implement the SDGs to increase gender equality and advance violence.
Having approved the ICPD Program of Action, Tajikistan adopted it as a framework for achieving national development priorities and implemented a number of policies and strategic and practical measures to ensure human rights and equality as fundamental to the country’s development. The Government of Tajikistan has identified reproductive health as a key priority for health reform, and has identified reproductive health-focused measures as a priority in the National Development Strategy 2030 and the SDGs.
It is significant that a National Population and Development Council was established to implement the ICPD Program of Action in Tajikistan, working with parliament, government and civil society to develop and implement legislative measures and to set and resolve them. Collaborate and jointly monitor the implementation of laws on population and development. It is clear that the development challenges facing the global community require the systematic participation of all stakeholders in developing responses.
A world where everyone can live their lives with more dignity is just around the corner. We must ensure that people’s rights and choices remain central to ensuring a sustainable future in a demographically diverse world. Therefore, lawmakers should focus their efforts on protecting the rights and needs of the people, reproductive health rights and women’s empowerment by working with UNFPA, AFPPD and other regional or international partners to improve or introduce more effective laws.
The laws of the Republic of Tajikistan ensure young people’s access to health care, reproductive health and family planning services, and education about a healthy lifestyle.
We are committed to continuing to implement the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and urge the inclusion of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report and the findings of the 2030 regional review. Development agenda.
IPS: Although there is a perception that the world is far behind the results expected by the ICPD, there are also successes worth celebrating. The conference planned sessions on how lawmakers have contributed to adopting laws and policies that address inequality, positioning population dynamics in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and empowering women and young people. Can you share some of these?
Mine: In April 2019, UN member states of the United Nations Committee on Population and Development adopted a political declaration calling for the full, effective and rapid implementation of the ICPD Program of Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This provided the political impetus for governments and all other relevant partners to come together to celebrate the adoption of the ICPD Program of Action and its success in advancing rights and choices for all.
Our countries have made some progress toward achieving the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development, but concrete steps still need to be taken to fully implement the program. This requires, inter alia, systematically integrating population dynamics into national and international strategies and policies, and comprehensively addressing factors such as population aging and declining fertility, climate change, natural disasters, conflict and migration, reversing the HIV epidemic, and international migration. should reflect . In the context of ICPD.
In this regard, we recognize that the implementation of the ICPD Program of Action is essential for countries to eliminate social and economic inequalities, improve the lives of all people and ensure the health and rights of women, men, girls and adolescents. We reaffirm our commitment to the ICPD Program of Action. Boys, including sexual and reproductive rights and health, promotes gender equality and women’s health, creates an environment where everyone can live in dignity, protects the environment and protects the rights of women, men, girls and boys. We also reaffirm the commitments we made to previous ICPDs and emphasize our commitment to act with a sense of urgency.
We believe that the next steps in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and action to achieve three transformative outcomes by 2030 will include a greater focus on protecting and promoting the rights of women, youth and young people, and their inclusive participation. I believe that this can only be achieved if we put our minds to it. .
memo: UNFPA, Japan Trust Fund, Asian Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (AFPPD), and Asian Population Development Association (APDA) supported this workshop.
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