NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS PREPARATORY BODY FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ICPD OUTCOME

19 March 1999

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS PREPARATORY BODY FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ICPD OUTCOME

19990319 TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS, 24-31 MARCH

The thirty-second session of the Commission on Population and Development, acting as the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations General Assembly special session on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), will be held at Headquarters from 24 to 31 March.

In September 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo adopted a landmark 20-year action programme that makes human rights and individual needs the focus of international activities in the population field. Successful implementation will mean lower fertility, smaller families and slower population growth in the countries where it is most needed.

The United Nations is now reviewing this progress and determining priorities for future actions. The findings and recommendations of this five-year review, "ICPD+5", will be discussed at a 24-31 March intergovernmental meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York, prior to their adoption at a 30 June-2 July special session of the General Assembly.

The preparatory committee meeting, an expanded session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, will review progress made and constraints encountered in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. The General Assembly has agreed that there will be no renegotiation of the principles and recommendations agreed to in Cairo.

The Programme of Action is strongly rooted in the view that investing in health and education, respecting a human rights-based approach to reproductive health issues, and empowering women to become full and equal members of society are key actions necessary to secure slower and more balanced population growth and to create improved opportunities for all people.

For accreditation, contact the United Nations Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit. Information is available by calling (212) 963-6934/6936/6937 and at the following Internet address:

http://www.un.org/geninfo/malu.htm

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Documents relating to the Preparatory Committee are available at the following Internet addresses:

http://www.unfpa.org/icpd/icpdmain.htm

http://www.undp.org/popin/unpopcom/32ndsess/official.htm

http://www.unfpa.org/icpd/round&meetings/hague_forum/reports/forumrept…

For further information, contact the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): Alex Marshall, tel. (212) 297-5020; Corrie Shanahan, tel. (212) 297-5023; or Abubakar Dungus, tel. (212) 297-5031; fax 212-557-6416.

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