CONCLUDING CURRENT SESSION, COMMISSION URGES DONORS TO FULFIL COMMITMENTS FOR POPULATION ASSISTANCE

Commission on Population and Development                   

Thirty-seventh Session                                     

9^th Meeting (PM)

CONCLUDING CURRENT SESSION, COMMISSION URGES DONORS

TO FULFIL COMMITMENTS FOR POPULATION ASSISTANCE

The Commission on Population and Development concluded its thirty-seventh session this afternoon with the adoption of a draft resolution calling on the international community to continue to provide, both bilaterally and multilaterally, support and assistance for population and development activities in the developing countries.

When it met from 22 to 26 March, the Commission assessed the implementation of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development (IPCD), held in Cairo in 1994, and held a general debate on national experiences in implementing the Programme of Action.

By the terms of the draft resolution adopted today on follow-up to the Programme of Action of the ICPD (document E/CN.9/2004/L.6), the Commission, recognizing that the effective implementation of the Programme would require an increased commitment of financial resources, both domestically and externally, urged donor countries to fulfil their commitments regarding their official development assistance (ODA) for population assistance.

The representative of Qatar, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, expressed hope that the strong support by the international community for the Action Programme would translate into increased financial resources and technical support for the developing countries, which had made significant progress in meeting their Cairo commitments.  He also urged the donor community to increase its contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) core resources.  Such contributions should meet the requirements of neutrality, predictability and non-conditionality.

Ireland’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union, associated States, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland, welcomed the adoption of the resolution by consensus and was encouraged by the overwhelming support shown for the Programme of Action.  A strong reaffirmation of the Programme was important.  She, like Brazil’s representative, added that the full implementation of the Programme was essential to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.  That required the commitment of all governments and the full partnership of the international community in the spirit of the International Conference on Financing for Development (Monterrey, 2002).  Chile’s representative stressed the importance of fulfilling all of the commitments made at the latest conferences in the socio-economic field, as well as achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Explaining her position, the United States representative noted that there was much in the resolution that she supported.  That support was not just theoretical, as the United States was a leader in providing assistance to achieving many of the objectives of the Conference.  She associated herself with the delegations that had made reservations or statements of interpretation regarding the terms including “reproductive rights”, “reproductive health” and “family planning services”. 

She said she understood that the word “reaffirming”, in reference to the Programme of Action, key actions for the further implementation of the Programme or any other reference to United Nations conference documents, did not constitute a reaffirmation of any language in those documents that could be interpreted as promoting abortion or the use of abortifacients.  The United States did, however, support the treatment of women who suffered injuries or illnesses caused by legal or illegal abortion, including post-abortion care, and did not place such treatment among abortion-related services.

Her understanding was that any affirmation of the ICPD did not imply any support for, or promotion of, abortion, nor was it a denial of the United States’ firm support for the rights of conscientious objection for health-care workers whose personal beliefs might dictate their refusal to perform abortion.  She further understood that the term “unsafe abortion” defined a procedure for terminating a pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking minimal medical standards and understood that the illegality of abortion could not be construed as making it unsafe.  Her delegation fully supported the principle of voluntary choice in family planning, but in no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning.  The United States regarded abstinence as the preferred, responsible and healthiest choice for unmarried adolescents.

Nicaragua’s representative stated that, while he accepted the concept of family planning and sexual and reproductive rights, abortion or the interruption of pregnancy could not be considered a means for regulating birth or fertility.  His domestic legislation was sovereign on that matter.  Abortion was not a component of reproductive rights.

Egypt’s representative emphasized the need for all Member States to fully respect the outcomes of the Cairo Conference, including the Programme of Action, its principles, goals, commitments and the reservations expressed by a large number of Member States.  He pointed to his country’s continuous efforts to implement the Programme’s recommendations.  Egypt would continue to oppose the reinterpretation of language pertaining to traditional family values or any other concepts contained in documents such as the Cairo Programme of Action in a manner that was inconsistent with its position.  Egypt would continue steadfastly to oppose any attempts to impose new concepts or ideas that were inconsistent with its cultural values and religious beliefs.

The Executive Director of the UNFPA, Thoraya Obaid, said that over the course of the last seven weeks, the Fund had been deeply humbled by the dedication and commitment of Commission members, which had led to an act of collective reaffirmation for the Programme of Action.  That showed that the spirit of Cairo was alive.  She thanked the Commission’s Chairman, Alfredo Chuquihuara (Peru), and the facilitator for the text, Kitty van der Heijden (Netherlands), for their efforts.  While she agreed on the need to fully respect cultural diversity, she

stressed the importance of unity in speaking out against practices that violated basic human rights.

In a closing statement, the Commission Chairman, Mr. Chuquihuara (Peru), said the basic objective of the session had been attained.  The Commission had reflected the wishes of hundreds of millions of people around the world to have their human rights reassured.  It had also reaffirmed the reproductive rights of women around the world, as well as the rights of the world’s teen population to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancy.  In addition, it reiterated the fundamental importance of reproductive health for young people and women.  All governments had expressed their total will to reaffirm the Programme of Action and its key actions.  The Cairo Programme of Action and its key goals were clear and transparent.  It contained no ulterior motives, but reflected the desire of the people to move towards a better world.

The Director of the Population Division, Jospeh Chamie, noted that with the closure of the thirty-seventh session, work had already begun for the thirty-eighth session, which would be held from 4 to 8 April 2005.

The Commission also adopted its draft report for the session (document E/CN.9/2004/L.3, which was introduced by its Vice-Chairman/Rapporteur, Mohamed  El-Farnawany (Egypt).

On a different matter, the representative of the Russian Federation said that, under section 13 of the 1946 Headquarters agreement between the United Nations and the United States, entry visas for members of official delegations to United Nations sessions should be issued as expeditiously as possible.  Unfortunately, it was becoming all too common for delays in issuing United States visas for Russian representatives, even when applications were made early or in the established time frames.  The most recent case included the thirty-fifth session of the Statistical Commission and the current session of the Population Commission.  His delegation would raise the question of the timely issuance of United States visas in the Host Country Committee.

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