Arab Regional Conference on Population and Development
Five Years after the 2013 Cairo Declaration
Beirut, Lebanon, 30 October – 1 November 2018
Five Years after the 2013 Cairo Declaration
Beirut, Lebanon, 30 October – 1 November 2018
What: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the UN Population Fund Arab States Regional Office (UNFPA-ASRO), and the League of Arab States (LAS), are co-leading the five-year review of the 2013 Cairo Declaration and the organization of Arab Regional Conference on Population and Development, with a focus on achievements, challenges, ways to accelerate progress, and links with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
When: Tuesday 30 October at 9:00am through Thursday 1 November at 3:30pm
Where: ESCWA Headquarters, Riad el-Solh Square, Beirut, Lebanon
Why: The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and its groundbreaking Programme of Action (PoA) adopted in 1994 marked a global consensus on putting people at the heart of development, and integrated population issues in the global development discourse. It recognized the interdependence of population, development and the environment, and introduced a new measurement for progress: the extent to which political, social and economic inequalities are addressed.
In the Arab region, the 20th year review of ICPD took place in June 2013 and resulted in the adoption of the Cairo Declaration, a statement that renewed the commitment of member States to the PoA as an unfinished agenda on population and development to guide Arab countries’ efforts beyond 2014. It highlighted several priority areas for the Arab region including gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth, sexual and reproductive health, international migration, internal displacement and large refugee movements, and environmental sustainability.
This 2018 regional conference will serve: to review progress since 2013, highlight success stories and identify gaps in the implementation of the Cairo Declaration across the Arab region; to explore connection between the ICPD and the 2030 Agenda; and to ensure that the next four years showcase tangible progress in the life of individuals.
Who: To ensure an “all of government, all of society” approach to the review, the Conference will bring together representatives of governmental institutions, including ministers and high-level officials from relevant ministries and National Population Councils, in addition to parliamentarians, representatives of civil society organizations, regional organizations, UN agencies, academics, experts, media and other stakeholders.
Opening speakers will include:
- Mr. Mohamed Ali Alhakim, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA
- Dr. Natalia Kanem, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director, UNFPA
- Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary General, Head of Social Affairs Sector, LAS
Event details (information and logistics note) available here:
https://www.unescwa.org/events/arab-regional-conference-population-development
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The ESCWA Communication and Information Unit (ECIU) kindly asks media representatives wishing to cover this meeting to confirm their attendance at +96170008879 or +96170827372.
For online registration, please click here
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For more information:
Mr. Nabil Abu-Dargham, Head of the ESCWA Communication and Information Unit:
+961-70-99 31 44; dargham@un.org
Ms. Rania Harb: +961-70-00 88 79; harb1@un.org
Ms. Mirna Mahfouz: +961-70-87 23 72; mahfouz@un.org
