United Nations Association of Tanzania info@una.or.

tz

Policy Brief
Calling for a negotiated Outcome Document of the 47th CPD
Moving the ICPD Agenda Forward 2014 marks 20 years since the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The ICPD Program of Action (PoA), together with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have served as an important mechanism for the global community to address pressing global development challenge along common targets. Throughout the last two (2) years, a number of local, regional and international consultations have taken place to review progress on implementation of the ICPD PoA and agreed on regional positions towards a new ICPD framework. The Africa region hosted the last regional consultation in the review process in September/ October 2013 at the Africa Regional Conference on Population and Development, which took place in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The resulting Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development in Africa Beyond 2014 was adopted, but with reservations on three (3) paragraphs. Only one (1) country did not adopt the declaration. The 47th session of the Commission on Population and Development, taking place from 7th to 11th April 2014 offers an opportunity for all the strong outcomes from the Addis Ababa Declaration, particularly those related to family planning (FP) and reducing unmet need for FP to be pushed at the local and global levels. If they are reflected in the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) outcome document, they have stronger chance of being put forward in the ICPD index report and going forward to be in the next development framework. The Need for a Negotiated Outcome at the 47th Session of the CPD At the moment, there is concern that the outcome document will not be negotiated. If it is not negotiated, the outcome document will be weak and governments will feel no ownership. This will affect future negotiations, such as the next Post 2015 development framework. All regional thematic consultations have produced strong outcomes and language. To have the CPD outcome document negotiated at the next session presents an opportunity to turn these outcomes into commitments by country governments, including Tanzania. With the adoption of the East and Southern Africa Commitment outcome document in December, 2013, Tanzanias position needs to be aligned towards a negotiated CPD outcome document. This will give the provisions more political weight and contribute to bringing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues to the fore in the Post 2015 agenda discussions, strengthen national ownership of the agenda and implementation of the ICPD PoA.

!"#"$ % & ' "

"

United Nations Association of Tanzania info@una.or.tz

Although the PoA is still a visionary agenda, Tanzania and the world as a whole have changed over the last twenty years. There have been advancements in technologies and in the human rights normative framework, but most countries are still a long way off achieving universal access to and realization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights. A negotiation at 47th CPD session in April 2014 will be the space to build on existing agreements and commitments. It is the only opportunity the world has to consolidate the advancements made in the regional processes and thematic meetings. Recommendations UNA Tanzania and key stakeholders1 are advocating for SRHR in the ICPD Review and Post 2015 development framework call upon the Government of Tanzania, through the head of delegation to the CPD to; a) Communicate with the Permanent Representative of Tanzania at the United Nations to push for a negotiated CPD outcome document at the CPD Bureau meeting on 21st February, 2013 and at the 47th CPD session. b) Make issues on SRHR and Family Planning to be an important part of the countrys position, in line with the countrys progressive laws and policies, and regional agreements and instruments. c) For the government delegation to the 47th CPD session to avail space for Civil Society Organizations in the delegation. This can help bring together expertise, experience and perspectives to complement the country position at the CPD.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
1

Stakeholders include the Advanced Family Planning Project. ("#"$ % & ' "

"