Q&A: “The Battle Continues”

Shahida Amin, a young Pakistani woman, brings her 10-month-old son to school every day. Credit: Farooq Ahmed/IPSBy Joan ErakitUNITED NATIONS, Oct 4 2014 (IPS)The Programme of Action adopted at the landmark 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) included chapters that defined concrete actions covering some 44 dimensions of population and development, including the need to provide for women and girls during times of conflict, the urgency of investments in young people’s capabilities, and the importance of women’s political participation and representation.The diversity of issues addressed by the Programme of Action (PoA) provided the opportunity for states to develop and implement a “comprehensive and integrated agenda”.In reality, governments and development agencies have been selective in their actions, and many have taken a sectoral approach to implementation, which has resulted in fragmented successes rather than holistic gains.Few are better placed to reflect on progress made over the last two decades than the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin.Excerpts from the interview follow.Q: In 1994 you were advocating for reproductive health and rights at the first ICPD in Cairo. Twenty years later, you are leading UNFPA as its executive director. What has that journey looked like for you?A: The last four years have opened me up to the challenges that the organisation and the mandate itself ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Africa Aid Armed Conflicts Asia-Pacific Civil Society Conferences Democracy Development & Aid Education Featured Gender Gender Violence Global Global Governance Globalisation Headlines Health Human Rights IPS UN: Inside Source Type: news