Parliamentarians Determined to Reach ICPD 25 Goals

Delegates from Asia and Africa met during a two-day conference to discuss ICPD25 programme of action. Credit: APDABy Cecilia RussellJohannesburg, South Africa, Aug 23 2021 (IPS) Politicians from Asia and Africa shared activism anecdotes demonstrating their determination to meet ICPD 25 commitments. They were speaking at a hybrid conference held simultaneously in Kampala, Uganda, and online. Ugandan MP Kabahenda Flavia dramatically told the conference that women parliamentarians in her country “stampeded the budget process” to ensure there was potential to recruit midwives and nurses at health centres. Another told of a breastfeeding lawmaker who brought her child to parliament, forcing it to create inclusive facilities for new mothers. Yet, despite these displays of determination, there was consensus at the meeting, organised by the Asian Population and Development Association and Ugandan Parliamentarians Forum of Food Security, Population and Development, that the COVID-19 pandemic had set the ICPD25 programme of action back, and it needed to be addressed. In his opening remarks, former Prime Minister of Japan and chair of the APDA, Yasuo Fukuda, commented that the pandemic had “dramatically changed the world. It has exposed enormous challenges faced by African and Asian countries, which lack sufficient infrastructure in health and medical services.” With only nine years until 2030 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Fukuda told parli...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Africa Asia-Pacific Conferences COVID-19 Gender Gender Violence Headlines Health Human Rights Population TerraViva United Nations Women & Economy Women in Politics APDA Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) Ugan Source Type: news