12 February 2014: The UN has released the report of a 20-year review of global progress and challenges regarding population, reproductive health and development. The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Global Review Report highlights the need to address inequality on the path to sustainable development.

The ICPD Programme of Action was adopted at a conference in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the report as a significant contribution to discussions on the post-2015 development agenda. He said the report calls for the changing demographic map to be overlaid onto new environmental realities, and be linked to issues of climate change, water and food security. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), stressed the need to address inequalities and discrimination, which threaten to derail development.

The review of the past 20 years’ efforts found that while much has been achieved through the Programme of Action, the global gains in gender equality, health, life expectancy and education are inequitably distributed. It identifies key areas for action on: human rights; health, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and health system strengthening; place and mobility, including migration and land tenure issues; governance and accountability; and sustainability. The report outlines seven pathways to sustainability, including building sustainable, inclusive cities and changing patterns of consumption.

Prior to the report’s release, Ban issued a ‘Framework of Actions for the Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the ICPD Beyond 2014,’ in January 2014 (E/CN.9/2014/4). His report observes that in recent years, funding for population and development has fallen far short of the levels agreed at the ICPD in 1994. He calls on the international community to: recommit to mobilizing adequate resources; strengthen collaboration, coordinate donor financing and improve effectiveness; increase the private sector’s role; and monitor population-related expenditure.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold a Special Session on Follow-up to the ICPD Beyond 2014, on 22 September 2014. [Publication: ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Report] [Remarks of UN Secretary-General] [Remarks of UNFPA Executive Director] [UNFPA Webpage on Global Review Report] [Publication: Report of the Secretary-General]