10 October 2018: The members of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted a regional monitoring framework that integrates its commitments on population and development with relevant SDG targets and indicators. Delegates expressed support for the framework at a regional review conference leading up to the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), noting the importance of the ICPD Programme of Action for achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
UNECE and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) jointly convened the regional review conference from 1-2 October 2018, in Geneva, Switzerland, ahead of the ICPD anniversary in 2019. UNECE governments reaffirmed their support for commitments made through the ICPD process, including action to promote sexual and reproductive health, reduce inequalities, and respond to the challenges of demographic change. They also welcomed a regional review report, which draws on data from countries’ Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of achievements toward the 2030 Agenda, among other sources. Participants highlighted the need for increasing investments in realizing reproductive rights and gender equality.
European societies increasingly rely on informal care to meet the needs of populations that are living longer, with a “triple burden” falling on middle-aged women.
The regional report presented by UNECE and UNFPA titled, ‘Fulfilling the Potential of Present and Future Generations,’ presents an overview of regional population trends, and highlights areas of stress requiring policy responses. For example, the authors note that European societies increasingly rely on informal care to meet the needs of populations that are living longer, with the largest portion of care falling on middle-aged women who often undertake a “triple burden” as they care for younger and older generations, while still remaining engaged in the labor force.
Other issues include low fertility, youth unemployment and complex migration movements, with negative net migration a feature of eastern Europe, while western countries experienced positive net migrant inflows. Unemployment, poverty and insufficient social protection are still issues for some UNECE Member States.
Speakers at the conference drew attention to gender inequalities in workforce participation, earnings, and access to leadership positions. They called for investing in human capital and creating enabling environments for stability, wellbeing and prosperity.
The conference proceedings and the regional review report will feed into discussions at the UN Commission on Population and Development, and will also inform the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in 2019. [UNECE Press Release] [Conference Webpage] [Publication: Fulfilling the Potential of Present and Future Generations]