26 February 2013: The co-leaders of the online consultations on population dynamics in the post-2015 development agenda have called for public comment on a draft outcome document to be considered at the high-level Global Thematic Consultation on Population Dynamics, convening in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 12-13 March 2013.

The document, titled “A Call to Integrate Population Dynamics into the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Recommendations of the Global Thematic Consultation on Population Dynamics and the Post-2015 Development Agenda,” treats population as a cross-cutting issue, and argues that the design of any new development agenda, goals and targets should be informed by projections regarding future size, structure, growth rate and distribution of the world’s population.

The document makes recommendations across the health, labor, education and urban planning sectors, calling for: strengthening national capacities to collect and analyze demographic and labor data disaggregated by age, sex and geography; universal access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health care and family planning services; and providing health and sexuality education. It also proposes the elimination of child marriage, and all forms of gender-based violence.

Migration, youth and aging trends, sustainable growth and employment, and urban planning issues also are addressed. The document notes proposals for sustainable city planning, and for parties to engage under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its National Adaptation Plans of Action (NAPAs), to address the climate-related movement of people.

Online consultations held on the World We Want 2015 platform have addressed: human rights-based and gender-responsive approaches; migration; population growth and aging issues; and urbanization, cities and sustainable development. The global consultation process also has included the drafting of background papers on specific topics, public submissions, face-to-face briefings, and panel discussions with Member States and other stakeholders.

The population dynamics consultation has been supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Bangladesh, and led by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), UN-HABITAT, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Population Dynamics is one of 11 global thematic consultations organized by the UN system and supporting governments to provide input to the post-2015 development agenda. Outcomes of the thematic consultations will feed into the report of the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP) and the UN Secretary-General’s report to the UN General Assembly (UNGA). [Population Dynamics Consultation Website] [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]