The 27 members of the High-level Commission on the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 Follow-up (HLC) came together virtually on 7 and 8 September 2022 to review progress on the global commitments of the Nairobi Summit as well as key recommendations of “No Exceptions, No Exclusions: Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice for All” – the commission's first annual report. The HLC looked ahead at its second annual report, set to launch in mid-November of this year. The commission was joined for its deliberations by Professor Terry McGovern, Chair of the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, as well as members of Avenir Health who support the data-related work in preparation of the next report.
As the draft of the follow-up report is progressing, a special focus of the commission remains on generating more evidence to advance and accelerate the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. Highlighting opportunities to further advance the Nairobi commitments through a sexual and reproductive justice framework in global, regional and country contexts is another priority. As are high-level political and advocacy efforts with authorities and the media to generate political will and broader awareness as the world prepares for the ICPD30 review process.
“Excellencies, Commissioners, your commitment remains indispensable. Later this month we will commemorate our second year since the Commission was inaugurated, to pursue the goal of tracking the follow-up to the Nairobi Summit and report on progress to accelerate the ICPD Programme of Action,” said HLC co-chair H.E. Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, former president of Tanzania. He joined his co-chair. H.E. Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada, in praising the Commissioners for their unwavering commitment to stay the course of realizing a world of rights and choices for all.
The meeting concluded with a look ahead at the next steps for the Commission’s launch and roll-out of its forthcoming report. Prior to that, several Commissioners will visit New York and engage in high-profile events and diverse fora during the High Level Week that kicks off this year’s United Nations General Assembly using these opportunities to continue their advocacy to call for the critical need to advance the implementation of the Nairobi Summit commitments. Please stay tuned on exciting new initiatives to be announced in due course.
The Nairobi Summit led to a total of over 1,300 commitments by some 140 Governments, as well as commitments by civil society and other stakeholders from 172 countries and territories, bringing new political momentum to the fulfillment of the promise of the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994 and its Programme of Action. The commitments and all actions stemming from them, aim to pave the way towards achieving the three transformative results of zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices and are key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
