Advocating for SRHR in the MDGs after the 2005 World Summit
EuroNGOs and Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development
(IEPFPD) Joint Workshop
1 February 2006, Brussels, Belgium
In September 2005, world leaders gathered at the United Nations World Summit to review the progress made in achieving the internationally-agreed MDGs. They were also expected to discuss concrete actions that would help ensure that countries respect the commitments they made to reduce global poverty by 2015.
Important gains were made for reproductive health in the resulting Summit Outcome Document. For example, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) goal of universal access to reproductive health. And they recognised the importance of reproductive health in achieving the MDGs. Further, the third MDG which relates to gender equality was expanded to include, among other things, universal access to reproductive health.
During the 60th session of the General Assembly, which ends in September 2006, governments have to implement what was agreed and continue to work on other pending issues. During this crucial time, the efforts of civil society advocates will be essential to integrate SRHR concerns into the 2005 World Summit follow-up discussions. This will include making ICPD goals and reproductive health integral to the MDG framework and other poverty reduction strategies. In 2006, countries started moving away from simply reviewing the progress made towards reaching the MDGs, and moving towards devising specific strategies and national plans for meeting the goals. This gives clear scope for constructive intervention on the part of the SRHR and development communities to support policy and implementation of appropriate initiatives. Hence, it was vital to ensure that SRHR advocates are well-positioned to encourage their national governments to support the fullest possible implementation of their MDG commitments. And that advocates continue to build on the World Summit momentum and develop even more support for SRHR in the enlarged Europe.
