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Update on MDG target 5B and preparations for ICPD@15 |
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Monday, 02 June 2008 |
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 The new MDG target 5B on universal access to reproductive health by
2015 and its indicators can now be found on several UN websites, eg UN
Statistical Division and UNFPA. It is recognized, but not fully
displayed, on web pages of UNICEF, WHO, ITU and UNESCAP. It is not yet
displayed (but action is in process) on MDGMonitor (a UNDP site).
During the coming year there will be a number of international meetings
and events at which reproductive health should be part of the agenda,
eg the International Health Partnership (IHP) meeting in Japan to work
on assistance strategies; the Aid Effectiveness meeting in Accra, Ghana
(highlighting health as a tracer for development assistance) and the
60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
At the international level there is a major focus on strengthening health systems including ensuring that the correct infrastructure is in place and that essential health supplies are available. UNFPA’s response in this area has been the establishment of its maternal health thematic fund, which will expand its activities to 60 countries starting with nearly 20 this year. The health agenda is being given increased support in areas of concern for reproductive health, such as strengthening the continuum of care for maternal, newborn and child health and advancing an integrated package of essential services.
In looking at ICPD since 1994 it can be seen that ICPD+5 focused on specificity and targeting and ICPD@10 on advocacy and mobilization, with Countdown 2015, which was organized by NGOs but in which the UN agencies, donors and others also participated.
ICPD@15 is envisaged by UNFPA to have as its focus monitoring implementation and institutionalizing reproductive health into processes such as MDG reports, PRSPs and other national development plans and budgets. UNFPA’s approach is not to support large global events but to use opportunities to build the ICPD agenda into other frameworks at both the regional and national levels.
It is hoped that it will be possible to use the opportunity afforded by ICPD@15 to draw attention to reproductive health to ensure that it is included, for example, when the MoAs or ‘compacts’ for the IHP are being negotiated between governments and key donors. It is hoped that national reports for ICPD@15 will promote reproductive health as a priority. Together with expert reviews and technical meetings they will feed into an ICPD@15 publication, which will also provide concrete examples of ‘lessons learned’.
It is anticipated that there will be a global NGO meeting, which will bring together a selected participants from NGOs, including national level organizations, and others for a forward-looking brainstorming session focusing towards the next conference in 2015. Most of the focus, however, will be in the regions and meetings that are already planned for Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Additional details will be provided as available.
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