Despite progress, over 200M women still waiting for modern contraception

OTTAWA,Canada: The international community will be commemorating two milestones in the history of population and development International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo. “Let’s use these important benchmarks to launch accelerated action — together. than 60 countries who were meeting in the Canadian capital to review the progress made in several key socioeconomic

reproductive health, maternal and infant mortality, family planning, female genital

empowerment and gender equality.

some fundamental questions. “Have we done justice to the vision that

ago in Cairo? What have we achieved?

is it that life-saving sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions come into

She pointed out that the world has made great progress in recent decades, as reflected in impressive declines in maternal deaths and child marriage rates.

dying in pregnancy and childbirth. More women are using modern contraception. More girls are in school.

“Yet, more than 200 million women and girls are still waiting for modern contraception. And every year, there pregnancy or childbirth every year while tens of thousands of girls continue to be married off every day — in child marriages. And the global epidemic of violence against women and girls, including the violence of female genital mutilation

Marie-Claude Bibeau, the Canadian Minister of International Development, who played a key role in hosting the Parliamentarians’ Conference, which

is committed to lead the discussion on gender equality — and welcomes the present conference as a key stepping stone towards hosting the “Women De- to maximize the impact of our actions and help eradicate poverty, we must passionately defend gender equality and the rights of women and girls so they can

To this end, Canada has fully committed itself to mobilizing global support for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.

Both are key commitments in Canada’s

As a vibrant discussion followed, Martha Lucia Micher, a parliamentarian from Mexico, drove home the point that “women’s

said some of those who opposed legalizing abortions in her country offered a convoluted theory that men will resort to more sex if abortion was made legal.

Dr Kanem said it was an outrage that so many women and girls have so few choices.

“Let’s turn outrage into action. Choice can change the world! Let’s expand rights and choices for all. This is key to gender equality and the only way to advance the

- Goals (SDGs):

— Zero unmet need for family planning, — Zero preventable maternal deaths and — Zero gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls (including child marriage and female genital mutilation).

“And our actions towards these three zeros will be grounded in quality popula-

“The 2020 census round is an important piece of this puzzle, and we are ramping up our preparations. When everyone is counted, we can identify and reach those still being left behind. That includes mil-

Paying a tribute to parliamentarians, she said: “Your commitment to the principles and goals of the ICPD Programme of Action paves the way for further progress. Your defense of human rights, including reproductive rights; of gender equality; public participation and

“As parliamentarians, you have the power to transform the voices of your people into concrete action. You have the power to make a real difference. I appeal to you to protect the precious