This statement by ARROW and partners was delivered at the fifty-fifth session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) 2022. Watch a video of the oral intervention.

Population and Sustainable Development, in particular Sustained and Inclusive Economic Growth

Respected Chair and distinguished delegates,

The Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), along with our 28 partners and allies making this joint statement, welcome the theme for the 55th session of the CPD.

We reiterate that sustained and inclusive economic growth is hinged on the respect for the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and implementing the ICPD Programme of Action,  the outcome documents of its reviews, and the General Assembly resolution 70/1. In addition, sustained, inclusive economic growth should also recognize the importance of supportive International Labour Organization standards.

Countries in the Asia and the Pacific region continue to face the impact of COVID-19 crises and are in different epidemiological status. The increase in demands for unpaid care work has also further widened gender gaps in labour force participation, and risk of job replacements for women and marginalised groups, due to sudden transition to 4IR technologies.

Based on data available from the region, the percentage of women who experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the last 12 months in 2021, went as high as 47.6 per cent. Disruptions in health services, during the Covid-19 context, are projected to contribute to additional 11,000 maternal deaths in South Asia. Further to this about 4.5 million girls are likely to never return to school, and are at particular risk due to deteriorating access to sexual and reproductive health services including comprehensive sexuality education. (UNICEF 2022)

All these challenges if not addressed will impede inclusive economic growth in the region.

We call upon Member States to ensure the following:

• Uphold gender equality, human rights, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination in population and sustainable development policies, and inclusive economic growth policies.
• Push for gender parity to kickstart recovery and advance economic sustainable growth in the region. (The Power of Parity, 2021).
• Harness Demographic dividends through restructuring, and including fair compensation to care work and reduction and compensation of the double burden of work women face.
• Institute and improve social protection policies, including universal health coverage. Ensure comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services is part of country universal health coverage plans and deliver quality health care to vulnerable and marginalized populations, women and young people.
• Finally, Disaggregated data is crucial on economic social and environmental dimensions including care work and informal labour, and this needs to be collected

Building back better require actions from Member States RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!

Joint statement supported by:

Wreetu Health and Well-being Foundation, Bangladesh
Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Centre, Pakistan
The Enlight Lab, Pakistan
Centre for Social Policy Development, Pakistan
Shelter Participatory Org (SPO), Pakistan
Rural Development Foundation (RDF)
Youth Advocacy Network (YAN)
Green Circle Organization, Pakistan
LEDARS, Bangladesh
Gravity Development Org, Pakistan
Y-PEER Asia Pacific Center and Non Registered National Networks, Thailand
Y-PEER Mongolia
Y-PEER Nepal
Y-PEER Kiribati
Y-PEER Afghanistan
Me for Myself (M4M)
Working Group on Disabilities and 2030 Agenda (Disabilities2030)
Women’s Health Foundation/Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan
Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal
YUWA
Blue Diamond Society (BDS)
Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC)
Visible Impact
Sanggar Swara, Indonesia
Pamflet Generasi, Indonesia
Rutgers Indonesia
Youth Cyber Ambassador For Peace, Central Java Indonesia
YIFoS Indonesia (Youth Interfaith Forum on Sexuality)