ARROW and Partners Oral Statement for the 49th Session of CPD

Statement by the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), a non- governmental organisation in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council at the 49th Session of the Commission on Population and Development

11 – 15 April 2016

ARROW, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a regional, partnership based, non-governmental organisation that has been working since 1993 to advance women and young people’s health and rights, particularly in the area of sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the Asia Pacific region and the regions of Global South.

We welcome the focus on the theme for this 49th session- strengthening the demographic evidence base for the post-2015 development agenda and the methods of work of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD). In line with this theme, we reiterate the prominence of the General Assembly resolutions, 65/234, and 70/1, as important mandates in the realisation of universal access to SRHR for all.

Twenty years have passed since the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights by all, especially women, young people, and LGBTIQ people, is increasingly under threat, with predominantly regressive trends in SRHR policy and programme implementation in the countries of Asia-Pacific region.

With more than 4.4 billion people living in the region and changing population age structures pointing to an increase in the proportion of young population, and older persons, this calls for specific policy and programmatic interventions for these groups. This region also faces most inequalities within countries and in between countries in terms of access to basic health care services, education and information.

Overall fertility in the region is at replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, however there is an increasing proportion of women who either have more children than they want, who want to stop or delay child bearing, and have no means to exercise their reproductive rights. High unmet need for contraception and resulting consequences of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal mortality and morbidity is more common among marginalised groups of women. More than 1 in 4 women aged 20-24 continue to get married before they turn 18, especially in Southern Asia. High adolescent birth rates, child early and forced marriages, other harmful traditional practices, is increasing young women and girls risk to mortality and morbidity related to sexual and reproductive health.

Violations of the right to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, is exacerbated by the intersections of poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, migration, conflict, disasters, climate change and religious extremisms. The face of migration in the region is increasingly seen as young and female. Another trend that we see in the region is the concentration of people living in urban areas. Urban settlements are projected to rise to 56% of Asia’s population.

To date, the ICPD PoA is the only action document that takes a holistic approach to population and development issues and sustainable development. It defines and recommends actions on the inter- relationships of population, development strategies, education, health, technology, research and development, population growth and structures, migration, urbanisation, environment, partnerships and international cooperation in a rights based approach, which is critical to address the needs of diverse demographics in the region. The full implementation of ICPD POA is more than ever critical to the achievement of SDG Agenda 2030.

In the area of strengthening demographic evidence, we call upon the States and the international community to:

a) Uphold the political and financial commitment to the full implementation of ICPD PoA and the SRHR related goals and targets of Agenda 2030.
b) Integrate human rights obligations, including and principles of equality, non-discrimination, on the basis of gender equality, and equity in the implementation of ICPD PoA at the global, regional and national levels.
c) Strengthen the demographic evidence base, to support the monitoring of ICPD and the SDG Agenda 2030, through establishment of functional data instruments such as the civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, census, and household surveys at the national level. Further to this take into account advances and innovations in Information, and Communication Technology.
d) Put in place human rights based data collection, and safeguard processes, that will address the human rights risks in collection, processing, analysing and dissemination of data. This is to ensure the protection of the rights of certain vulnerable populations. Capacity strengthening of NSOs in this area will be crucial.
e) Ensure clear levels of data disaggregation in the review and monitoring of SRHR indicators and the ICPD agenda
f) Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services including access to a full range of contraceptive methods, safe abortion services, counselling, quality treatment including empathetic and trained health service providers, and comprehensive sexuality education for young people without stigma, discrimination and violence.
g) Address the intersectional issues of poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, internal and external migration, conflict, disasters, climate change and counter religious extremism to ensure universal access to SRHR for all.

In the area of Methods of Work of CPD, We call upon the States and the international community to:

h) Ensure the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) continues to play a primary role in advising the council on population and development issues; monitoring, review and assessment of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the ICPD, the key actions for its further implementation and outcomes of its review conferences, as well as the previous resolutions adopted by the CPD, and the SRHR related SDG goals and targets of the Agenda 2030 at global, regional and national level.
j) Upgrade the Commission to enable it to work on the SDGs in order to make its work strategic and relevant
k) Expand the commission to include more member states so that discussions are representative and inclusive of the work of all member states”
l) Ensure a process whereby, there is an alignment of themes for CPD in line with the Agenda 2030 review theme at HLPF. This may call for a priority theme set forth in the multiyear programme by the council.
m) Institutionalise a High level Ministerial Segment during CPD sessions on issues of population and development.
n) Include in the CPD sessions, a reporting mechanism where, Member States present progress, gaps, challenges and best practices on the priority theme.
o) We call for a negotiated outcome document at every CPD with clear actions and recommendations that will take into account emerging issues and recommendation on the priority theme to remain action oriented and policy relevant.
p) We call for the full and active participation of civil society in all the processes relating to CPD, including submission of written and oral statements, and all other processes as experts, in the national delegations, including participation at the regional commissions.

Sources:

1. ESCAP. 2013. Factsheet: Population trends in Asia and the Pacific. retrieved from
http://www.unescapsdd.org/files/documents/SPPS-Factsheet-Population-Trends-v3.pdf
2. United Nations. 2015. World Population Prospects The 2015 Revision Key Findings and
Advance Tables. Retrieved from
http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/publications/files/key_findings_wpp_2015.pdf
3. United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2016. World Demographic Trend, Report of
Secretary General. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/commission/sessions/2016/index.shtml
4. United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2016. Strengthening the demographic evidence base for the post-2015 development agenda. Report of the Secretary-General. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/commission/sessions/2016/index.shtml
5. United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2016. Future organization and methods of work
of the Commission on Population and Development. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/commission/sessions/2016/index.shtml

This statement is endorsed by:

  1. AIDSAccountability International
  2. ARTS Foundation
  3. Asia Pacific Women’s Watch, Sri Lanka
  4. Association for promotion sustainable development. Hisar. India
  5. AwazCDS-Pakistan
  6. Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC), Nepal
  7. Chanan Development Association (CDA),Pakistan
  8. CHRD, Mongolia
  9. Danish Family Planning Association, Denmark
  10. Elige Red de Jóvenes por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos A.C.” (Elige Youth Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights), Mexico
  11. EMPOWER INDIA, India
  12. Equilibres & Populations
  13. Fiji Women’s Rights Movement
  14. Forum of women’s NGOs, Kyrgyzstan
  15. Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) and Gender and Water Programme Bangladesh, Bangladesh
  16. Huvadhoo Aid, Maldives
  17. Inspirator Muda Nusantara, Indonesia
  18. International HIV/AIDS Alliance
  19. JAGO NARI, Bangladesh
  20. JAGO NARI, Bangladesh
  21. Joan Castro, Philippines
  22. Khan Foundation, Bangladesh
  23. Manivone Thikeo
  24. MONFEMNET National Network, Mongolia
  25. Moroccan Family Planning Association( MFPA), Morocco
  26. Naripokkho, Bangladesh
  27. Pacific SRHR Coalition
  28. Paryavaran Mitra, India
  29. Penita Initiative, Malaysia
  30. Point of View, India
  31. Positive Change for Cambodia (PCC)
  32. Radanar Ayar Rural Development Association, Myanmar
  33. Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC), Cambodia
  34. RHAK – Reproductive Health Alliance in Kyrgyzstan
  35. Rural Women’s Association “Alga”, Kyrgyzstan
  36. Sanayee Development Organization – SDO.
  37. SEEDS, India
  38. Shirkat Gah Pakistan
  39. Sindh Foundation, Pakistan
  40. TARSHI, India
  41. The Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP), Vietnam
  42. The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR
  43. The YP Foundation, India
  44. UBINIG/ Narigrantha Prabartana, Dhaka Bangladesh
  45. University Health Sciences, Lao PDR
  46. Vanphanom Sychareun, Lao PDR
  47. Vectoring China, the China Youth Leaders’ Resource Centre, China
  48. Women and Media Collective, Sri Lanka
  49. Women Heath  Foundation ( YKP )
  50. World YWCA
  51. Yayasan Jurnal Perempuan, Indonesia
  52. Youth Advocacy Network, Pakistan
  53. Yunnan Health and Development Research Association(YHDRA, China
  54. YUWA Nepal

Vietnam

  • Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Sri Lanka

  • Bakamoono;
  • Women and Media Collective (WMC),
  • Youth Advocacy Network – Sri Lanka (YANSL)

Singapore

  • End Female Genital Cutting Singapore
  • Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Philippines

  • Democratic Socalist Women of the Philippines (DSWP);
  • Galang;
  • Healthcare Without Harm;
  • Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities;
  • Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health;
  • Nisa UI Haqq Fi Bangsamoro;
  • PATH Foundation Inc. (PFPI);
  • Women’s Global Network for
    Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Pakistan

  • Aahung, Centre for Social Policy Development (CSPD);
  • Forum for Dignity Initiative (FDI);
  • Gravity Development Organization; Green Circle Organization;
  • Indus Resources Center (IRC);
  • Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aaghai (ITA);
  • Rehnuma – Family Planning Association Pakistan;
  • Shelter
    Participatory Organisation;
  • Shirkat Gah;
  • The Enlight Lab

Nepal

  • Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC);
  • Blind Youth Association of Nepal;
  • Blue Diamond Society (BDS);
  • Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA);
  • Visible Impact;
  • Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC);
  • YPEER Nepal;
  • YUWA

Myanmar

  • Colourful Girls Organization;
  • Green Lotus Myanmar

Maldives

  • Hope for Women;
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Malaysia

  • Federation of Reproductive Health Associations of Malaysia (FRHAM);
  • Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG);
  • Justice for Sisters (JFS);
  • Reproductive Health Association of
    Kelantan (ReHAK);
  • Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM);
  • Sisters in Islam (SIS)

Lao PDR

  • Lao Women’s Union;
  • The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Health
    Sciences (UHS)

Indonesia

  • Aliansi Satu Visi (ASV);
  • CEDAW Working Group;
  • Hollaback! Jakarta;
  • Institut Kapal Perempuan;
  • Kalyanamitra;
  • Komnas Perempuan;
  • Remaja Independen Papua/Independent Youth
    Forum Papua (FRIP/IYFP);
  • Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI);
  • Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta;
  • Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi;
  • RUTGERS Indonesia;
  • Sanggar SWARA;
  • Women on Web;
  • Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP); 
  • YIFOS Indonesia

India

  • CommonHealth;
  • Love Matters India;
  • Pravah;
  • Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC);
  • SAHAYOG;
  • Sahaj;
  • Sahiyo;
  • SAMA – Resource Group for Women and Health;
  • WeSpeakOut;
  • The YP Foundation (TYPF)

Morocco

  • Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF),
  • Morocco Family Planning Association
ARROW and Partners Oral Statement for the 49th Session of CPD

Statement by the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), a non- governmental organisation in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council at the 49th Session of the Commission on Population and Development

11 – 15 April 2016

ARROW, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a regional, partnership based, non-governmental organisation that has been working since 1993 to advance women and young people’s health and rights, particularly in the area of sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the Asia Pacific region and the regions of Global South.

We welcome the focus on the theme for this 49th session- strengthening the demographic evidence base for the post-2015 development agenda and the methods of work of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD). In line with this theme, we reiterate the prominence of the General Assembly resolutions, 65/234, and 70/1, as important mandates in the realisation of universal access to SRHR for all.

Twenty years have passed since the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights by all, especially women, young people, and LGBTIQ people, is increasingly under threat, with predominantly regressive trends in SRHR policy and programme implementation in the countries of Asia-Pacific region.

With more than 4.4 billion people living in the region and changing population age structures pointing to an increase in the proportion of young population, and older persons, this calls for specific policy and programmatic interventions for these groups. This region also faces most inequalities within countries and in between countries in terms of access to basic health care services, education and information.

Overall fertility in the region is at replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, however there is an increasing proportion of women who either have more children than they want, who want to stop or delay child bearing, and have no means to exercise their reproductive rights. High unmet need for contraception and resulting consequences of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal mortality and morbidity is more common among marginalised groups of women. More than 1 in 4 women aged 20-24 continue to get married before they turn 18, especially in Southern Asia. High adolescent birth rates, child early and forced marriages, other harmful traditional practices, is increasing young women and girls risk to mortality and morbidity related to sexual and reproductive health.

Violations of the right to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, is exacerbated by the intersections of poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, migration, conflict, disasters, climate change and religious extremisms. The face of migration in the region is increasingly seen as young and female. Another trend that we see in the region is the concentration of people living in urban areas. Urban settlements are projected to rise to 56% of Asia’s population.

To date, the ICPD PoA is the only action document that takes a holistic approach to population and development issues and sustainable development. It defines and recommends actions on the inter- relationships of population, development strategies, education, health, technology, research and development, population growth and structures, migration, urbanisation, environment, partnerships and international cooperation in a rights based approach, which is critical to address the needs of diverse demographics in the region. The full implementation of ICPD POA is more than ever critical to the achievement of SDG Agenda 2030.

In the area of strengthening demographic evidence, we call upon the States and the international community to:

a) Uphold the political and financial commitment to the full implementation of ICPD PoA and the SRHR related goals and targets of Agenda 2030.
b) Integrate human rights obligations, including and principles of equality, non-discrimination, on the basis of gender equality, and equity in the implementation of ICPD PoA at the global, regional and national levels.
c) Strengthen the demographic evidence base, to support the monitoring of ICPD and the SDG Agenda 2030, through establishment of functional data instruments such as the civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, census, and household surveys at the national level. Further to this take into account advances and innovations in Information, and Communication Technology.
d) Put in place human rights based data collection, and safeguard processes, that will address the human rights risks in collection, processing, analysing and dissemination of data. This is to ensure the protection of the rights of certain vulnerable populations. Capacity strengthening of NSOs in this area will be crucial.
e) Ensure clear levels of data disaggregation in the review and monitoring of SRHR indicators and the ICPD agenda
f) Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services including access to a full range of contraceptive methods, safe abortion services, counselling, quality treatment including empathetic and trained health service providers, and comprehensive sexuality education for young people without stigma, discrimination and violence.
g) Address the intersectional issues of poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, internal and external migration, conflict, disasters, climate change and counter religious extremism to ensure universal access to SRHR for all.

In the area of Methods of Work of CPD, We call upon the States and the international community to:

h) Ensure the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) continues to play a primary role in advising the council on population and development issues; monitoring, review and assessment of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the ICPD, the key actions for its further implementation and outcomes of its review conferences, as well as the previous resolutions adopted by the CPD, and the SRHR related SDG goals and targets of the Agenda 2030 at global, regional and national level.
j) Upgrade the Commission to enable it to work on the SDGs in order to make its work strategic and relevant
k) Expand the commission to include more member states so that discussions are representative and inclusive of the work of all member states”
l) Ensure a process whereby, there is an alignment of themes for CPD in line with the Agenda 2030 review theme at HLPF. This may call for a priority theme set forth in the multiyear programme by the council.
m) Institutionalise a High level Ministerial Segment during CPD sessions on issues of population and development.
n) Include in the CPD sessions, a reporting mechanism where, Member States present progress, gaps, challenges and best practices on the priority theme.
o) We call for a negotiated outcome document at every CPD with clear actions and recommendations that will take into account emerging issues and recommendation on the priority theme to remain action oriented and policy relevant.
p) We call for the full and active participation of civil society in all the processes relating to CPD, including submission of written and oral statements, and all other processes as experts, in the national delegations, including participation at the regional commissions.

Sources:

1. ESCAP. 2013. Factsheet: Population trends in Asia and the Pacific. retrieved from
http://www.unescapsdd.org/files/documents/SPPS-Factsheet-Population-Trends-v3.pdf
2. United Nations. 2015. World Population Prospects The 2015 Revision Key Findings and
Advance Tables. Retrieved from
http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/publications/files/key_findings_wpp_2015.pdf
3. United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2016. World Demographic Trend, Report of
Secretary General. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/commission/sessions/2016/index.shtml
4. United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2016. Strengthening the demographic evidence base for the post-2015 development agenda. Report of the Secretary-General. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/commission/sessions/2016/index.shtml
5. United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2016. Future organization and methods of work
of the Commission on Population and Development. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/commission/sessions/2016/index.shtml

This statement is endorsed by:

  1. AIDSAccountability International
  2. ARTS Foundation
  3. Asia Pacific Women’s Watch, Sri Lanka
  4. Association for promotion sustainable development. Hisar. India
  5. AwazCDS-Pakistan
  6. Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC), Nepal
  7. Chanan Development Association (CDA),Pakistan
  8. CHRD, Mongolia
  9. Danish Family Planning Association, Denmark
  10. Elige Red de Jóvenes por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos A.C.” (Elige Youth Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights), Mexico
  11. EMPOWER INDIA, India
  12. Equilibres & Populations
  13. Fiji Women’s Rights Movement
  14. Forum of women’s NGOs, Kyrgyzstan
  15. Gender and Water Alliance (GWA) and Gender and Water Programme Bangladesh, Bangladesh
  16. Huvadhoo Aid, Maldives
  17. Inspirator Muda Nusantara, Indonesia
  18. International HIV/AIDS Alliance
  19. JAGO NARI, Bangladesh
  20. JAGO NARI, Bangladesh
  21. Joan Castro, Philippines
  22. Khan Foundation, Bangladesh
  23. Manivone Thikeo
  24. MONFEMNET National Network, Mongolia
  25. Moroccan Family Planning Association( MFPA), Morocco
  26. Naripokkho, Bangladesh
  27. Pacific SRHR Coalition
  28. Paryavaran Mitra, India
  29. Penita Initiative, Malaysia
  30. Point of View, India
  31. Positive Change for Cambodia (PCC)
  32. Radanar Ayar Rural Development Association, Myanmar
  33. Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC), Cambodia
  34. RHAK – Reproductive Health Alliance in Kyrgyzstan
  35. Rural Women’s Association “Alga”, Kyrgyzstan
  36. Sanayee Development Organization – SDO.
  37. SEEDS, India
  38. Shirkat Gah Pakistan
  39. Sindh Foundation, Pakistan
  40. TARSHI, India
  41. The Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP), Vietnam
  42. The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR
  43. The YP Foundation, India
  44. UBINIG/ Narigrantha Prabartana, Dhaka Bangladesh
  45. University Health Sciences, Lao PDR
  46. Vanphanom Sychareun, Lao PDR
  47. Vectoring China, the China Youth Leaders’ Resource Centre, China
  48. Women and Media Collective, Sri Lanka
  49. Women Heath  Foundation ( YKP )
  50. World YWCA
  51. Yayasan Jurnal Perempuan, Indonesia
  52. Youth Advocacy Network, Pakistan
  53. Yunnan Health and Development Research Association(YHDRA, China
  54. YUWA Nepal

Maldives

  • Hope for Women
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Mongolia

  • MONFEMNET National Network