Addis Ababa 2009

On 27-28 October 2009, over 400 delegates, including parliamentarians and ministers from around 115 countries, met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the fourth International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI/ICPD).

Other participants included representatives of non-governmental organizations, UNFPA, national, regional and global parliamentary groups on population and development, as well as youth, experts and government officials.

During the two-day meeting, lawmakers reaffirmed their support to the principles and goals of the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and underlined the indispensable role of its Programme of Action in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They also committed to supporting accessible and affordable health services that promote family planning, HIV prevention and the health and well-being of women and girls.

At the conclusion of the conference, the parliamentarians and ministers unanimously adopted the Addis Ababa Statement of Commitment, in which they pledged to exercise their oversight responsibilities to break the silence around gender discrimination and to promote sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. More about IPCI/ICPD

In conjunction with the IPCI/ICPD IV, the Government of The Netherlands and UNFPA orginized a one-day high-level meeting on Maternal Health — Millennium Development Goal 5. The meeting preceded IPCI/ICPD IV, on 26 October, at the same venue, the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC).

The high-level meeting resulted in a Call to Action that makes recommendations for specific programmes and for actions to reach the maternal health goal by 2015. The results of the meeting were presented by Minister Koenders at the IPCI/ICPD conference.