Population dynamics are both drivers and outcomes of sustainable development. Trends such as ageing, fertility decline, urbanization, international migration require proactive responses to achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people, without compromising the needs of future generations. Central to this goal is the full recognition of the human rights of all persons without distinction of any kind, gender equality and full access to sexual and reproductive health services and enjoyment of reproductive rights.

Responding to this challenge, member States of the United Nations at the International Conference on Population and Development recognised that “human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development” and adopted a Programme of Action to spur action on this consensus.

Since the adoption of this Programme of Action, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has supported regional review and follow-up in partnership with UNFPA. In the latest review in 2013, member States adopted the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development as the outcome of the Sixth Asian and Pacific Population Conference. It outlined progress on population and development and highlighted region-specific policy directions and priority actions to ensure the effective implementation of the Programme of Action in the region.

The Declaration requested that ESCAP and UNFPA conduct a regional intergovernmental review meeting of the implementation of the Programme of Action, the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the recommendations of the present Declaration in 2018 in preparation for the Seventh Asian and Pacific Population Conference in 2023.

In response to this mandate, ESCAP and UNFPA are organising the Midterm Review of the Asian and Pacific Declaration on Population and Development Conference from 26-28 November 2018.

For more information, please visit https://www.unescap.org/intergovernmental-meetings/MTR-APPC