Thirty years ago, delegates from 179 countries agreed on a broad set of priorities and actions to advance human rights, including reproductive rights, in the context of population and development concerns. The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was groundbreaking in its assertion that empowering women and girls was both the right thing to do and one of the most reliable pathways to sustainable development and improved wellbeing for all.
ICPD recognized the fundamental importance of population trends in shaping our future and highlighted how these trends result from the rights and opportunities afforded to individuals. Its Programme of Action captured a comprehensive overview of the vital links between reproductive autonomy, population trends, and development.
The Population Institute invited a group of thought leaders to reflect on ICPD and to share their insights on the relevancy of seven key themes, at the time of the agreement and today. In their essays, they suggest commitments and actions needed to fulfill the ICPD promise. This volume reminds us of the variety of important commitments from the 1994 agenda, many of which have been forgotten or overlooked, and demonstrates the growing pertinence of these historic commitments in the 21st century.
EVENT: 30th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development
To celebrate World Population Day on July 11, the Population Institute co-hosted an event with the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program and Maternal Health Initiative. The event featured thought leaders from UNFPA, USAID, academia, and civil society, including contributors to PI’s publication, Revitalizing Population and Development in the 21st Century, who shared their insights on the unfinished ICPD agenda. Panelists discussed what more is needed to realize ICPD’s vision, with particular attention paid to ways to further population and environment goals, re-focus financing commitments, and secure inclusive reproductive health and gender equality. PI President and CEO, Kathleen Mogelgaard, shared her perspective as an expert panelist. Additional resources below provide more information:
- HIGHLIGHTS: Population and Development in the 21st Century
- BLOG: World Population Day: Revitalizing Discourse on Population, Development and Rights
- RECORDING: Population and Development in the 21st Century
MINI DOCUMENTARY: Behind Every Number, a Person: Reflections on the International Conference on Population and Development
Building on the themes of Revitalizing Population and Development, PI interviewed its contributors and invited them to expand on their recommendations for tackling the unfinished business that would fulfill the ICPD promise. PI produced a mini documentary, “Behind Every Number, a Person,” that shares those insights. The video was premiered at Foreign Policy’s Her Power@UNGA79 Summit during the showcase reception. The video was a collaborative effort among many thought leaders and organizations, including Indigenous Justice Circle, Population Balance, and Population Media Center.