2nd Edition

Creating a New Consensus on Population The Politics of Reproductive Health, Reproductive Rights, and Women's Empowerment

    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    Population growth, reproductive health and reproductive rights are amongst the most pressing issues facing governments and the international community. Since the world's governments agreed for the first time on far-reaching and enlightened population policies at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, a good deal of progress has been made on these issues, but major challenges remain. This fully updated edition of Creating a New Consensus on Population charts international progress on efforts to address population and development, reproductive health, reproductive rights, religion, contraception and the empowerment of women. Historical coverage includes the lead up process to the ICPD, the conference itself and the global consensus and the ICPD Programme of Action that resulted. The book then turns to how population issues have developed over the past decade and a half including follow-up and implementation at the international level by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other UN agencies and organizations. Key international events are covered including the 1999 ICPD+5, Millennium Summit 2000, ICPD+10 and the 2005 MDG+5 as well as relevant regional events. The book also examines the reorientation of policies and programmes and implementation at national levels across the world. Crucially, it looks at emerging issues and partnerships including the increasing role of NGOs, women's groups, youth groups, foundations, public-private partnerships and other non-state stakeholders. Written by Jyoti Shankar Singh, former ICPD Executive Coordinator, this is the definitive account of how the international community has engaged with population issues and policies and it offers insight into both the ongoing challenges as well as how an international consensus can be forged on crucial global issues. It is essential reading for all those involved in population, health and development issues and policies world-wide.

    1. Bucharest, Mexico and Cairo 2. From Family Planning to Reproductive Health 3. Population and Development 4. The Empowerment of Women 5. Partnership with the Non-Governmental Sector 6. Mobilizing Resources for Population Programmes 7. The Cairo Agenda and the International Community 8. Institutional Response 9. Implementing the Cairo Agenda Notes And References Bibliography Appendix 1: Chronology of Major Events Relating to International Conference on Population and Development

    Biography

    Jyoti Shankar Singh is Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Partners in Population and Development (PPD)- an intergovernmental organization of 24 developing countries dedicated to promotion of South-South cooperation in population and development. He is Former Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and served as Executive Coordinator of the 1984 International Conference on Population and the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

    'No one interested in the field of the population issue and reproductive health should miss this important book. This is the right moment for an update' Dr. Nicolaas Biegman, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the UN, 1992-1997 'Fifteen years ago, the international community agreed on a vision for achieving population stabilization and sustainable development through universal access to family planning and reproductive health; gender equality in education, and fulfillment of the rights of women and men to economic, social and environmental security. Jyoti Singh played an instrumental role in organizing the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). In this book, Dr. Singh reminds us that the ICPD's promise remains valid, but unfulfilled, and details how the world can overcome the barriers that stubbornly persist, especially for women. Senator Timothy E. Wirth, US Under-Secretary of State, 1995-1997; President, UN Foundation 'Jyoti Shankar Singh in this revised edition not only reminds and updates us on the ICPD process but takes us through the intriguing journey of 'The Politics of Reproductive Health, Reproductive Rights and Women's Empowerment,' as he aptly puts it. This book is recommended reading for all - from politicians and planners to professionals and field workers.It is comprehensive and forward looking while objective and frank in addressing the challenges, constraints and realities of implementing the Cairo consensus. I sincerely hope that Jyoti Singh will continue his efforts to map the process as countries strive to achieve the ICPD and MDG goals by 2015' Dr. Raj Karim, Regional Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation, East and South East Asia and Oceania Region,Kuala Lumput, Malaysia