Participants of 5th International Parliamentarian Conference on Population, Development reiterate commitment to 1994 program of action

"Participants at the Fifth International Parliamentarians' Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) ended [a two-day meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, on] Friday with a joint pledge to advocate for increased funding for full implementation of the decades-old ICPD Programme of Action," Inter Press Service reports. According to the news service, "about 300 members of parliament from 110 countries issued the Istanbul Statement of Commitment [.doc], reiterating their commitment to achieve the goals laid out in the ICPD Programme of Action adopted in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994." "According to the statement, implementation of the program is 'essential for countries to reduce poverty and social and economic inequality, improve the lives of their people and safeguard the health and rights of women, including sexual and reproductive health rights,'" IPS writes.

"Attendees also promised to strive towards allocating 10 percent of national development budgets and development assistance budgets to population and reproductive health programs, including HIV/AIDS prevention," the news service notes, adding, "Furthermore, country representative at the conference undertook to 'pass appropriate legislation, review existing legislation and mobilize strong support for laws consistent with the ICPD agenda and hold governments accountable so that such laws lead to sustainable development.'" IPS writes, "This statement indicated a clear path towards implementing the ICPD Programme, whose original deadline of 2014 is fast approaching" (5/26).