EPF invited as an Expert to the first reading of the Draft Report “15 years since the Programme of Action of ICPD” of the PACE Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee

Prior to the 15th anniversary of the ICPD PoA, Hon. Christine McCafferty, MP and Chair of the PACE Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee drafted a report and a recommendation on advancing the Cairo Programme of Action in the Council of Europe Members states and in the developing countries, which are recipients of donor aid. EPF cooperated with the PACE in providing evidence to the report and participated as an expert at the first exchange of views at the Committee Meeting, which took place on 11 March in Paris. Neil Datta, EPF Secretary represented EPF at the hearing and addressed the Parliamentarians on the persisting challenges in achieving the goals of ICPD PoA. In particular he spoke about the gaps in funding for ICPD PoA and stressed that more than 100 million married women in developing countries have an unmet need for contraception. At the same time in the number of Council of Europe Members states, such as Albania, Azerbaijan and Russian Federation, maternal mortality is still high. Neil Datta drew the attention of Parliamentarians to the fact, that while the population assistance of OECD Members states dramatically increased from 1995 to 2005, most of it went to HIV/AIDS and funds for family planning represent the second smallest percentage of the total. Other invited experts included IPPF EN and UNFPA. More than 25 Parliamentarians – Members of the Committee debated about the draft report and agreed that in spite of financial crisis, the levels of development aid should be kept and the earlier made commitments fulfilled. With regard to the situation in the Council of Europe Member States, Parliamentarians noted the urgent need to introduce more family friendly benefits to allow families to reconcile work and family life.