ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development) in Cairo, Egypt 1994, the conference is going to complete its 25th anniversary of declaration this year stepping into the Nairobi Summit on November 12-14 in Kenya.
The key focus is the Programme of Action called for all people to have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including voluntary family planning, safe pregnancy, and childbirth services, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. ICPD program of action has been the key Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
Bangladesh government has taken initiatives focusing on certain aspects of SRHR in Bangladesh remains difficult term to discuss openly, particularly among adolescents despite its significance in this delicate stage of their life.
On 28th August, 2019, SERAC-Bangladesh with the help of UKAID, UNFPA and Jhpiego organized a youth consultation called, ‘ICPD25 Youth Consultation’ in Dhaka with the presence of UNFPA SRHR specialist Dr. Md Abu Sayed Hasan, Program Director of Jhpiego, Dr. Mahfuza Mousumi, Program Manager of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Md. M. Islam Bulbul and Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh SM Shaikat. Keep it in mind, SERAC-Bangladesh is going to have 7 other divisional youth consultation meeting with the concise statement, ‘No one leaves behind’.
UNFPA SRHR specialist Dr. Md Abu Sayed Hasan said, an integrated approach of SRHR education and advocacy for birth spacing is using effective contraceptives among youth and adolescents, and accessing to reproductive health commodities for youth demand to ensure. The unmet need in population control can be approached in a more effective way.
Program Director-Dr. Mahfuza Mousumi from Jhpiego added to assure the protection of child and adolescents. Contraception and using other modern method of contraception is still challenge in our surroundings.
Deputy Program Manager of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare- Dr. Md. M. Islam Bulbul stated that large numbers of adolescent enter into child marriage and pregnancy without any adequate preparation or just unplanned.
Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh SM Shaikat also added that nowadays the youth teams or organizations are now working on health education and advocacy including family planning issues in the country. Young people should be more accountable and concerned about their rights on SRHR and family planning.
Following the consultation, a shadow report will be presented on October at BNYCFP 2019 (Bangladesh 4th National Youth Conference on Family Planning 2019) SERAC-Bangladesh will launch the “ICPD25 National Youth Shadow Report”. And in November, governments, advocates, health organizations, women’s and youth activists and others will gather in Kenya for the Nairobi Summit. There, they will seek clear commitments that will advance the goals of the ICPD and secure the rights and dignity of all.
