Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is a strong supporter of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The State of the World Population is its annual flagship Report, analysing developments and trends in population and demographics at global and national level. The Tánaiste launched this year's report, with senior representatives of UNFPA and the Chair of the All-Party Oireachtas Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Dublin on 18 April 2024. The theme of the report was the role racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination play in blocking gains in SRHR for women and girls.

The Report highlights the progress made since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, which adopted a Programme of Action that recognised clearly that reproductive health, women's empowerment and gender equality are vital for sustainable development.

Nevertheless, we share the concern at setbacks in some areas. Although maternal mortality rates have declined by almost one third globally, progress is uneven and has stalled in many fragile and low-income countries. Between 2016 and 2020, the global annual reduction in maternal death was effectively zero.

It is clear that barriers to healthcare have fallen faster for women of high socioeconomic status. Serious inequalities persist, and still constrain people’s choices in life. The root causes of these systemic inequalities must be addressed, economically, socially and politically to ensure those the furthest behind have full access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with UNFPA and other key partners in line with the Government's international development policy, A Better World, which places gender equality at its core and includes firm commitments on sexual and reproductive rights. The policy frames our commitments in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals and, in particular, their commitment to reach the furthest behind first.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The 57th Session of the Commission and Development (CPD) was held at UN Headquarters in New York from 29 April to 3 May. The session assessed the status of implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994. It examined the Programme of Action’s contribution to the follow up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Ireland delivered a national statement during the Commission, highlighting attempts globally to undermine human rights, especially those of women and girls. The statement noted that in both our domestic and foreign policy, Ireland has made real progress in the fulfilment of the commitment made at ICPD 30 years ago to place human rights, and the rights of women and girls in particular, at the heart of the sustainable development agenda. Ireland’s development cooperation policy recognises that access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is fundamental for the transformation of health and well-being, for everyone. Ireland will continue to support and advance the commitments framed 30 years ago in Cairo. These are as relevant now as they were in 1994.

We welcome the Political Declaration that was adopted by consensus on 29 April, which reaffirms Member States’ commitment to the full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and the follow-up to international and regional commitments. We believe, however that the statement could have more strongly set out the ambition for the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to services, information and education, and freedom of choice over family planning.

Ireland also welcomed the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the ICPD Programme of Action. The global ICPD30 report to be issued later in the year will provide an authoritative account, with evidence, of the state of implementation of the ICPD agenda, identifying and addressing emerging challenges and opportunities to accelerate ICPD implementation beyond 2024.