During the Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development at the Plenary of the 69th session of the General Assembly, H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Sareer delivered a statement on the new Secretary General's Report on this issue.
At the 20th anniversary of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, recent data and assessments still validates the consensus reached in 1994, said Ambassador Sareer and congratulated countries who supported this vital initiative. He continued to state that the goals enshrined in the ICPD remain crucial to sustainable development today, and should feed into the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Ambassador Sareer also shared Maldives' domestic success, graduating from LDC status in 2011, decreasing maternal and infant mortality rates, maintaining a high literacy rate and enshrining maternity leave and equal pay for equal work in its legislation. Significant domestic action on children and youth, including the "No child is left behind" Umbrella program, and a focus on evidence based policy were other priorities of the government, he said.
Ambassador Sareer reiterated Maldives commitment to the implementation of the ICPD Program of Action and stated that “we remain committed to our people, especially our youth and women, and to the full realization of their potential.”
