United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa
Address
of Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary,
Economic Commission for Africa
(ECA)
At the Ministerial Review
Conference on the Implementation of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration (DND) and
the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population
and Development (ICPD-PoA)
June 7-11 2004; Dakar, Senegal
Your Excellency the President
of the Republic of Senegal,
Your Excellency the President of the African Union,
Madame, the Executive Director of UNFPA,
Honourable Ministers,
Members of the Diplomatic and Consular corps,|
Members of the Follow-up Committee
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with pleasure that
I welcome you to this Ministerial Conference on the Follow-up of the implementation
of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration on Population and the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and Development. I thank
the Government of Senegal, on behalf of ECA and all distinguished Guests,
for hosting this Ministerial Conference. The United Nations Population
Fund has always provided technical and financial assistance to African
countries to ensure the most effective implementation of the commitments
made in Cairo in 1994. By financing this Conference, UNFPA has, once again,
shown its engagement and support for implementing population activities
as part of the development process in Africa. I also thank all our member
States, the African Union and the African Development Bank for their support
and collaboration.
Not too long ago, Excellencies,
discussions about population matters centered mainly on demography, fertility
and so on. We preoccupied ourselves with sheer numbers, obsessed about
meeting specific demographic targets and drew conclusions that had serious
implications for policy, especially in Africa. But as we concluded in
Cairo ten years ago, at the International Conference on Population and
Development, population issues are too complex to be limited to sheer
numbers. We must consider population in relation to development and human
rights. We must involve the civil society as we pursue policies that would
satisfy reproductive health needs, including family planning.
It is this realization that
made 179 countries approve a twenty-year programme of action aimed at
improving the quality of life of the world's population, through appropriate
policies and programmes in the area of population and development. This
is why we adopted a common position in this very city in 1992, the famous
Dakar/Ngor Declaration to integrate population policies and programmes
into the development policies and strategies of African countries. But
how far have we succeeded in accomplishing these lofty goals?
Progress has been made;
but we are not there yet, as you will find out from the ten-year Regional
Report that is before you. For instance, 96 per cent of African countries
have integrated population concerns in their development plans while 33
States have put in place the institutional arrangements to effectively
monitor and assess the linkages between population, agriculture and the
environment and their impacts on the environment. Indeed 90 per cent of
African countries have increased domestic resources for population and
reproductive health.
On gender equality, it is
encouraging that all 43 countries which responded to our survey have taken
actions to ensure gender equality and women empowerment. Forty one African
countries have ratified the Convention on Elimination of all Discrimination
against Women.
Regarding the role of the
family, more and more African countries have introduced special, family-sensitive
policies, measures and programmes. Over 74 per cent of African countries
have expressed concern about problems associated with an ageing population
and many are providing social security, pension schemes and institutional
care to the elderly in response. Some countries have amended their penal
codes and abolished the 1920 French law on abortion. National immunization
campaigns are continuing and breastfeeding is being promoted in many countries.
There are also good news
on the Children and Youth front. Today, about two-thirds of African countries
have adopted measures to protect the reproductive rights of adolescents
whereas five years ago, only 38 per cent of African countries had those
measures in place.
On HIV/AIDS, 42 countries
have established units within the government structure to coordinate efforts
to combat the pandemic. In 24 of those countries, the unit was located
in the President's Office. Thirty countries have established AIDS Councils
at the ministerial level.
Our member States have also
taken steps to respond to the problems posed by the influx of internally
displaced persons and refugees. Over 70 per cent of countries which responded
to our survey have provided protection, health service, education rehabilitation
and employment opportunities to these groups.
In general, there are also
indications that resource mobilization has increased for the implementation
of population policies and programmes. About 90 per cent of all African
countries have, indeed, increased their domestic resources for this purpose.
Some countries, like Uganda, spend more than 20 per cent of their budget
on health and social services.
Excellencies,
In spite of the successes,
many challenges remain. African countries will not meet the goals unless
concrete actions are taken to resolve the critical development problems
faced, such as: high maternal morbidity and mortality, unmet needs for
adolescent sexual and reproductive health, the spread of HIV/AIDS, unfavourable
attitudes and practices working against the elimination of discrimination
and inequalities against women in some countries.
We must develop standardized
methodologies to more accurately monitor internal and external resource
flows and enhance technical and managerial capacities, especially, in
advocacy. We must deal more effectively with natural disasters that savage
our populations and promote good governance in all African countries.
We also need to address the pervasive manifestations of internal migration
and uncontrolled urbanization as we develop strategies to reduce the risk
environments for HIV transmission, notably poverty, gender inequality,
social instability and conflict.
These are some of the challenges,
that I hope, have been considered by our experts and that should engage
our minds at this Conference. Our Declaration must address the gaps and
take the process to the next level towards complete implementation in
the next decade.
At the ECA, we have taken
serious steps to address many of the key development challenges facing
Africa. We established the African Learning Group on the PRSP to facilitate
African peer learning on the experience with the PRSP in Africa. The Learning
Group looks at five clusters of issues: content of growth strategies;
PRSP-related financing and public expenditure management; legitimacy of
the PRSP participatory process; capacity requirements; and donor policies
and modalities. Our aim is to share best practices, identify national
capacity gaps, formulate recommendations to address the gaps, and advocate
for change in aid modalities and approaches. We have developed a set of
83 indicators by which African countries can monitor and assess good governance.
Our landmark report The African Governance Report will be
showcased later this year at the African Development Forum, on the theme
Governance for a Progressing Africa.
On HIV/AIDS, the U.N. Secretary
General established the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa
(CHGA) chaired by me. The Commission's aim is to examine the links between
HIV/AIDS and governance in various sectors in Africa. The Commission will
come up with its final report which, hopefully, will help African countries
to better appreciate and cope with the impacts of the pandemic.
ECA has also developed an
African Gender and Development Index , to provide African policy makers,
gender planners and politicians with an appropriate tool to measure the
extent of gender inequality in their countries, as well as the effects
of their gender policies in the reduction of women's subordination. Fundamentally,
our African Gender and Development Index will help in monitoring the progress
made in the implementation of the Programme of Action of ICPD, especially,
as it relates to gender issues.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
At this Conference, we should
re-affirm and consolidate our commitment to the Programme of Action of
ICPD as our contribution to the attainment of the Millennium Development
Goals. Before we leave Dakar, let us agree on the main actions required
for further progress in implementing the recommendations of ICPD. Let
us examine and endorse the 10th Anniversary Review Report on
the implementation of ICPD in Africa, and the modalities and procedures
for preparing future evaluations. I urge you to adopt a thorough and feasible
Ministerial Declaration which will aid further implementation of the Dakar/Ngor
Declaration and the Programme of Action of the ICPD.
Excellencies, I thank you
for your attention.
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