More needs to be done to achieve ICPD goals, says Amoako

By Yinka Adeyemi, Communication Officer, ECA
6.10.2004

African countries can not fully integrate population issues in their development plans until concrete actions have been taken to resolve high maternal morbidity and mortality, the spread of HIV/AIDS and elimination of discrimination and inequalities against women, the Executive Secretary of ECA, KY Amoako said today in Dakar.

In an address to ministers who are reviewing the implementation of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration (DND) and the programme of action adopted 10 years ago at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Amoako said although African countries had made real progress in the last 10 years, “we are not there yet.”

“We must develop standardized methodologies to more accurately monitor internal and external resource flows and enhance technical and managerial capacities, especially in advocacy,” Amoko said in the address delivered on his behalf by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Lalla Ben-Barka.

He called for a more effective response to natural disasters that savage African populations and strategies to cope with the pervasive manifestations of internal migration and uncontrolled urbanization, addressing the risk environments for HIV transmission such as poverty, gender inequality, social instability and conflict.

He urged the ministers to examine and endorse ECA’s 10th anniversary report on the implementation of ICPD goals in Africa and stipulate the modalities and procedure for future evaluations.

The ministers are expected to issue a Declaration which is expected to promote further implementation of DND and ICPD goals in the next 10 years.