Kathmandu, April 30 : Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, informed the
international community that Nepal adopts right-based approach while dealing
with the issues of population and development.
"Nepal is committed towards a
rights-based, inclusive, innovative, and sustainable approach to population and
development," he said while addressing the fifty-seventh session of the
Commission on Population and Development in New York on Monday.
On the occasion, the DPM underlined
the full implementation of the Programme of Action of the International
Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) is critical to attaining the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to a press statement issued
by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN.
He also shared that Nepal had given
utmost priority and importance to the implementation and attainment of the
Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and
Development since its adoption in 1994. The DPM informed the international
audiences across various policies, plans, and programmes Nepal has been
enforcing to enhance the quality of life of every citizen in a bid to create a
just, inclusive, and equitable society.
Meanwhile, DPM Yadav also addressed
an informal plenary meeting organized by the President of the General Assembly
to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population
and Development. Addressing the meeting, he said that thirty years since the
landmark ICPD, the world has witnessed significant progress in poverty
reduction, improved health systems, reduced fertility and mortality, increases
in life expectancy, access to primary education, promoting gender equality, and
advancing health and reproductive rights.
"However, the progress we made
is uneven within and among countries and there remain significant gaps and
inequalities. Multiple challenges including pandemics, conflicts, geopolitical
competitions, cost of living crises, and climate change, have impacted our
efforts to achieve SDGs and the realization of the Programme of Action of the
International Conference on Population and Development," he
mentioned.
The DPM reminded Nepal’s firm
commitment to advancing people-centered development, human rights, gender
equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The preventable maternal mortality
must be reduced, comprehensive sexuality education promoted, youth
participation enhanced in decision-making processes, and the National
Population Data system for the full realization of the plan of action of the
ICPD strengthened, he underlined. (RSS)