Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the ground-breaking International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994, and of its Programme of Action. In preparation for this anniversary, the UNECE Regional Conference on Enabling Choices: Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development (1-2 October 2018 in Geneva) will assess progress and identify gaps in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action in the UNECE region.

Organized by UNECE and UNFPA, the Conference will focus on key actions for implementation and address the wider policy concerns related to:

• Population dynamics and sustainable development;

• Families, sexual and reproductive health over the life course; and

• Inequalities, social inclusion and rights.

The regional review and conference will also serve to strengthen linkages between the ICPD and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, enhance integration of population dynamics into development planning and reaffirm commitment to implementing the ICPD Programme of Action in the UNECE region.

A regional report covering trends and developments since the last review in 2013 will be presented and discussed at the Conference. The report and the Conference outcome, in form of a Rapporteurs’ summary, will feed into the global review to take place at the 52nd session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in 2019.

During the two-day conference, lessons learnt and good practices will be highlighted and the ways to address the persisting and emerging population issues discussed. The Conference will bring together about 200-250 representatives of governmental authorities, including high-level officials, academia and civil society organizations, national coordinating bodies on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as members of national parliaments and other stakeholders.

For more information please visit: http://www.unece.org/pau/icpd25