The Decision of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control (STC-HPDC-4) held in June 2022, mandated the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with relevant United Nations Agencies, to initiate the review process for the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development at its 10-year mark.
Against this backdrop, the AUC Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) held the Ministerial Segment of the African Population Experts Committee (APEC) and Ministers in Charge of Population Meeting as a working group of the STC-HPDC-4 on the 10-year Review of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development (AADPD) on 9 November 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The ministerial meeting brought together ministers in charge of population from AU Member States. The meeting was opened officially by Honorable Mrs. W.K. NALUMANGO, MP, Vice President of the Republic, Zambia, warmly welcomed the participants, emphasizing the significance of the meeting given the current socio-economic landscape in the Continent. She pointed out that Africa’s growing population presents opportunity for development with a predominant younger demographic. She highlighted the importance of monitoring population dynamics to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063, and reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to strengthen institutions that deal with population issues to ensure the acceleration of the implementation of a national population policy that operationalizes the plan of action. The Vice President highlighted the progress the country has made in implementing interventions under the various pillars in the AADPD, and underscored the importance of the upcoming fifty-seventh session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57) on population and development as a platform for Member States to highlight their progress in implementing the AADPD.
In her opening remarks, H.E. Amb. Minata Samaté Cessouma, Commissioner for the Department of Health Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) of the African Union Commission, in her statement, noted that the 10-year review is an important exercise that has reinforced MS collective commitments as set out in the Continental Transformative Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda. “Looking forward into the next decade of the Addis Ababa Declaration, we are encouraged at the opportunity to reflect on the unfinished business in the development and implementation of the Second Decade Strategic Plan of Agenda 2063, “said the Commissioner.
H.E. Amb. Minata Samaté Cessouma noted that the meeting convenes at a time of great, global uncertainties and challenges. She conveyed a message of solidarity to the people across the African continent and the world, who are currently living and experiencing great periods of conflict and insecurity – impacting irreversibly their ways of life and livelihoods. “The impact of conflicts on people’s lives, in societal progress and cohesion, and continuity of life, services and connections, speaks volumes on the kind of actions we must all avoid if this world is to move forward in a manner that is cohesive; guided by multilateralism; and builds on our differences but more importantly, the qualities we share,” emphasized Commissioner.
“As we look at the 10-Years of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development, where we see mixed progress across its pillars, as well as a number of areas where we see a significant amount of unfinished work – the African Union Commission continues to be committed on this shared agenda. The investments by Member States, and indeed by all our partners at all levels and role you play to consolidate the reflections from these reviews across the world remains important to us” concluded H.E. Amb. Minata Samaté Cessouma.
Ms Diene Keita, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and UNFPA Deputy Executive Director, Programme, congratulated all the AU member states who undertook the extensive review process at national level, and applauded the efforts for including the perspectives of adolescents, youth, women and vulnerable population groups. “I gladly note Voices of Civil Society and Major groups were not left out; which culminated in the pre-meeting held here in Lusaka on Monday with key messages conveyed to the African Population Expert Committee (APEC) meeting on Tuesday. UNFPA is honored to have played a facilitating role in this regard,” said Ms Diene Keita.
Mr Oliver Chinganya, Director Africa Center for Statistics UNECA noted that Africa’s quest for transformation and sustainable development must take account of the rapid changes in the size, age and location of its population. “Without knowing these demographic trends, it is impossible to understand and meets the needs of its diverse people and future generations,” emphasized Mr Oliver Chinganya.
Ambassador Noemí ESPINOZA MADRID, Chair of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on Population and Development noted that the 30th anniversary of the existence of the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and the 10th anniversary of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development represent the great commitment that governments have made to this comprehensive and broad agenda that seeks the well-being of all people and of our planet. “The global community has the responsibility to reaffirm that commitment. Urgent issues such as the climate crisis facing the planet, demographic changes and migration demand our action,” said Ambassador Noemí ESPINOZA MADRID.
The Report of the 10-Year Review of the AADPD was presented at the global review, taking place during the 57th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in April of 2024 under the theme “Assessing the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development”.
During the Ministers’ session, the AU Member States was deliberated on the AADPD Continental Report that comprises a total of 88 commitments grouped under six pillars: Dignity and Equality, Health, Place and Mobility, Governance, Data and Statistics, and Partnership and International Cooperation.
Further information should be directed to:
Ms. Inas Mubarak | Head of Division, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission | Email: abbasi@africa-union.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org
Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
