Fòs Feminista launches The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A Critical, Feminist Analysis of the Negotiated Outcomes from the Commission on Population and Development 2004-2023
The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and subsequent agreements like the Beijing Declaration have been instrumental in shaping global discourse on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) since 1994. These agreements emphasized human rights, especially SRHR, as central to sustainable development goals, and laid a foundation for national policies and regional agreements. Despite progress, universal access to SRHR services remains a challenge even after 30 years, with issues like safe abortion, contraception access, and gender diversity recognition remaining politically divisive. While national governments have reaffirmed ICPD commitments, debates within multilateral forums like the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) increasingly face challenges due to cultural and religious differences, potentially rolling back gains in gender equality and health rights.
The CPD, a UN Economic and Social Council commission, plays a pivotal role in advising on population and development issues, monitoring ICPD PoA implementation, and producing actionable outcome documents. These documents, formulated through negotiations among member states, contain agreed language that guides global priorities and holds governments accountable. Protecting this language is crucial as it reflects commitments made internationally and facilitates advocacy for SRHR at national levels. A feminist analysis spanning CPD sessions from 2004 to 2023 aims to identify language trends, assessing progress, gaps, and areas where political action stagnates. Through document analysis, this study provides insights into evolving SRHR discourse within multilateral frameworks, informing advocacy strategies for more inclusive and progressive agendas.
Read the full analysis here.
