NAIROBI, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Nairobi Summit of International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) wrapped up in Nairobi on Thursday with more than 9,500 delegates from 170 countries, adopting 12 resolutions to promote reproductive health for women and girls.
In his closing remarks, Kenyan deputy president William Ruto said the ICPD25 summit will chart a new path in efforts to promote reproductive health rights and economic empowerment of the female gender.
"The conference served as a reminder for all of us to seize the moment and advance the reproductive health for women and girls," said Ruto.
"We, therefore, must accelerate progress towards achieving zero maternal deaths, tackle the challenge of unmet needs for contraceptives and eliminate gender-based violence, child marriages and female genital mutilation," he added.
Kenya partnered with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the government of Denmark to host the three-day summit that was attended by world leaders, ministers, industry leaders, donors and campaigners. The forum sought to review progress achieved in the implementation of a plan of action agreed at the International Conference of Population and Development(ICPD) held 25 years ago in Egypt.
Ruto said the Nairobi Summit of ICPD25 provided a platform for governments, donors and civil society to revitalize the family planning agenda through robust financing, political commitment, policy reforms and partnerships. "We must focus on priority areas like health, education, equal opportunities and stronger partnerships with the private sector to realize the goals set out in the Nairobi summit," said Ruto.
More than 1,200 commitments that included financial pledges from donors and the private sector were the key highlight of the three-day summit in Nairobi.
Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA said the summit generated renewed political goodwill and funding required to reinvigorate the reproductive health agenda for women and girls.
"The Nairobi summit represents a renewed, re-energized vision and community working together to act and deliver," said Kanem, adding that "together, we will make the next ten years a decade of action and results for women and girls, keeping their rights and choices at the center of everything we do."
Kanem revealed that UNFPA will set up a high level commission to monitor and report on progress made in the implementation of commitments agreed at the Nairobi population summit.
