This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) summit is set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, amidst controversy and unease from some political and religious leaders.
The conference, which has 179 member countries, aims to advance the ideology of promoting comprehensive reproductive health care, including voluntary family planning, safe pregnancy and childbirth services, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
However, some religious leaders have expressed their discontent with the conference, arguing that it could be used to promote immorality and go against African culture and religious heritage.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has weighed in on the issue, stating that the conference will focus on alleviating Female Genital Mutilation and gender-based violence, but will not tolerate any discussion that goes against African culture.
The National Council for Population and Development has clarified that the conference is only assessing whether the objectives set in Cairo, Egypt, during the 1994 maiden summit were met.
The conference has been organised by Kenya and Denmark governments, under the partnership of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), and will include sessions on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the rights of minority groups, including the LGBT community.
Some of the sessions include 'Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: An essential element of Universal Health Coverage', 'Ending Unsafe Abortion by 2030: How do we get there?', and 'Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Inclusion, Working Towards Zero Maternity, Ending Violence against Women and Girls and Equity in Access and Countering Discrimination.'
Organizations such as Marie Stopes International, CRR, FIGO, the Guttmacher Institute, Right Here Right Now, SheDecides, UNFPA, and WHO/HRP will be in attendance.
Published on November 11, 2019, at 3:11 pm.
