Mr President,
Let me start by thanking the Executive Director for her, as always, interesting, insightful and comprehensive statement. This fall is particularly important since we will commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the historic International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Cairo Consensus. We need to reaffirm our commitments to the ICPD agenda.
Two key development priorities of my government are human rights and gender equality. There is a crucial link between human rights, women’s empowerment and development. The UN system and UNFPA in particular is doing a tremendously important work by advancing these priorities globally in line with the ICPD agenda. There is no doubt that implementation of the ICPD Cairo agenda is crucial for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
The contribution of the ICPD Programme of Action to development goals covers many aspects of human existence including human rights, population structures, the issue of migration and development as well as the importance of linking sexual and reproductive health and rights to gender equality.
The recent global food crisis still threatens the health and well-being of millions of people around the world and remains a challenge. In addition to this, the world is now facing the consequences of the global economic recession and financial crisis.
The origins of these crises are multidimensional, and it is crucial that the international community deals with the root causes parallel with trying to ease the effects for those who suffer the most. In the international debate on these crises we also hear new calls for family planning as a response to poverty. If there are fewer people to provide for, the problem will ease. This reasoning is to some extent dangerous. It takes us back to a more quantitative way of thinking about human reproduction pre dating the Cairo conferences. As stated by the ICPD Programme of Action, reproductive rights are human rights, and we strongly believe that the choice of the individual must remain in focus in our reasoning regarding human reproduction.
This means that every woman and man should have the right to make an informed choice on when, how and under which circumstances they want to have children and how to space the pregnancies. We are convinced that such situations results in wanted children. If children are wanted and planned there are often better chances that the parents can afford to feed them, give them education and what is otherwise needed for a prosperous future.
This is one reason why Sweden believes in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Sweden remains a strong and dedicated supporter of the ICPD Cairo agenda. We also recognize that we have to make significant progress in realizing its implementation globally. Now is the time to transform global commitments into concrete activities that lead to real change for the world’s women, men and children.
Mr. President,
Sweden can accept the proposed Biennial Support Budget for 2010-2011. We support the fact that the budget reflects a consolidation of the new organizational structure approved in the 2008-2010 biennium, and that only moderate changes are suggested. In this context, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the importance of improved harmonization of the structure of the BSB with other UN Funds and Programmes, with an emphasis on increased transparency, comparability and accountability.
In conclusion, Mr. President, let me emphasize that Sweden is, and will remain, a strong supporter of UNFPA.
Thank you.