Chair,
Excellencies,
Distinguished colleagues/participants
Mr. Chair, accept my warmest congratulations on your leadership.
At the outset, I would like to thank, on behalf of my delegation ( Government of Liberia), the Secretary-General, the Chairman and Secretariat of the Commission on Population and Development for the enormous efforts invested in the organization of this Fifty-First Session, which is being held under the theme "Sustainable cities, Human mobility and International Migration".
Mr. Chair,
The theme for this session is particularly significant in recognition of the fact that Urbanization, human mobility and international migration are closely interlinked to the process of development and truly reflects the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Hence, we must endeavor to ensure that our cities and communities are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, in the face of population shifts, whether internal or global, as mirrored in goal 11 of the SDGs.
In this regard, we would like to underscore and welcome the recommendations proffered by the Secretary-General in his report on sustainable cities, human mobility and international migration. The recommendations are all encompassing and deserve our collective action(s). They highlight the benefits of well managed urbanization, planning and delivery of services, partnerships and cooperation, social inclusion, among others.
Mr. Chair, Liberians were once on the move due to civil upheaval, but today, no more. We are grateful. We empathize with those who are forced to migrate for unfortunate reasons.
Chair,
The Fifty First Session not only offers an opportunity to consider the nexus between urbanization, human mobility, international migration and how they impact sustainable development, it also provides a platform for collective action(s) in advancing the implementation of the programme of action of the ICPD.
As we seek ways and means to enhance the implementation of the key actions of the programme, we must all be guided by the fifteen principles enshrined in this ambitious document. Principle two (2) places human beings at the core of concerns for sustainable development. We believe that this must be the basis for our collective interventions and steps towards the implementation of the key actions of the programme at all levels.
Chair, we wish to make the following additional inputs which we believe are germane to the further implementation of the Programme of Action:
- Funding Commitment (resource mobilization)
Important as the basis for our actions is the need for adequate mobilization of resources at the domestic and international levels to enhance the implementation of the key actions, targets and goals of the programme. This requires commitment at all levels.
As indicated in the Program of Action, many of the goals require additional resources. We welcome the Secretary-General’s recommendation contained in his report on the flow of financial resources for assisting in the further implementation of the Programme of Action. As it relates to cost, the recommendation called for expanding beyond the following four components of the ICPD namely: Family planning services, Basic reproductive health services, Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (HIV/AIDS) and Basic research, data and population and development policy analysis.
Further, as noted in the SG’s recommendation, we want to emphasize the importance of the need to also mobilize additional resources for social and economic matters, such as strengthening the health sector, providing universal basic education and eliminating disparities, improving the status and empowerment of women, generating employment, and addressing environmental concerns and poverty eradication.
- Cooperation and partnerships
Chair, cooperation, and partnership are very essential in the implementation of the key actions and achieving the goals of the ICPD. More importantly, we cannot address the “critical challenges and interrelationships between population and sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development” whether at the national (local), regional or global levels, without the elements of cooperation and strategic partnerships. This means working closely together to include governments, private sector, national and international non-governmental organizations.
Finally, Chair, in addition to resource mobilization, cooperation and forging partnerships, implementation of the key actions of the ICPD would also require strengthening existing relevant policies and developing requisite policies where non-existent, especially at the regional, national and local levels, in the field of population, managing urbanization, human mobility and migration. For example, it is recalled that in his report on the flow of financial resources for assisting in the further implementation of the programme of action, the SG emphasized that many countries have relatively weak national data systems, a problem which impedes effective development and therefore calls for urgent action.
All these we have earmarked, we can only feel achieved when no one is left behind...a goal we all strive to achieve.
Chair,
My delegation looks forward to a successful session and thanks for your kind attention.
