Representatives attend the conference held in Hà Nội ahead of World Population Day on July 11. — VNS Photo Thu Trang

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam reaffirmed its commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)’s Programme of Action, which was first unveiled in Cairo in 1994.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Viết Tiến made the statement on Wednesday at a conference held in Hà Nội ahead of World Population Day on July 11.

World Population Day this year has the theme “25 years of the ICPD: accelerating the promise”.

Speaking at the conference, Nguyễn Đức Vinh, director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health under the Ministry of Health, said that at the ICPD in Cairo, 179 governments including Việt Nam adopted the visionary Programme of Action. In doing so, they agreed that putting people first, empowering women and enabling people to freely decide the timing of their pregnancies would clear the way to sustainable development.

Deputy Minister Tiến said the over the past 25 years, Việt Nam has made great progress in conducting the 11 priority actions in the Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development.

The areas of focus included poverty reduction, employment, reproductive health and youth rights.

Tiến said the sustainable development goals could not be fulfilled without protecting human rights and equality in the areas of reproductive health, gender equality, women’s empowerment, education security and employment.

Astrid Bant, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Việt Nam, said that since 2016, Việt Nam, along with the rest of the world, has worked on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underpinned by the 17 sustainable development goals.

The agenda and its goals seek to achieve a life of dignity for all in order to leave no one behind, she said.

“For 25 years, we have been guided by this truth: people are at the heart of sustainable development," Bant said. "I urge all nations to see their people in this agenda for a better world for all.”

“Let us stand together for our young people, whose well-being, empowerment and opportunities will determine our success in 2030 and for years to come,” she said.

UNFPA embarked on a new strategic plan which supports the 2030 agenda and is committed to three transformative results by 2030. They include zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls. — VNS