Tuesday, 12 November 2019
An official Jordanian delegation headed by the Secretary-General of the Higher Population Council Dr. Abla Amawi and representatives from the governmental bodies, parliamentarians, civil society, media and youth organizations participated in Nairobi summit "International Conference on Population and Development + 25-accelerating the promise", held in Nairobi, capital of the Republic of Kenya, during the period (12-14 November 2019)

The Summit aimed at obtaining commitments from world Nations to Zero preventable maternal deaths, and maternal morbidities, Zero unmet need for family planning information and services, and universal availability of quality, affordable and safe modern contraceptives, Zero sexual and gender-based violence, including zero child, early and forced marriage, as well as zero female genital mutilation.

The Nairobi Summit represents an important opportunity to renew the commitment to the ICPD Program of Action and objectives 25 years later, to accelerate efforts to achieve the Conference's unfulfilled goals, to mobilize the political will and financial commitments needed to implement the ICPD Program of Action, and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

During the summit, the delegation presented Jordan's position paper, which included Jordan's achievements toward the most prominent global commitments addressed at the Nairobi Summit based on ICPD Program of Action 1994, which stemming from the Higher Population Council's previous consultations with relevant national and local stakeholders in this area, stressing that in the area of commitment to intensify efforts for full and accelerated implementation and funding of the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development 1994 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Jordan is committed to the Program of Action of the International Conference and the priorities of the Sustainable Development Goals, by following up on the implementation of the Road Map for Development Agenda 2030 and Jordan’s vision 2025 and National Executive Programs.

In terms of the commitment to ensure zero unmet needs for family planning information and services, the paper indicated that Jordan continues to provide quality information, advice and family planning services based on the human rights approach, especially in remote areas and vulnerable groups, and to provide family planning through the Ministry of Health and distribute to all concerned stakeholders, with Jordan aspires to raise the rate of using modern family planning methods from 37.4% in 2018 to 43.3% in 2025.

In terms of commitment to Zero preventable maternal deaths11 and maternal morbidities, the paper noted that Jordan continued to strive to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality by analyzing the causes of morbidity and mortality based on the information of the National Register of Maternal Mortality in the Ministry of Health, working to address the causes and providing programs and services and integrating them into national strategies, policies and programs for comprehensive health coverage.

In terms of commitment to ensure accessing for all adolescents and youth to comprehensive and age-responsive information, education and adolescent-friendly comprehensive, quality and timely services, the paper emphasized Jordan's commitment in this term through the implementation of national standards for youth-friendly reproductive health services, to help them make the right decisions about their reproductive health and to enable them to implement these decisions, and The implementation of the National Strategy for Youth 2019-2025, particularly the promotion of health services for youth.

The paper stressed that in terms of commitment to end sexual and gender-based violence, in particular zero child early and forced marriages, Jordan continues to work to reduce sexual and gender-based violence by implementing legislation governing to protect against violence, reduce child marriage, implementing strategies, programs, social, psychological and health services and implementing the National Action Plan to Implementing the recommendation of child marriage study to limit the marriage of individuals under the age 18 in Jordan 2018-2022.

Regarding the commitment to harnessing demographic dividend through investment in adolescent and youth education, employment opportunities and health, the paper noted that Jordan continues to implement national policies, strategies and plans to invest the demographic dividend contained in the Demographic Dividend Policy Document 2017; the National Plan for Follow-up and Monitoring progress; Jordan's Vision 2025; the National Strategy for Human Resources Development 2016-2025, and working towards offering supportive social security services; National Health Insurance by 2030, and provide opportunities to fund entrepreneurial projects to reduce unemployment to less than 10% by 2025, and raise the enrollment ratio in vocational education to 30% in 2025; promote and provide financial and technical support to self-employment projects and business incubators, strengthen the linkage of education to the labor market, empower women and ensure their access to fair and equitable rights, particularly in promoting their economic participation.

With regard to the commitment to "building peaceful, just and inclusive societies", the paper noted that Jordan is committed to implementing the provisions of the Disability Rights Act 2017 and the Social Protection Strategy 2019-2025, which respond to the needs of vulnerable groups with disabilities, older persons and the poor. Regarding the commitment to involving youth in discussions on their health and well-being, the paper emphasized a commitment at the highest levels in Jordan to the continued participation of young people in the development of national strategies and plans through continued support for youth platforms to express their views, priorities and participation in decision-making; the use of innovative approaches to sensitizing young people to health issues through peer education programs, interactive education, methodological and non-methodological activities in schools and universities, promotion of voluntary and leadership work and support for innovation and youth initiatives.

In the context of ensuring that basic human needs of the affected population, including reproductive health, are met as critical elements of response to humanitarian and environmental crises, as well as post-crisis and post-fragile reintegration, the paper confirmed that Jordan is committed to implement the Response Plan for Syrian Crisis (2020-2022); supporting refugees to access primary health care facilities in cooperation with international organizations and civil society institutions, implementing the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) and the Jordan’s National Action Plan on UN Security Council resolution 1325 (JONAP) on Women, Security and Peace

It is worth mentioning that Nairobi summit addresses issues related to the access of all to reproductive health as part of comprehensive health coverage, supporting the right to reproductive health care in human and fragile contexts, taking advantage of demographic diversity to drive economic growth and achieve sustainable development, ending gender-based violence and harmful practices, funding to end ICPD Program of Action and preserve gains achieved.