Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers from SADC Member
States Senior officials from SADC Member
States Africa Region Director of the United Nations Population Fund
Africa Region Director of the Partners in Population and Development
Other representatives of governments and intergovernmental organisations
Esteemed guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I want us to congratulate ourselves on today’s fruitful work. We have come to the end of a very productive conference, the impact of which we will only be able to appreciate fully over the next five years. I believe, however, that we have all gained considerable insight into and knowledge on the status of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action in our countries and in the SADC region.
We are very grateful to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for having assisted our governments and the SADC secretariat to produce the SADC ICPD+15 report. This report, the first of its nature in any of Africa’s regions, covers a wide range on population and development issues. The report looks at the following important themes:
* Poverty, population and sustainable development;
* Sexual and Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights;
* Gender equality, equity and empowerment of women;
* Youth empowerment and adolescent sexual and reproductive health;
* Other health issues, including HIV and Aids;
* Migration and related matters; and
* The resources, partnerships and governance mechanisms that are an important aspect of the implementation of both the ICPD Programme of Action and our national population policies.
I will not attempt to summarise the report, but safe to say the main objectives of our conference have been realised. This is because the recommendations of the report actually speak to the resolution that we adopted. The previous speakers have also echoed the same sentiment.
On behalf of the government of South Africa, and on my behalf, I would like to thank you for displaying such a high level of interest in this conference. The presence of so many ministers and senior officials testify to the continued commitment to the ICPD amongst the countries that make up SADC.
I thank everybody who has been present throughout the conference. We were deeply encouraged by the keen interest that was collectively displayed through active participation, as shown by the questions and the constructive contributions made.
I am confident that this conference will not be a soon-to-be-forgotten event, and that our recommendations will be taken back to our capitals, to be concretised in policies, programmes and particularly in service delivery. We are now better equipped to contribute to building a better region for all who live in it.
The deliberations were made possible and facilitated because of the excellent support provided by the secretariat, the interpreters and other support staff. Their contribution to the success of the conference is greatly appreciated.
I also want to again thank the members of the SADC Technical Committee on Population and Development, the UNFPA and the Partners in Population and Development (PPD) for your hard work before the conference, and during today’s proceedings, as well as in anticipation of the work that you will do hereafter to see through the implementation of the decisions we reached.
Honourable ministers, deputy ministers and senior officials from SADC member states, thank you once again for gracing us with your presence today.
We would also like to extend our best wishes to the next chair of SADC, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to carry the initiatives of the SADC Technical Committee on Population and Development forward. Please be assured of our commitment to support you wherever needed in the execution of this important task.
I hereby declare the SADC Ministers’ Conference on ICPD+15 closed.
Issued by: Department of Social Development
17 July 2009
