Mr. President,
Le On behalf of Bangladesh delegation, I warmly congratulate you and all the newly elected members of the Executive Board and assure you of our sincere support and cooperation during your presidency of the Board. I also convey our sincere appreciation and thanks to the Executive Director of the UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, for his outstanding leadership in steering the organization very efficiently. Bangladesh wishes him continued success in his endeavours.
Mr. President,
My delegation has followed the opening statement of the Executive Director with keen interest. We share the view that remarkable progress has been achieved in carrying forward the ICPD Programme of Action to reduce poverty, improve people’s lives and advance sustainable development. This progress would contribute greatly to the implementation of the SDGs. The statement provided an excellent overview of efforts made by UNFPA over the years and gives us an account of the progress achieved as well as the challenges faced by the countries in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action and the other Internationally Agreed Development Goals.
Mr. President,
Last year we witnessed complex humanitarian crisis in several parts of the world. New and protracted conflicts, disasters, epidemics, climate change impacts in one hand affected the development efforts of the least developed countries and on the other caused diversion of resources to humanitarian emergencies from development. In this backdrop, financing for development has become a great challenge for the LDCs to implement the Istanbul Programme of Actions (IPOA) as well as the SDGs. The Mid-term Review of the IPOA held in 2016 in Antalya, Turkey underscores the need of the LDCs to have enhanced support from the international community to reach the target of graduation of half of the LDCs by 2020. The implementation of the ICPD Programme of Actions would complement the realization of both the IPOA and the SDGs in the LDCs.
Mr. President,
The least developed countries attach great importance to the agenda of the UNFPA which focuses on improving maternal health, reducing maternal mortality and achieving universal access to reproductive health etc. Although significant progress has been achieved in the LDCs in the implementation of the ICPD Agenda, much more are yet to be done. UNFPA has to be fully engaged in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action in the LDCs. It is indeed commendable that UNFPA extended support to 54 countries in 2016. We reiterate that the work of the UNFPA along with the Member States, other agencies of the UN, civil society and other stakeholders is the key to protect and advance the ICPD agenda and to ensure its centrality in the implementation of the SDGs.
Mr. President,
We welcome the new quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) that underscores that core regular resources are the bedrock of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system. However, we see with concern that there is no commitment to increase the contribution to the core resources of the UNDS which is rather declining. UNFPA received only 51% of what was required to deliver its mandate worldwide in 2016. Other UN entities are also facing the same. This situation prevents the UNDS to support the countries that need its services in addressing their structural challenges. We echo with UNFPA for an increase of its regular resources so that it can more effectively respond to our development needs. At the same time, we hope that the UNFPA would work on finding innovative ways to broaden donor base and optimize utilization of fiscal resources, services and health infrastructure. We also expect that it would explore the potentials of South-South Cooperation for shaping a bright future for citizens of the Global South within the framework of SDGs.
Mr. President,
The Strategic Plan exercise is also an opportunity to initiate discussions on how to improve the working methods of the Board. It should clearly articulate the priorities of the UNFPA as outlined in 2030 Agenda and ICPD.
Mr. President,
UNFPA has been an important development partner for Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s accomplishment in the population issues is remarkable and we greatly value the support we have received from the UNFPA since 1974 in achieving this feat. The work of UNFPA has substantially contributed to providing people with universal access to reproductive health and family planning. It also played a significant role in building the capacity of the country for undertaking population programme as a pillar of development. The Government of Bangladesh regularly contributes to UNFPA and last year our contribution to it was increased by 25%.
We are happy that the UNFPA’s 9″ country programme (2017-20) prioritizes sexual and reproductive health, adolescents and youth, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and population dynamics. It also aligns with the spirit of reaching those who are left behind including migrants, urban slum dwellers, refugees, ethnic, religious and other minorities, tea garden workers, adolescent girls, people with risk HIV etc.
Mr. President, We assure the UNFPA of our full cooperation in the implementation of its 9″ Country programme in Bangladesh and of the ICPD Programme of Action and the SDGs as a whole.
I thank you.