Publication Date: 03/03/2004

Description: In 1994, 179 United Nations member states met in Cairo at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and reached an historic consensus on approaches to some of the world’s most pressing problems: spreading poverty, women’s second-class status and rapid population growth. The Programme of Action was a pledge by all 179 countries to address these problems to invest US $17.5 billion in education, family planning and reproductive health care, primarily for women. Ten years later, what has changed? In some ways, much is different. In other ways, little is new. A great deal remains to be done. In all ways, the ICPD Programme of Action remains crucial to the concerns, hopes and dreams of millions of people around the world.