Madame Executive Director,

I will be delivering the statement on behalf of the EU as a donor.

The Declaration on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the ICPD renews the determination to advance the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and demonstrates commitment to further work on this unfinished agenda with a sense of urgency, duty, and responsibility. We owe it to all, girls and boys, women and men, and especially persons in vulnerable situations. We must leave no one behind.

The EU remains firmly committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights in the context of the Beijing Platform for Action and the ICPD Programme of Action and the outcomes of their review conferences. Gender equality is a core universal value. Through the  Global Gateway strategy the EU is contributing to a more sustainable development.

Commitments are essential but not sufficient, concrete action is needed. We appreciate that the UNFPA Executive Director could join our Commissioner Urpilainen in Brussels in March to announce the new programme ‘SafeBirth Africa’ under the Team Europe Initiative on SRHR in Africa. This new venture will improve access to commodities for post-partum hemorrhage. It will be implemented by Unitaid and UNFPA, supported by 20 million euro from the EU budget.

Executive Director,

Your annual report clearly illustrates the importance of UNFPA’s operations worldwide.

The pushback against SRHR and the rights of women and girls is deeply concerning. We urge UNFPA to be vocal and strategic in stepping up to defend universal human rights.

We welcome UNFPA’s efforts to respond to megatrends, such as climate change, demographic transition and technological progress, while maintaining focus on its core mandate and comparative advantages.

In a world of increasing emerging and protracted crises, UNFPA’s humanitarian work and across the humanitarian-development-peace continuum merit special recognition.

It is positive that UNFPA maintains a healthy financial position. The strategic shift from funding to financing remains highly pertinent, along with domestic resource mobilisation and innovative financing mechanisms.

UNFPA country offices must have adequate human and financial resources to seize opportunities and tackle challenges that lie ahead. After all, the impact for the women and girls, and men and boys, on the ground is what really matters.

The Summit of the Future in September is an opportunity to position the ICPD Programme of Action in our collective efforts to deliver a better present and future.

We also look forward to the next UNFPA strategic plan for 2026-2029, which will be crucial to regain the ground lost towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The EU stands ready to continue working with you to ensure that the promise of Cairo becomes a reality for all.

Thank you.