Secretary Clinton on ICPD: "Every woman everywhere deserves high-quality care not only at her most vulnerable hour, but at every single stage of life." Photo: US Department of State.

FISTULA SURVIVOR REMEMBERED AS U.S. RENEWS COMMITMENT TO ICPD

United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton marked the 15th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) with an eloquent declaration of the U.S. Government’s renewed support for and dedication to reaching the ICPD goals and other related United Nations agreements, including the Millennium Development Goals – and in particular, MDG 5 relating to improvements in maternal health.

As she closed her speech, Secretary Clinton mentioned fistula survivor and advocate, Caroline Ditina, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as a concrete example of the changes made possible since the ICPD:

“Caroline Ditina is a young woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo who for years endured the shame and ostracism caused by obstetric fistula. Eventually, she found her way to a clinic supported by the UN Population Fund, and she finally received the surgery, care, and emotional support she needed to heal. Then she started speaking out about her experience to fight the stigma and to let other women know that even in isolated places, treatment is possible.

Her message has traveled the world. Two years ago, she came to Washington and urged members of Congress to support maternal health programs worldwide. And today, the United States is proud once again to support the work of the UN Population Fund. But one advocate, even one with such passion and commitment, can only do so much. Every woman everywhere deserves high-quality care not only at her most vulnerable hour, but at every single stage of life. That’s our goal and that’s our responsibility.”

Secretary Clinton made her remarks just a few months after the announcement by the United State to restore funding for UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund—the lead international organization entrusted with implementing the ICPD Programme of Action.

During the 1994 ICPD conference in Cairo, 179 nations reached consensus on the integral and mutually reinforcing linkages between population and development, and the actions needed to achieve universal access to education, especially for girls; reductions in infant, child and maternal mortality; and universal access to reproductive health over 20 years.  Five years remain to meet the goals outlined in the ICPD agenda.

Watch the video

Read Secretary Clinton’s speech

Read the original UNFPA feature