1 00:00:00,540 --> 00:00:03,300 These last 25 years, the Netherlands has worked... 2 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:07,780 to realize a program of action of the International Conference on Population and Development. 3 00:00:08,260 --> 00:00:12,220 At the heart of this agenda are women's rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights. 4 00:00:12,460 --> 00:00:14,820 It was adopted in 1994 in Cairo. 5 00:00:15,340 --> 00:00:17,940 What has been achieved in these last 25 years? 6 00:00:17,940 --> 00:00:19,580 What was the role of the Netherlands in this? 7 00:00:19,780 --> 00:00:23,300 And why is it still important to keep investing in the ICPD? 8 00:00:25,940 --> 00:00:29,300 Why is it important for the Netherlands to invest in women's rights... 9 00:00:29,300 --> 00:00:31,540 and sexual and reproductive health and rights? 10 00:00:31,780 --> 00:00:34,220 Women's rights, gender equality and equity....   11 00:00:34,220 --> 00:00:37,740 are cornerstones of my foreign trade and development policy. 12 00:00:38,140 --> 00:00:40,140 They have always been important to the Netherlands. 13 00:00:40,140 --> 00:00:42,460 And more than ever we see a regression... 14 00:00:42,660 --> 00:00:45,260 on the realization of women's and girls's rights. 15 00:00:45,260 --> 00:00:48,820 Particularly in the area of sexual rights and reproductive health. 16 00:00:49,020 --> 00:00:53,020 What will be the main message of the Netherlands at the ICPD 25? 17 00:00:53,020 --> 00:00:54,740 Well, it is one of the messages... 18 00:00:54,740 --> 00:00:58,900 investing in women is not only smart economics, it is the right thing to do. 19 00:00:58,900 --> 00:01:00,100 It is a must do. 20 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:04,020 We need to do so in education, sexual rights, reproductive health... 21 00:01:04,340 --> 00:01:06,900 and we need to give voice to women through education. 22 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:09,060 And reinforce their standing. 23 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:11,780 If we fail to do so, we are complicit. 24 00:01:12,060 --> 00:01:14,220 To find out more on how it all began... 25 00:01:14,220 --> 00:01:18,620 I have the pleasure to meet former minister for development cooperation, Jan Pronk. 26 00:01:19,660 --> 00:01:22,220 How do you look back upon the ICPD in Cairo? 27 00:01:22,540 --> 00:01:23,660 As a breakthrough.   28 00:01:24,140 --> 00:01:29,060 Islamic and secular and christian countries came together... 29 00:01:29,060 --> 00:01:31,340 discussing different views. 30 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:33,500 We were able to find a compromise. 31 00:01:33,740 --> 00:01:35,140 And that was for the first time. 32 00:01:35,740 --> 00:01:42,100 Secondly, acceptance of reproductive health rights... 33 00:01:42,100 --> 00:01:43,660 of in particular women. 34 00:01:44,060 --> 00:01:46,660 Which we wanted to get accepted in the west... 35 00:01:47,020 --> 00:01:50,620 was accepted finally, after a long negotiation. 36 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:54,980 Hilde Kroes has been an NGO representative and a diplomat... 37 00:01:54,980 --> 00:01:59,780 who negotiated on behalf of the Netherlands on the progress in the ICPD implementation. 38 00:02:00,140 --> 00:02:03,380 I am wondering how she looks back at what was achieved in this period. 39 00:02:03,700 --> 00:02:07,300 Hilde, how has the Netherlands made a difference during those discussions? 40 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:12,700 I believe that the Netherlands has never shied away from the most neglected... 41 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:14,740 areas in the ICPD agenda. 42 00:02:14,740 --> 00:02:18,300 Like comprehensive sexuality education, safe abortion... 43 00:02:18,620 --> 00:02:20,460 the rights of marginalized people. 44 00:02:21,860 --> 00:02:27,060 And that they have been key in forming alliances with other countries who wanted the same outcomes. 45 00:02:27,220 --> 00:02:29,980 And how did you personally experience this process? 46 00:02:30,180 --> 00:02:34,100 It has not been easy to talk about these issues in the United Nations. 47 00:02:34,100 --> 00:02:39,780 But I feel, together with other countries and civil society and young people... 48 00:02:40,340 --> 00:02:43,380 we were able to move the agenda forward. 49 00:03:09,060 --> 00:03:12,580 Naisola, can you say something about how the Dutch support for the ICPD... 50 00:03:12,580 --> 00:03:13,860 has impacted Kenya? 51 00:03:13,860 --> 00:03:18,580 The Dutch have provided incredible support to civil society organisations in Kenya... 52 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:23,860 to ensure that young people have accurate and comprehensive information... 53 00:03:23,860 --> 00:03:26,460 to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives. 54 00:03:26,620 --> 00:03:28,220 I think that has been so important. 55 00:03:28,220 --> 00:03:30,020 The information is integrated. 56 00:03:30,020 --> 00:03:32,940 It integrates sexual reproductive health and HIV... 57 00:03:33,340 --> 00:03:36,580 and it is created with the full participation of young people. 58 00:03:36,580 --> 00:03:37,860 Which I think is fantastic. 59 00:03:38,820 --> 00:03:41,340 Secondly, the Dutch contribution has really made a difference... 60 00:03:41,340 --> 00:03:43,100 in an enabling policy environment. 61 00:03:43,420 --> 00:03:45,460 So that we can have real sustained impact. 62 00:03:45,700 --> 00:03:48,180 So we now have policies on adolescents health... 63 00:03:48,180 --> 00:03:50,460 in school and outside of school. 64 00:03:51,020 --> 00:03:57,140 And now local governments can actually make commitments to resourcing those policies. 65 00:03:57,140 --> 00:04:00,540 So that young people, especially women and girls... 66 00:04:00,540 --> 00:04:02,540 have right to decide for themselves. 67 00:04:03,460 --> 00:04:07,380 Without the effort by NGOs, the ICPD may have not existed. 68 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:09,060 Their role is crucial. 69 00:04:09,660 --> 00:04:11,300 I'm on my way to Ton Coenen... 70 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:13,420 executive director of Rutgers... 71 00:04:13,420 --> 00:04:16,060 to ask him what we need in order to move forward. 72 00:04:17,260 --> 00:04:19,940 Ton, what is needed to move the ICPD forward? 73 00:04:20,380 --> 00:04:26,060 The 1.8 billion young people that are living now, they really deserve a future agenda. 74 00:04:26,060 --> 00:04:28,740 A future agenda that addresses the challenges... 75 00:04:29,380 --> 00:04:33,620 the rights on sexual health, sex education, contraception, abortion. 76 00:04:33,620 --> 00:04:35,060 All of them are under pressure now. 77 00:04:35,260 --> 00:04:37,980 So they really deserve a strong future agenda. 78 00:04:38,140 --> 00:04:39,460 That requires collaboration. 79 00:04:39,460 --> 00:04:43,940 Collaboration between governments, NGOs, private sector, citizens. 80 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:48,260 Because that future agenda can only be achieved if we all work together. 81 00:04:48,540 --> 00:04:49,580 It is time to commit. 82 00:04:50,060 --> 00:04:53,420 To make sure the promise of Cairo becomes a reality for all. 83 00:04:53,820 --> 00:04:55,700 Especially in times of pushback. 84 00:04:56,140 --> 00:04:58,780 Because we owe it to women, girls and young people.... 85 00:04:58,780 --> 00:05:02,420 to be able to decide over their own lives, bodies and futures.