Kairobi-Kenya - The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia Chief Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor was amongst about 13 Heads of States and Government at the United Nations ICPD 25 Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya which ran from November 12-14, 2019.

Held under the theme, “Accelerating the Promise”, the ICPD 25 Summit is a reflection of the progress made over the last 25 years in achieving the empowerment of women and girls across the world. 

At the opening ceremony,  the first female Liberian Vice President  read Liberia's commitment statement  to the ICPD and affirmed the Government of Liberia’s   commitment to ensure ZERO UNMET NEED FOR FAMILY PLANNING INFORMATION AND SERVICES; AND UNIVERSAL AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE AND SAFE CONTRACEPTIVES BY 2030.

According to a dispatch from Kanya, Vice President Howard-Taylor recalled that  in 2014, Liberia conducted its National Review process under the theme: ICPD beyond 2014; launched the AADPD/ICPD at 25, and reviewed the extent to which Liberia had fulfilled its commitment; thereby ensuring that NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.

The ICPD 25 Summit is a celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development  (ICPD) which crafted a global policy document signed by 179 countries of the United Nations in Cairo, Egypt in 1994.

This policy   framework was an articulation of the global agenda for the empowerment of women and girls. 

The ICPD also ushered in the vision for the full equality of women and girls relative to sexual reproductive health rights, universal health coverage and the fight against Female Genital Mutilation ( FGM).

The Nairobi summit was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with support from the governments of Kenya and Denmark. 

The Summit witnessed the participation of some world leaders to include: President Uhuru Kenyatta  of Kenya, Madam Amina J. Mohammed,  Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations,  Dr. Natalie Kanem,  Executive Director of UNFPA, President Musevini of Uganda, Hon. Rasmus Prehn, Minister of Development Cooperation of Denmark, 

Others in attendance include, President Danny Faure of Seychelles, President Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed of Somalia, Vice President Epse Campbelle Barr of Costa Rica, Prime Minister Gaston Brown of Antigua and Babuda, amongst others.

The ICPD 25 Nairobi Summit featured more than 4000 delegates from about 107 countries across the world.