Press Release for the Nairobi Summit

Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho, first Pacific Patron for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga lead a delegation from the Kingdom of Tonga attended the “Nairobi Summit; ICPD25”, 12-14 November 2019, Nairobi, Republic of Kenya.

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action was launched in 1994 to create a paradigm shift in how the global community to view the interlinkages between population dynamics and development. It moved governments away from population control, towards a more human-centred approach to development. Most importantly, the ICPD introduced a new narrative into the international development agenda, based on an individual’s freedom to decide about their reproductive life – particularly for women, girls, young people living with disabilities and other marginalized groups – placing people at the heart of sustainable development.

The Cairo 1994 Summit officially adopted the Programme of Action by consensus for population and development matters, was fundamentally for the health of a mother and a newborn baby, and the rights for sexual and reproductive health. Before this international declaration, Tonga had already played its role.

In 1975 His Late Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV established Tonga’s first Non-Government organisation – Tonga Family Planning Association in 1983, and later known as Tonga Family Health Association (TFHA). The association had a mandate to provide family planning, maternal child health services and fertility and social counselling services through its network of clinics and community-based distributors.

The association is of great significance as it became a full member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in 2007. IPPF is an organisation that aims to deliver sexual and reproductive healthcare around the world fighting for sexual rights.

Tonga’s profile shows the acknowledgment by IPPF and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga of the crucial role of the Tonga Family Health Association in the Reproductive Health Programme that led to Tonga’s achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly the health-related goals:

• Reducing child mortality

• Improving maternal health

• combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

The United Nation’s Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that was agreed upon by 191 member states aimed for completion by 2015. It was known as the MDGs that later gave birth to the Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. The MDGs was signed as the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in September 2000 of which His Late Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV was present. His Late Majesty played a key role in proposing the thematic for the eight goals. Drawing from the operation and reports of his non-government organisation with the mandate to deliver quality sexual and reproductive health for his people, and primarily drawing upon his great intellect. After all His Majesty was often referred to by monarchs of greater Kingdoms as a smart King. Furthermore, historically the United Nations’ Millennium Declaration and Tonga’s involvement was only a year later after the first Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga was established in New York City in 1999.

Significantly, was the cordial relationship with the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan. His Majesty King Jigme Singye who was formerly known as the Father of Modern Bhutan. He was also a great influence and advocate of his country’s health related matters, and founder of the Royal Institute of Health Science in 1976. A year after His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV established TFHA in Tonga.

His Majesty, King of Bhutan nominated the His Late Majesty, King of Tonga as an eminent figure for the Guinness Book of Record for the year 1976. The Guinness Book of Record is a reference book published annually listing world records of human achievements and the paramounts of the natural world. The process involved having authorised official record adjudicators to verify the authenticity of the facts, settings and breaking of records.

In 1994, the ICPD that was held in Cairo forged the ICPD Programme of Action, a blueprint for integrating population, development and human rights issues for the next 20 years+ was developed. ICPD will hold a follow up meeting on ICPD25 outcomes and to progress planning for the next General Assembly in New York.

From 12-14 November, the governments of Kenya and Denmark and the UNFPA were co-convening the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, a high-level conference that aims to mobilize the political will and financial commitments necessary to implement the ICPD Programme of Action. The theme of the event is: Accelerating the promise.

The Summit addressed the following five themes and highlight the power of gender equality, youth leadership, political and community leadership, innovation and data, and partnerships to accelerate progress throughout:

• Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights as a part of universal health coverage

• Financing required to complete the ICPD Programme of Action, and to sustain the gains made

• Drawing on demographic diversity to drive economic growth and achieve sustainable development

• Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices

• Upholding the right to sexual and reproductive health care even in humanitarian and fragile contexts

• The Nairobi Summit provided a platform for governments and other organizations to announce voluntary, global commitments that will accelerate progress.

Her Royal Highness at the margin of the Nairobi Summit co-chaired one of the sessions with the First Lady of Belize and Ms. Laura Londen (UNFPA DED-M). The high-level event was to bring together senior women leaders and other participants including youth and community leaders from across the globe. Her Royal Highness, accompanied by the Hon Minister of Health, and members of the delegation attended other sessions including the opening ceremony, closing ceremony and a special memorial services hosted by the Queen Mother of Bhutan. With the invitation extended from Her Majesty The Queen Mother of Bhutan, Her Majesty Queen Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck invited Her Royal Highness to a special memorial services in honour of His Late Majesty the King of Bhutan who passed away in Nairobi 1972. After the memorial service, HRH and the Bhutanese Royalties planted a tree within the premises of the hotel in remembrance of His Late Majesty.

Tonga’s delegation was consisting of;

HRH Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho

Head of Delegation– First Pacific Patron for UNFPA & Nairobi Summit – High Commissioner of Tonga in Australia

2. Lord Fakafanua – Speaker of Parliament

3. Hon. Dr. Amelia ‘Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu – Minister for Health

4. Dr Viliami Fifita – CEO of Government Statistic Department

5. Mr Curtis Tu’ihalangingie –Tonga High Commission – Canberra

6. Mrs Afu Ha’apai Aho – Lady-In-Waiting to HRH

7. Mr Sioape Kupu – Chief Health Planning Officer – Ministry of Health

8. Ms Elisi Tupou – UNFPA Office – Tonga

9. Ms Silivia Atiola – Parliament Clerk

10. Ms Katherine Mafi – Program Manager – Tonga Family Health Association

11. Mr James Nickolas Mafi – Youth Volunteer, Tonga Family Health Association

12. Ms Anaseini Ulakai – Youth Parliament Representative

13. Mr Hans Arne Jensen – Youth Parliament Representative

Her Royal Highness delivered Tonga’s National Commitments at the Opening Ceremony of the Nairobi Summit

Her Royal Highness co-chaired with the First Lady of Belize the Women Leaders High Level Dialogue

Her Royal Highness with Tonga’s delegation

Her Royal Highness with Tonga’s delegation