Chair,
Let me start by thanking Dr. Kanem for her excellent statement.
Let me also use this opportunity to thank UNFPA, Denmark and Kenya for having organised the Nairobi summit! What a success!
Bringing so many actors together, gave us a great reminder of the important job we have to do, and who for.
At the Nairobi Summit, Norway committed to remain a global champion for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), both financially and politically.
We pledged to invest around 1.2 billion USD in SRHR over the next six years. This includes roughly 82 million for efforts to combat harmful practices over the next four years.
In addition, Norway has pledged 108 million to protect against sexual and gender-based violence, and to provide sexual and reproductive health care and services in humanitarian situations.
We are encouraged to see so many important commitments, especially as we now embark on the Decade of Action on the SDGs.
The implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), positions UNFPA well within Agenda 2030.
We look forward to see how the midterm review of UNFPAs Strategic Plan will further enhance this position.
We also look forward to see:
- How the survey of the country offices will help UNFPA to further align its strategic direction with the outcomes of the UNDS reform, and
- How the costing methodology developed to identify funding gaps can improve the mobilisation of necessary resources to reach all the goals in the Strategic Plan.
Norway gives high priority to promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights which are essential for the health and wellbeing of all.
Norway remains a consistent partner and proud to be UNFPA’s biggest core donor again this year.
Let us stand up for girls and women.
And let’s stand up for UNFPA.