UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the GCC States, MUSCAT, Oman - The 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was a milestone in articulating a vision for the relationships between population, development and individual well-being. It confirmed that population and development are inextricably linked.

In December 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution GA 65/234 and requested a comprehensive review of the 20-year ICPD Program of Action (PoA) to be undertaken by UNFPA in collaboration with UN and other international organizations.

In line with the global ICPD review, the UNFPA Arab States Regional Office conducts a review of the ICPD PoA for the Arab region, in collaboration and coordination with regional partners. Members of Arab Parliaments concerned with population issues and promoting the PoA of the ICPD decided to establish a Forum on Population and Development before the end of 2013.

The decision was taken by a number of prominent Arab Parliamentarians hold a meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on 17 and 18 April 2013, organized by the UNFPA Arab States Regional Office. GCC Area Office, Muscat, Oman nominated participant form Bahrain who joined in the meeting for promoting the PoA of the ICPD in Egypt.

In an announcement issued by the Parliamentarians, they pledged to coordinate their actions in support of the ICPD PoA. They also reaffirmed their commitment to actively engage in the ongoing ICPD Beyond 2014 review process and the post-2015 sustainable development agenda discussions.

The Parliamentarians formed an interim preparatory committee for the establishment of the General Assembly and a permanent secretariat of the Parliamentary Forum. The interim committee is composed of Parliamentarians from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Tunisia.

This step comes two months before the regional Arab Conference on Population and Development, scheduled from 24 through 26 June 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. The role of Arab Parliamentarians will be critical in enacting policies and legislation and appropriating budgets for the implementation of the recommendations of this regional conference.