UNFPA Representative, Mr. Asr Toson, first introduced the background and history that is leading to the international event whose purpose is to assess the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and to renew political support for actions required for the full achievement of its goals and objectives (ICPD Beyond 2014). Afterwards Mr. Toson responded to questions from the journalists regarding the various aspects of the ICPD, the role of UNFPA as the leading UN agency with regards to following-up on the global implementation of the ICPD since its inception in 1994, and the status of the implementation of the ICPD agenda in Oman and the GCC region.

Opportunity

The Special Session provides a crucial opportunity for world leaders to express support for the findings and recommendations of the operational review contained in the Secretary-General's report A/69/62 "Framework of Actions for the follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development Beyond 2014" to the Special Session and to reaffirm the regional review outcomes as well as to call for the review outcomes to be taken into account in the further implementation of the ICPD beyond 2014 and be integrated into the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

It also provides a defining opportunity for Member States at the highest political level to take note of the reports of the review, including the Secretary-General's Index Report that will contain the key issues identified by Member States in the 47th session of the Commission on Population and Development as crucial for further implementation of the POA, thereby endorsing the contents.

Oman Media Writes about the press conference

Following the day of press conference, 3 Omani newspapers wrote about the press conference and its topic. Below is the list of the newspapers with links to their respective articles:

1- Muscat Daily: 
http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Oman/UNFPA-calls-for-highest-politic…

2- Oman Observer: 
http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=106189

3- Times of Oman: 
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/38700/Article-Oman-to-take-part-in-UN-m…