5 Ashoj, Texas: Women rights activist and journalist Bandana Rana has been nominated as a member of the high-level commission of the United Nations Fund for Population Fund (UNFPA). Rana, who is also the vice-chair of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (UNCEDAW), has been picked as the member of the commission constituted for women rights. She had already served the National Women Commission of Nepal as the Chair. The commission was constituted to realise the commitments made at the Nairobi Summit which was held last year on the occasion of the 25th years of the establishment of the International Conference for Population and Development (ICPD). The commission comprising 28 members is chaired by former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete and 27th Governor of Canada, Michaelle Jean. Its members range from former heads of state to grassroots activists and youths. The Commission will monitor and report the progress towards fulfilling the 1,250 commitments made at the Nairobi Summit and also the 12 global commitments contained in the Nairobi Statement on ICPD25. It will also make recommendations for removing bottlenecks of the implementation of the sexual and reproductive health rights. It may be noted that the High-Level Commission of advocates, experts and activists was made to help keep track the commitments to women’s health and rights made at the 2019 Nairobi Summit, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is blocking access to essential services, such as family planning and antenatal care. The Nairobi Summit had secured pledges for billions of dollars from governments, the private sector, foundations and others. It rallied support to achieve “three zeros” – zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal deaths, zero gender-based violence and harmful practices – in 10 years. The Commission will work to achieve these goals.
