Japan commits to accelerate the momentum to achieve Universal Health Coverage, so that each actor will reaffirm the goal of addressing the “Unfinished Business” of the ICPD Programme of Action

In 25 years after the ICPD, we have made impressive strides; however, there are still much to be done, as the title of the 2019 State of World Population Report, “Unfinished Business”, suggests.

In particular, we need to make utmost efforts to ensure that people in vulnerable situations or humanitarian contexts, especially women and girls, to have access to necessary services, giving special attention to SRH. This must be done under the concept of human security in order to ensure that no one is left behind.

Furthermore, we believe it is critical to address pressing population issues and demographic transitions including declining fertility, population aging and urbanization. In this regard, Japan has been sharing our lessons and knowledge on population aging at global and regional fora and would like to collaborate with the international community not just to share challenges and countermeasures but also to accelerate policy implementation from the perspective of the entire life-course, including to address low fertility and population ageing.

Building on our own experiences in achieving UHC, Japan has emphasized the importance of UHC across the world. In order to encourage each actor to remind themselves of their roles and reaffirm the goal of addressing the “Unfinished Business” of the ICPD Programme of Action and to promote various commitments presented here in Nairobi, we, Japan commits to accelerate the momentum to achieve Universal Health Coverage, which is to leave no one behind.