Follow this link for The Forum work plan day by day

THE HAGUE FORUM
Netherlands Congress Centre
The Hague, Netherlands
8-12 February 1999

Provisional Annotated Agenda
(subject to approval by Forum participants)

1. INAUGURAL CEREMONY
   The inaugural session will be addressed by a high-level representative of the Government of the Netherlands, by the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other distinguished guests.

2. ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FORUM
   The inaugural session of the Forum will elect its President and Chair. It is customary that a representative of the host country be elected.

3. ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS
   
   (A) Adoption of the Rules of Procedure
   The Rules of Procedure prepared by UNFPA, serving as the Forum Secretariat, will be submitted to the Forum for adoption.
   
   (B) Election of other officers
   Thirteen Vice-Presidents and one Rapporteur will also be elected. Together with the President, they will form the 15-member Bureau of the Forum. The Secretariat will designate a Secretary of the Forum to serve ex officio as a member of the Bureau. The Bureau will serve as a drafting committee for a document on the operational perspectives on further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action.
   
   (C) Adoption of the Agenda and Programme of Work and Constitution of the Main Committe
   After the agenda and the programme of work proposed by the Secretariat are considered and adopted, the President of the Forum will nominate one member from the Forum Bureau to serve as Chair of the Main Committee.
   
   (D) Presentation of reports from the Parliamentarians' Forum, the Youth Forum and the NGO Forum
   The reports of the three forums, which took place immediately prior to The Hague Forum, will be presented.

4. OPERATIONAL REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ICPD PROGRAMME OF ACTION
   Speakers at the ministerial level from each national delegation will address this item in the plenary sessions. Eminent persons and others invited to the Forum, including representatives of civil society, will also address these issues. Discussions will focus on the progress that has been made in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and will analyse operational experiences at the country level. Speakers will comment on lessons learned and point out constraints faced by individual countries and the international community as a whole in meeting the goals of the ICPD. The major points made in these discussions will be brought to the attention of the Bureau, acting as the Drafting Committee, for a document outlining operational perspectives on further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action.

5. SUBSTANTIVE THEMES
   The Main Committee will consider the five substantive themes listed below. Each theme will be introduced by a resource person and will be followed by a discussion. At the conclusion of the discussion on each theme, the Chair of the Main Committee will summarize the main points of discussion. The Bureau, in its capacity as the Drafting Committee, will consider these and identify the points that could be included in the document on operational perspectives mentioned above.
   
   (A) Creating an enabling environment for further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action
   Efforts to adapt national policies and institutional mechanisms for the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action will be covered under this item. Speakers will propose ways to develop policies and programmes aimed at strengthening the interrelationships among population, the environment, and sustainable growth and development. They will address efforts to strengthen operational linkages between population dynamics and socio-economic factors including, in particular, education and gender equality. The speakers will also address emerging policy issues in the areas of ageing, migration and urbanization in the broader population and development framework. They will also propose measures to extend and manage data systems for monitoring population programmes.
   
   (B) Reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health; and reproductive rights
   This item will deal with the ways countries are addressing the challenges of integrating family planning and other reproductive health programmes. Programmes aimed at preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS and at ensuring reproductive rights will be analysed. Particular attention will be given to efforts to adopt appropriate policies and to design quality reproductive health programmes. The needs and requirements of youth and adolescents, reproductive health services in emergency situations, including those for refugees, and legal measures for the effective provision of reproductive health services and the safeguarding of reproductive rights will also be addressed. Discussions will focus on policies and measures aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality and promoting safe motherhood.
   
   (C) Gender equality, equity and empowerment of women
   Speakers will deal with progress made in promoting gender equality, equity and empowerment of women, with particular reference to efforts to integrate specific issues and concerns into national population and development policies and programmes. They will speak about the health, nutrition and education needs of the girl child, legal and social reforms in the area of women's rights, and advocacy initiatives in support of such activities. Constraints and obstacles will be analysed, including issues relating to male participation and male responsibility as well as to power relationships between men and women.
   
   (D) Strengthening partnerships
   The role of Governments and all their partners -- NGOs, parliamentary groups, religious and cultural leaders, the private sector and the United Nations system -- will be treated under this topic. Particular attention will be given to the question of how these groups can play a stronger role in promoting and advocating ICPD goals and objectives.
   
   (E) Resource flows and financing for implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action
   Resource requirements and resource flows for the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action will receive attention under this topic. Consideration will be given to resource flows from and through the public sector as well as NGOs, the private sector and other sources.

6. OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ICPD PROGRAMME OF ACTION
   The Bureau of the Forum, acting as a drafting committee, will present the document on operational perspectives for consideration and adoption.

7. REPORT OF THE HAGUE FORUM
   The Forum Report, drafted by the Rapporteur of the Forum, will summarize the proceedings of the plenary meetings and the discussions of the Main Committee.

8. CLOSING CEREMONY
   The Closing Ceremony will take place on Friday afternoon, 12 February 1999.