Family Planning International was established in order to advance the Programme of Action developed at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Therefore, all of Family Planning International's activities relate to the ICPD Programme of Action.
The ICPD signalled a new approach to population and development. Governments and civil society recognised that:
- population and development are closely linked
- empowering women and meeting people's needs for education and health, including reproductive health, are not only basic human rights, but also necessary for positive social change.
The conference took place in Cairo, Egypt. 179 world leaders adopted the conference's 20-year Programme of Action. New Zealand was one of these countries and took a lead role in the negotiations.
The Programme of Action sets goals to be achieved by 2015, including:
- universal education
- a reduction in infant, child and maternal mortality
- universal access to reproductive and sexual health services, including family planning
- and environmental sustainability.
The ICPD Programme of Action has been reviewed in 1999 (ICPD 5) and 2004 (ICPD 10). Although progress has been made, more action is urgently needed if the goals are to be achieved.