The 10th anniversary of the groundbreaking International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) at Cairo provides an impetus to reaffirm the commitments made during that landmark event. Commonly referred to as the "Cairo Consensus," the hard-won Programme of Action agreed to by representatives of 179 nations has provided a robust vision to donors, governments, development agencies and nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs). This notably ambitious, 20-year roadmap has not only raised awareness of the multiplicity of factors influencing reproductive health, but also inspired innovative and improved services in many parts of the world. Yet many question whether
the Programme can be fully implemented by its 2015 target date. At present, the poorest countries continue to have very high levels of population growth, maternal and infant deaths, unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
