23 February 2 012 – Kingston, Jamaica: UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund’s, Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin is the first Head of a UN Agency to hold discussions with the Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller since her inauguration as Prime Minister of Jamaica, the second time around, on January 5, 2012.
During a courtesy call on Thursday, February 23, the UNFPA Executive Director congratulated the Prime Minister on her victory at the polls and her return as Head of government. He was deeply enthused by and commended Mrs. Simpson-Miller for her commitment to putting people at the centre of development, lifting up and creating opportunities for the poor, underserved populations including adolescent girls, and ensuring women’s rights.
Historically, Jamaica has provided leadership at the regional and international levels on issues relating to human rights and inequity. In keeping with this tradition, Dr. Osotimehin is encouraging Prime Minister Simpson-Miller to assume leadership of the ICPD Agenda in CARICOM and internationally and also to lead the way in placing issues such as reproductive health, gender equality and youth empowerment on the Agenda of the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Dr. Osotimehin believes that concerns relating to environmental sustainability need to be viewed in the context of people centred programmes and thinking. He pledged UNFPA’s support to the Office of the Prime Minister and Jamaica to provide the leadership on these important issues.
There is convergence between the Prime Minister’s own interests and the mandate of UNFPA, particularly in respect of investing in adolescents and young people, making sure they are mainstreamed into the economy and that they have equal access to opportunities including education and health. Mrs. Simpson-Miller spoke of the work of the Women’s Centre Foundation of Jamaica in ensuring continuing education for pregnant adolescent girls, and supporting young boys who become fathers. The Prime Minister’s desire to expand the programme into deep rural areas is negatively impacted by the current economic challenges. Still, she remains strong about defending the rights of girls, women and young people. Prime Minister Simpson-Miller expressed support for the ICPD Agenda and commitment to pushing its issues at the national, regional and international levels.
Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Marcela Suazo, Director, UNFPA Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean, Geeta Sethi, Assistant Representative for Jamaica, Melissa McNeil-Barrett and Saturnin Epie, Special Assistant in the Office of the Executive Director were also present at the meeting. Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ms. Onika Miller and Glenda Simms, Gender Specialist sat with the Prime Minister.
Dr. Osotimehin visited Jamaica, February 23-25 to participate in an internal review of the role of UNFPA in middle income countries (in Latin America and the Caribbean), for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed development goals. During his visit, Dr. Osotimehin held talks with other high level government officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, A. J Nicholson and Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson and toured the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, the oldest maternity hospital in the English speaking Caribbean.
Contact:
Althea Buchanan
Advocacy & Communications Advisor
Telephone: (876) 906-8591/2 (Ext. 30413), 322-6874 ©
E-mail: buchanan@unfpa.org
