Twenty-five years ago, in 1994, 179 countries adopted a landmark Programme of Action during the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo, Egypt. It transformed the way in which the linkages between population, poverty reduction and sustainable development were addressed – putting the rights, needs and aspirations of individual human beings at the centre of sustainable development. In 2015, the international community reaffirmed this commitment of putting “people, planet and prosperity” at the centre of sustainable development and leaving no one behind, when it adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On this day, exactly 25 years ago, the world promised to advance women health and women rights.

How far have we come? Find out here: unfpa.org/25years #ICPD25