NATIONAL STATEMENT – IN RESPONSE TO UNFPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Agenda Item 15
Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS
Annual Session
Statement by H.E Ambassador James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
3 June 2025
Thank you Mr President, and I thank the Executive Director for her remarks and acknowledge your strong leadership and contribution.
UNFPA’s unique mandate is critical. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are at the heart of improving human health, equality, and advancing genuine peace and justice for all.
Australia is proud to have supported UNFPA’s achievements under the current Strategic Plan.
President,
Australia has five key priorities for the next Strategic Plan.
First, Australia sees the Plan as one of the most important platforms for reinforcing a human rights-based approach to development, the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, and leaving no one behind.
This means ensuring the rights of all people to make their own decisions about their health, their lives, and their bodies, free from coercion and discrimination.
Second, we expect UNFPA to focus on effective, efficient and strategic interventions. The organisation must be prepared to jettison work that does not clearly demonstrate positive, sustained change.
We welcome that emerging trends are reflected in the next plan, such as a new pillar of work focused on demographic resilience – this is clearly much needed.
Third, we support UNFPA’s work to maximise efficiency across its global and operational footprint. But there must also be equity in resourcing, and support for all the world’s regions. The different needs of Small Island Developing States should be taken into account.
Fourth, the Plan must demonstrate pathways towards resilience, setting out how UNFPA can manage the uncertain financial and structural outlook for the UN system. This includes a clear sense of what is critical to UNFPA’s mandate and what is not.
Fifth, the Plan should show how UNFPA will continue to implement existing reforms including the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, the Pact for the Future, and resolution 72/279 on repositioning the UN development system.
These reforms remain important even as we contemplate bold changes to the UN system through the UN80 process.
President,
Let me conclude by once again commending Dr Natalia Kanem as she nears the end of her distinguished term as UNFPA’s Executive Director. Dr Kanem, you have accomplished a great deal at UNFPA.
Thank you.