This year marks the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, where 179 governments adopted a landmark Programme of Action which set out to empower women and girls for their sake, and for the benefit of their families, communities and nations.

We have made incredible gains since then, but too many people are still being left behind. And too many nations have not been able to fully reap the demographic dividend because young people and other groups still lack agency, education and access to critical health services.

Increasing the pressure is the deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We cannot do that if we don’t also reach the goals laid out in the ICPD Programme of Action.