The Aspen Institute (lead)
The International Planned Parenthood Federation
The United Nations Foundation

Mary Robinson and the Aspen Institute?s Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health (GLC) will convene a high-level moderated dialogue to raise the profile of human development, gender and reproductive health within the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Members of the GLC and other high-level leaders will speak to the role of human development and reproductive health in the new and emerging global discussion of sustainable development.



Featured speakers will include:

Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway;

Musimbi Kanyoro, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Fund for Women;

Tewodros Melesse, Director General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation;

Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and President of the Mary Robinson Foundation ? Climate Justice;

Tim Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation.

The Aspen Institute's Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health (GLC) is a group of 16 sitting and former heads of state, high-level policymakers and other leaders committed to advancing reproductive health for lasting development and prosperity. Chaired by Mary Robinson, Council Members work to mobilize the political will and financial resources necessary to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015 - a key target of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

In 1987, the Brundtland Commission outlined a new vision for sustainable development and named human development as one of its three pillars, alongside economic growth and environmental sustainability. In the years since, the human development pillar has received the least traction within the sustainable development agenda. In many circles today, sustainable development means green technology, environmental protection and natural resources conservation ? with little mention of human development.

Only by ensuring that all people have access to health care, education, economic opportunities and other basic rights can we ensure that development occurs in a sustainable way. In the field of reproductive health, for example, investments consistently yield demonstrated social and economic returns across a wide range of sustainable development goals, from lowering maternal and child mortality to harnessing the potential of the - demographic divide - to stimulate economic growth in poor countries.

This official side event will be an opportunity to explore political leadership opportunities for bringing human development, gender and reproductive health into the Rio+20 conversation and ensure that the conference generates a comprehensive sustainable development policy for the future.
This moderated dialogue will feature the following members of the Global Leaders Council for Reproductive Health and other influential policy leaders:

Gro Harlem Brundtland
Former Prime Minister, Norway

MusimbiKanyoro
President and Chief Executive Officer, Global Fund for Women

TewodrosMelesse
Director General, International Planned Parenthood Federation

Mary Robinson
Former President, Ireland
President, Mary Robinson Foundation ? Climate Justice

Timothy E. Wirth
President, United Nations Foundation