A  National Consultation of Policy Makers and Civil Society Leaders on Reproductive Health and Family Planning Beyond 2014 concluded in Dhulikhel. The consultation assessed achievements made and gaps and challenges remaining in the area of RH and Family Planning in Nepal nearly two decades after the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) which was held in Cairo in 1994.

Organized by the International Council on Management of Population Programmes (ICOMP) and the Central Department of Population Studies (CDPS) of Tribhuvan University with support of Packard Foundation, the consultation begin on `17th of May.

Today's proceedings of the consultation concluded that while Nepal has achieved remarkable reduction in maternal mortality from 539 in 1996 to 229 in 2009; and also decline in total fertility rate from 4.6 in 1996 to 2.6 in 2011, many challenges still remain in meeting the needs of information and services for the people, particularly the young people of Nepal. The consultation will conclude with a summary outcome document which will highlight priority actions needed in the coming years to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of women, men and young people in Nepal.

The outcome of the consultation highlighted areas for action in the country and is also expected to provide inputs for Nepal's participation in the regional and global meetings that are taking place leading up to the Special Session of UN General Assembly to take place in 2014 to chart regional and global actions for Population and Development in 2015 and beyond.