Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho attended the Nairobi Summit as the first Pacific Patron for the United Nations Population Fund in November, reports the Tonga High Commission in Canberra.

As Tonga's High Commissioner to Australia, the Princess co-chaired one of the sessions with the First Lady of Belize and Laura Londen (UNFPA DED-M). This brought together senior women leaders and other participants including youth and community leaders from across the world. She also attended other sessions from the opening and closing ceremony to a special memorial services hosted by the Queen Mother of Bhutan, accompanied by Tonga’s Health Minister Hon Dr. Amelia ‘Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu and members of the Tongan delegation.

Held under a theme, 'Accelerating the Promise', the summit aimed to mobilize the political will and financial commitments necessary to implement the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD Programme of Action).

While, addressing five themes and highlighted the power of gender equality, youth leadership, political and community leadership, innovation and data, and partnerships to accelerate progress throughout: 

• Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights as a part of universal health coverage;
• Financing required to complete the ICPD Programme of Action, and to sustain the gains made;
• Drawing on demographic diversity to drive economic growth and achieve sustainable development;
• Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices;
• Upholding the right to sexual and reproductive health care even in humanitarian and fragile contexts.

The summit also provided a platform for governments and other organizations to announce voluntary, global commitments that will accelerate progress.

Held from November 12-14, Tonga's delegation included the Speaker of Parliament Lord Fakafanua, Dr Viliami Fifita, CEO of Government Statistics Department, and representatives from the Ministry of Health, Tonga Family Health Association, Youth Volunteers, Youth Parliament Representatives and UNFPA Tonga officials.