Ms. Astrid Bant, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam, speaks at the ceremony at the Green One UN House in Hanoi on July 10, 2019. Photo: (www.un.org.vn)

Addressing a celebration held at the Green One UN House in Hanoi the same day, Ms. Astrid Bant, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam, said: "As we mark 25 years since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), we at UNFPA are also celebrating our 50th anniversary. These milestones offer a collective opportunity to recommit to ensuring that everyone everywhere reaps the benefits of this transformative agenda, whose implementation is essential for accelerating progress across the SDGs".

Since 2016, Vietnam, along with the rest of the world, has embarked on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underpinned by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Agenda and its Goals seek to realize the dream of a life of dignity for all, in order to truly leave no one behind. Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien confirmed Vietnam's commitment to achieving population and development goals. Mr. Tien said: "In our vision, SDG goals and targets will not be fully achieved without  comprehensive responses to universal human rights and equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth development, gender equality, empowerment of women, education, security, employment opportunities, economic growth and of course, the dignity of all people".

UNFPA has proudly committed to three transformative results by 2030 which are zero maternal deaths,zero failures to meet the needs of family planning; and zero cases of gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls.

UNFPA and the Ministry of Health in Vietnam are calling for additional commitments to ensuring that no one is left behind in achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.