MPs held accountable in SRHR commitments

22 January 2014

Asia-Pacific parliamentarians need to build on the momentum for sexual and reproductive health and rights they established at the Sixth Asian and the Pacific Population Conference (APPC) with strong commitments at the 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR), says Senator Claire Moore, Vice Chair of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD).

“The Sixth APPC laid the region’s policy framework on population and development in the next 10 years. The adoption of a progressive human rights-based outcome document is an achievement we must build upon,” said Senator Moore at the launch today of APCRSHR in Manila, Philippines

Senator Moore leads parliamentarians from Asia-Pacific attending the 7th APCRSHR. The Conference will review the region’s performance in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and SRHR-related MDGs. It will look at good practices, lessons learned, gaps and challenges that will help shape the post-2015 development agenda.

“Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues directly affect every individual’s life. Its negative effects cut across individual’s family, society and nation. A teenage mother risks not only her health and future but also that of her child. The financial burden is shared within the family. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye on the suffering of our people,” said Senator Moore.

“Teenage pregnancy is increasing at an alarming rate in the region. Comprehensive sexuality education is a must if we want to curb this trend.

“Parliamentarians must accept accountability in fulfilling our region’s SRHR commitments. Our failure will exacerbate the already unacceptable living conditions of our people.”

AFPPD in collaboration with UNFPA will organize a panel session on “Making Parliamentarians Accountable for Our Region’s Agreed and New Commitments on SRHR” on Friday, 24 January. The session outlines how some AFPPD champion MPs intend to bring about change in national policies and work for measureable outcomes in SRHR.

ENDS

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