Parliamentarian participation crucial to sustainable human development


The evidenced-based views of parliamentarians need to be heeded during the major international Sixth Asian Pacific Population Conference in Bangkok in September.

The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) wants all governments in Asia and the Pacific to include at least one parliamentarian committed to progressive population and development policy in their country’s official delegation to the Sixth APPC.

“The participation of a parliamentarian who has a better understanding of the priority population and development issues such as violence against women, young people, education, HIV/AIDS, unmet needs in reproductive health services and family planning, urbanization and ageing will ensure that the outcome document of the Sixth APPC will not roll back from what has already been achieved,” said Hon. Sen. Dr. Porapan Punyarattabandhu, Secretary General of AFPPD.

“Parliamentarians have a strong understanding of the importance of human-rights based policies and how they can enhance the quality of life of people including marginalized groups.”

Parliamentarians from across Asia and the Pacific have created a joint statement of recommendations on priority issues that must be included in the outcome document of the Sixth APPC.

Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of AFPPD, said that the region’s parliamentarians recognised that universal access to comprehensive, integrated and high quality SRH information, education and services, with a particular focus on women and adolescents is integral to the socio-economic development of individuals and nations in Asia and the Pacific region.

“They also recognised that equitable development cannot be achieved or sustained without gender equality, women’s empowerment and harnessing the demographic dividend through comprehensive youth policies that include young people’s meaningful participation at all levels of governance, accountability and policy-making,” said Mr San Pascual.

“Since 1994, AFPPD has fostered parliamentarians adopting legislation and policies to achieve the full ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development) agenda.”

ENDS    (Full Parliamentarian statement attached)    August 6, 2013

Further information: Ramon San Pascual at AFPPD on +66 2 2192903 or +66 899364300 monsp@afppd.org
Our mailing address is:
Payathai Plaza,
Suite 9-C, Payathai Road, Bangkok,
10400 Thailand
 

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