Advances, challenges and ways forward: Asia Pacific CSO forum on ICPD beyond 2014

We have received the following from the International Planned Parenthood Federation:

The Civil Society Forum Advances, challenges and ways forward: Asia Pacific CSO forum on ICPD beyond 2014, has begun as part of the process for the  Sixth Asia- Pacific Population Conference (APPC).

The meeting was attended by 130 CSO representatives from various organizations representing   women's issues, aging, youth, rights and LGBT groups from East, South and South East Asia, the  Pacific  and Oceania.

As noted by Nanda Krairiksh, United Nations Economic Social Commission for Asia- Pacific (UNESCAP), the atmosphere was electric with strong enthusiasm from committed and passionate activists.

The day started with UNESCAP giving an overview of what to expect from the APPC, which begins on Monday 16 September. Government engagement in the process is expected to reach record breaking levels with over 400 delegates from  46 countries, with strong CS representation on government delegations. They will discuss and negotiate the status of the implementation of the ICPD in the region, and set priorities for the future of the ICPD and SRHR in the next development framework.

Forum participants discussed presentations on the key regional findings from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Global Survey and priority policy areas resulting from these. ARROW gave a presentation on the status of SRHR in Asia- Pacific.

Key themes that emerged from the presentations, open floor questions and recommendations included the following:

• Access to SR health services
• Youth
• Ageing
• Gender equality
• Strengthening accountability mechanisms

it was noted that progress on the ICPD Programme of Action has been inconsistent and unequal across the region.

In the afternoon, participants gathered into sub- regional groups to discuss further the key issues and challenges in the areas and suggest possible solutions. They shared examples of evidence-based practices which may be replicated elsewhere to advocate successfully for SRHR.

The CSO meeting will convene again on Friday 13 September to carry on working together to amalgamate the CSO voice to develop a CSO statement for the APPC.  and to develop a strategy to advocate for an outcome document as strong as the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean's Montevideo Consensus

Advances, challenges and ways forward: Asia Pacific CSO forum on ICPD beyond 2014 has been organized by a steering committee comprised of: IPPF SARO, IPPF ESEAOR, AFPPD, ARROW, APA, DAWN, Help Age International, SARYN, ICOMP, IWRAW, Youth lead, and the Coalition of Asia Pacific Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS