Asia Pacific Conference Begins
Youth-friendly policies stressed
The 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR) began here yesterday through emphasising states' obligations toward ensuring an atmosphere where people irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identities enjoyed all human rights.
Urging policymakers and political leaders to go beyond their conventional conservative thinking, the conference also repeatedly underlined the necessity of reorienting state policies toward changing the lifestyle of the younger generation.
Non-recognition of changes in lifestyle as time passes are exposing the young generation to various problems, particularly relating to sexual and reproductive health, it was observed at the conference.
The theme of this year's conference is “Claiming reproductive and sexual rights in Asia Pacific Societies.”
“This conference attempts to call urgently for states, in the Asia Pacific Region, to recognise, respect, facilitate and fulfill the reproductive and sexual health and rights of all people, including the minority and marginalised people, such as children and youths, women, the poor, people living with HIV/AIDS, people using drug and sex workers,” said Muhadjir Darwin, chairperson of the 6th APCRSHR.
Welcoming about 1,000 participants from 30 countries in the region, the chairperson noted, “We want to give a strong call to all states in this region that what people want is not only official ratification of international conventions, but strong and consistent implementation of those conventions in day to day government practices.”
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