45 Young People from 20 countries across the Asia Pacific region gathered in Bangkok from September 14-15, 2013 to prepare for the Sixth Asian and Pacific Population Conference (6th APPC). The second regional conference and 6th APPC brought together ministers, senior policy makers, parliamentarians, civil society and United Nations members to assess achievements made since Cairo and to identify outstanding issues and new challenges with the aim of renewing political support for the Programme of Action beyond 2014 and informing the post-2015 development agenda.
The Youth Forum was organized by The Asian Pacific Research and Resource Centre for Women (ARROW) along with the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights(YCSRR), South Asian Regional Youth Network (SARYN), Youth-LEAD, among others.
The youth group would like to emphasize the key issues on youth and adolescent’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) that needs to be integrated on the Outcome Document of the 6th APPC which convened by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bangkok, Thailand from September 16-20, 2013. Some of the demands included:
– Meeting the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service, information and
education needs of young people with their full participation and engagement and
respect for their rights to privacy, confidentiality and informed consent
– Designing and implementing youth-friendly comprehensive sexuality education
programmes
– Providing young people with the knowledge, skills and efficacy to make informed and
responsible decisions about their sexuality
– Ensuring legal and safe abortion that is affordable, accessible and free from coercion,
discrimination and stigma
– Providing support and protection mechanisms for young women and girls that
promote the right to choose
6th APPC is a momentous conference as it is following the highly celebrated outcome of the Bali Global Youth Forum and Latin America and Caribbean ICPD Regional Conference Outcome Document.