Asia: Parliament key to realising Pacific health rights

AHRC-FPR-054-2013

A Press Release from Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

Asia: Parliamentarians key to realising Pacific health rights

The important role of parliamentarians in the Pacific needs to be bolstered so as recent commitments to advance reproductive health and rights can be realised.

That's the message of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) as they host a workshop for parliamentarians beginning at Papua New Guinea's Parliament House in Port Moresby today, along with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

"There was tremendous commitment to increased reproductive health and rights in the Moana Statement consensus from MPs meeting in Suva in August and this carried through to the Pacific's key leadership at the recent Asia Pacific Population Conference in Bangkok," said Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director at AFPPD.

"Now we have to ensure Pacific parliamentarians are empowered to monitor how their governments go about meeting these commitments.

"We have seen some excellent improvements in health and rights in the Pacific but more needs to be done.

"Ending violence against women, comprehensive sexuality education and eliminating HIV/AIDS are priorities," said Mr San Pascual.

The recent passage of anti-domestic violence legislation in Papua New Guinea and Kiribati were welcome legislative advances but parliamentarians also have a strong role in monitoring implementation and allocation of resources.

ENDS

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