Adolescent sexual and reproductive rights is an important factor that must be met by the State. Adolescent, 15-24 years in the Asia Pacific region represents half of the total population, therefore the adolescent is an important element in fulfilling the rights of sexual and reproductive health in the Asia-Pacific region. The lack of access to information on the rights of reproductive health and sexuality cause various problems such as unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, violence in courtship, to sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.
Based on this problem, the 6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (the 6th APCRSHR) will hold its sixth conference held in Indonesia from 19 to 22 October 2011 in UGM Grha Sabha Pramana. The Center for Population and Policy Studies (PSKK) is honored to be the organizer.
Head of UGM PSKK, Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Darwin, says the Asia-Pacific regional conference is held every two years. Now it raises the theme of sexual and reproductive health. The first conference was held in the Philippines (2001), Thailand (2003), Malaysia (2005), India (2007), and China (2009). According to Muhadjir, the recommendations of the conference are often held as a reference point for the UN to determine policy. "It is for the first to be held at a university. This is a major conference attended by more than 1,000 participants. Currently there are already 1563 registered participants from 49 countries," said Muhadjir in a press conference and break the fasting gathering with reporters in the Masri Singarimbun Building, Bulaksumur on Monday (15/8).
There are five objectives to be achieved, namely: the first, evaluate the progress of governments and institutions in respecting, protecting and fulfilling sexual rights of all people, secondly, to strengthen the responsibility of institution in providing appropriate and thorough reproductive health services. Third, share experiences and knowledge with other communities in the Asia-Pacific region. Fourth, strengthen the shared commitment to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of sexual and reproductive health in Asia-Pacific, and the fifth, encouraging the real action from the government and the institution for sexual and reproductive health in the Asia-Pacific.
In addition to the conference, the 6th APCRSHR will also hold a Youth Forum. The forum will be attended by hundreds of youth representatives from various Asia-Pacific countries to voice their fulfillment of their reproductive health rights in the form of advocacy, dialogue and exhibition.
"This is an excellent opportunity for the youth to dare to voice their needs, the fulfillment of health access and adolescent reproductive rights have to be further enhanced by both government and stakeholders in Asia-Pacific," said the chairman of the youth forum, Denty Piawai Nastitie.