Asia, Pacific Experts Call for Universal Access to Family Planning

BANGKOK—While progress has been made in providing family planning services in Asia and the Pacific, a significant number of countries still lag behind, concluded more than 150 experts from the region at the end of a meeting here today. The meeting, “Family Planning in Asia and the Pacific – Addressing the Challenges,” discussed strategies to achieve universal access to reproductive health and to address the unmet needs for family planning, especially among the poor. The event was organized by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and the International Council for the Management of Population Programmes.

“Due to poor access to services, armed conflicts and religious influence, contraceptive prevalence rates have stagnated and the unmet needs for family planning have been high,” stated the delegates at the end of the three-day event. They also noted that “even in countries taking great stride in lowering fertility rates, inequality in access to family planning services still exists and needs to be addressed”.

Representatives of adolescent groups likewise reiterated the need to promote culturally appropriate and gender-sensitive behaviour change communication strategies to generate and sustain demand for family planning services. They also underlined the need to ensure equitable access to quality family planning information and services for all persons, regardless of their age, marital status, residence, ethnicity or religion.

Over the past 20 years, the impact of well-planned family planning policies has been evident from the significant reduction in fertility and the increasing use of contraceptives, particularly among women and girls. Recent analysis of countries in Asia and the Pacific also offers strong evidence that meeting family planning needs can help accelerate the achievement of MDGs.

Given the lack of recognition to the importance of family planning to economic and social development, delegates unanimously agreed to the “Asia and Pacific Call for Action for Universal Access for Family Planning” in which they urged governments to enhance leadership, governance and political commitment for repositioning family planning in the national development agenda. Delegates expressed their determination to raise and sustain adequate financial resources for ensuring universal access to reproductive health commodities. They also pledged to strengthen partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders, including religious groups, to make family planning information and services accessible to all.
 

Contact information:

Ana Maria Leal
Tel: +66 (0) 2 687 0142
Mobile +66 (0) 84 438 2822
Email:  leal@unfpa.org

Philip Nalangan
Tel: +66 (0) 2 687 0124
Mobile +66 (0) 80 4580219
Email:  nalangan@unfpa.org