Key Issues

Improving maternal health

Every minute around the world, a woman dies from complications in pregnancy, childbirth and unsafe abortion. Maternal deaths can be prevented by increasing access to skilled birth attendants, quality health services, family planning and access to safe abortion services. Across Asia and the Pacific, progress on MDG 5—to improve maternal health—has been low. APA raises awareness of MDG target 5b, which is to ensure universal access to reproductive health by 2015, and advocates for contraceptives and family planning to achieve maternal health goals.

Accessing family planning

Family planning is an essential basic health service and one of the most costeffective development interventions. Family

planning positively impacts the health of women, children, families and communities. Experiences from countries in Asia show that access to family planning services can improve social and economic opportunities for families and communities through higher education and increases in income. APA advocates for an integrated family planning and maternal and child health programme, within an enabling donor policy environment.

Ensuring gender equality

Every woman has the right to be free from all forms of discrimination and violence including gender-based violence. Women who are able to control their fertility and sexuality have more power over their lives. Ensuring access to sexual
and reproductive health services, including contraception and family planning, safeguards their broader health and helps to address existing health and development inequities. APA promotes gender-responsive policies and programmes to ensure gender equality.

Addressing climate change and environment issues

Population, sexual and reproductive health, poverty, human rights, patterns of production, and consumption and the environment are all interconnected. Poor people, developing countries and small island states are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Addressing the unmet need for family planning lessens the vulnerability of high risk populations. Family planning within a rightsbased approach reinforces broader goals of equitable and sustainable development.
APA recognizes the interconnections of the issues of climate change and the environment with population, family planning
and reproductive rights.

Preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI s)

Today, almost 5 million people are living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific. In 2007 alone, there were more than 350,000 new HIV infections. APA promotes universal access to HIV and STI prevention, treatment, care and support for those in need. APA advocates for the integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services to improve service delivery and extend the reach of information and services.

Securing reproductive health supplies

In countries in Asia and the Pacific, the availability of reproductive health supplies to safeguard health falls particularly short
of demand. APA advocates for improved coordination of supply mechanisms to ensure secure commodity supply throughout the region.

Empowering young people

Many countries in Asia and the Pacific have large populations of young people. Without access to information and services, young people are vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health problems. APA advocates for young people to have the right to access comprehensive sexuality education, and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.

Responding to the specific needs of the Pacific

Sexual and reproductive health needs within the small, culturally diverse communities in the Pacific remain largely unmet. Many APA members have a special programmatic focus on the Pacific. APA advocates to donors, locally-based NGOs and governments to find solutions for complex development challenges in Pacific Island countries.