The APA Network Strategic Meeting brought together 34 APA members and partners from across the Asia and the Pacific to discuss strategies for civil society to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the region, taking place from 10-11 November in Bangkok, Thailand. The current environment for advocacy on SRHR and bodily autonomy is posing challenges, due to geopolitical and demographic shifts, which is impacting the fulfillment of human rights and the implementation of population and development related policies by governments in the region.
APA’s ED opened the meeting, highlighting that over the next two days participants would be given time and space to reflect on critical questions, like:
“How can we better work together to utilize the human rights mechanisms to advance SRHR and mobilize change? Who else do we need to bring into the conversations? How do we shift the narrative so that we are reaching more people? And most importantly, how we can work collectively as an intersectional network and with our partners and allies to get the momentum moving forward.”
- Alexandra Johns, APA Executive Director
On the first day participants focused on upcoming global and regional opportunities to promote SRHR, including the 30th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD@30), thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+30), Summit of the Future and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the international human rights system.
" Through partnership with civil society, we hope to identify new narratives and political entry points to ensure ICPD stays relevant to governments.”
- Aleksandar Sasha Bodiroza, Deputy Regional Director, UNFPA APRO
Participants shared their knowledge and locally rooted experience as they continued to explore overlapping areas for joint regional advocacy and action to fuel intersectional movement building. Discussions delved into emerging issues and interlinkages with economic and gender justice, climate justice, conflict, and digital technology.
The second day was set aside exclusively for Members of the APA alliance to pinpoint areas for collaboration to drive APA’s joint advocacy planning. APA’s new Strategic Plan was presented to the membership, and Members underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships, and increased technical expertise to accelerate the SRHR movement. One session was dedicated to discussing resource mobilization to enable the network to grow and strengthen its impact in the region. Members also reviewed the annual progress of the network and the Coordinating Office, discussed methods of work and how to advance forward.
“We as civil society engage in human rights mechanisms and treaty monitoring bodies as it provides us with a unique opportunity to hold governments accountable and deliver their SRHR commitments.”
- Marevic Bing Parcon, Executive Director, Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)
The meeting was strategically held before the 7th Asia and Pacific Population Conference (APPC7) that was organized by UN ESCAP and UNFPA in Bangkok. 7APPC is an intergovernmental conference that reviews the regional progress on ICPD PoA in preparation for ICPD@30 and sets Asian and Pacific development priorities for the next decade. The meeting allowed participants to collectively strategize ahead of the APPC7 to engage with government representatives and to ensure SRHR is prioritized and integrated into national policies and plans.
As participants engaged in robust discussions, shared experiences, and formulated strategic plans, the event underscored the collective strength of civil society in driving positive change.
