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IPPF and AFPPD Launch Parliamentarians Training Project at International Conference on Small Island Development States (SIDS)

When parliamentarians and civil society organizations combine their efforts, they can become potent advocates to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.  This was the message of IPPF-E...

When parliamentarians and civil society organizations combine their efforts, they can become potent advocates to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.  This was the message of IPPF-ESEAOR and The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD)  launching their Parliamentarians’ Training Program during the UN’s 3rd International Conference on Small Island Development States (SIDS) in Samoa recently.

The AFPPD-IPPF Parliamentarians Project was launched on Day 2 during the Multi-stakeholder Partnership Dialogue of Session 3: Social Development in SIDS, Health and NCDs, youth and women.  The recently concluded UN’s 3rd International Conference on Small Island Development States (SIDS) was held from 1-4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa.

Under the Project, there are opportunities to build advocacy and knowledge skills of parliamentarians using the Post-election module, including processes to enable them to work with CSOs. It is hoped that parliamentarian advocacy on ICPD and SRHR achieves SIDS support for ICPD and SRHR in Post 2015 and Beijing +20 processes.

During the launch, Tonga MP Mr Sunia Fili shared his experience on how the partnership was achieved through successfully undertaking the post-election modules in partnership parliaments. 

Prior to the launch, IPPF through ESEAOR in partnership with AFPPD and Pacific Parliaments had trialled the Post-Elect Module in Building Capacity of Pacific Island Parliamentarians to Advocate for ICPD and SRHR in Tonga and Cook Islands Parliaments.

The partnership was effective in enhancing social protection and inclusion, improving well-being and guaranteeing opportunities for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, by focussing parliamentarians on their roles within their national parliaments to advocate for rights-based policies in SRHR and ICPD.

This partnership has also proved most effective in supporting national actions of SIDS in addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases. There are Pacific nation joint statements, led by Cook Islands at the 47th CPD and its regional feed-in the 6th APPC, as well as country statements and commitments at UN meetings.

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