For the first time in its history, the Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (ARCRSHR) will be hosted in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from the 23rd to 26th February 2016. The theme of the 8th ARCRSHR will be: "Ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for sustainable development within ICPD and the post-2015 agenda". Civil society organizations, in collaboration with the government, development partners from the region and international researchers will gather together to share new findings, experiences, best practices and trends in sexual and reproductive health.
The first day of the conference will be dedicated to youth, aged 15 to 24, who will lead and discuss on SRHR issues which affect them. The outcome of these discussions will be presented on the second day of the conference. In addition parallel satellite sessions for youth will take place during the conference.
Preparations are under way for the 8th ARCRSHR and the 3rd International Steering Committee convened on 4th and 5th of February 2015, attended by conference organizers from the region, including Janet Jackson, Representative, UNFPA Myanmar and Dr Hla Hla Aye, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Myanmar.
The meeting was chaired by Daw ThazinNwe, President of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA), which is the convener of the 8APCRSHR. HE Dr Thein Thein Htay, Deputy Minister for Health as National Advisor to the MMCWA also attended. UNFPA, together with other donor agencies, were requested to mobilize resources to support the 8th ARCRSHR, particularly in providing scholarships in the region for the submission of presentations and posters to the conference. In addition, UNFPA and donors were asked to disseminate information about the conference through their regional and country offices to ensure that young people, community based organisations, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) groups, people living with HIV and people living with disabilities participate in, and have a strong voice at this important conference.
For more information on the 8th APCRSHR, please visit: www.mm8apcrshr.org or www.facebook.com/8apcrshrmyanmar. You can email the conference organisers directly at: 8apcrshrmyanmar @ gmail.com.
