Daw Thazin Nwe President of MMCWA gave the opening remarks urging participants to actively participate in the conference. “As the objective of the 8^th APCRSHR is ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for sustainable development for everyone in the country, I would like to urge all the civil organizations, local and international INGOS working for reproductive health rights and services to take part in this conference.”

The conference plans to offer 4 tracks for participants including; the scaling up of best practices to increase universal access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), innovations in delivery of SRH services, universal access to SRHR and what do we need to do now- from the local to global level. The conference aims to include disadvantage youth especially from under-represented ethnic areas. To help facilitate this, a number of scholarships are planned to be offered to youth participants as well as a youth training to increase their capacity prior to the conference commencing. 

Ms. Kaori Ishikawa, UNFPA Myanmar Deputy Representative highlighted the significance of the conference which takes place every two years and is an entirely NGO run and organized event, “UNFPA congratulates MMCWA for taking on the challenges of organizing the 8^th APCRSHR conference in 2016 and taking a leadership role in the region for reproductive and sexual health and rights. Throughout the years this conference has been a defining opportunity to re-affirm ICPD commitments, making advances and breaking new ground for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. UNFPA supports these efforts and calls on donors and NGOs to ensure a strong participation in Myanmar of its own people - across all States and Regions.” 

The advocacy meeting also provided an opportunity for attendees to ask questions in regards to the planned event and also to launch the new 8^th APCRSHR website portal available at: www.mm8apcrshr.org. The new website portal provides potential participants with an array of key information about the upcoming conference such as submission of paper abstracts and posters on sexual and reproductive health and the registration process prior to the conference. 

UNFPA is providing technical support to MMCWA in the preparation and implementation of the 8^th (APCRSHR) due to take place on 23^rd February- 26^th February 2016 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar’s capital. UNFPA’s has been working with MMCWA providing reproductive health and family planning services in 80 townships of Myanmar.

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