Asia Pacific Civil Society Forum on Beijing +20 Regional Review, Bangkok 14th-16th November 2014

http://asap-asia.org/blog/asia-pacific-civil-society-forum-on-beijing-20-regional-review-bangkok-14th-16th-november-2014/

The Beijing +20 CSO forum brought together 400 women's rights activist from the region, in the three day workshop where cross-cutting issues, such as race, class, ability, age, HIV status, reproductive and sexual rights and sexual orientation and gender identity were deliberated. The forum ended with an outcome document adopted by consensus, containing recommendations for the governments that were scheduled to meet next week in Bangkok. The document included key issues linked to the economy and the environment and its interconnection with development, poverty, trade, and labor and land rights. Thirteen briefing papers on crucial discussions informed the outcome document. The key message on abortion adopted by the document read as follows:

"Abortion - There is a need to guarantee safe and legal abortion in the region and decriminalize this practice. Government should eliminate social, cultural, structural and religious barriers to access abortion and guarantee that it is part of public health policies and health care services." ASAP along with WGNRR played a critical role in drafting the language around abortion and reproductive rights.

Read all statements here: http://www.isiswomen.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1735:our-voices-need-to-be-heard-loudly&catid=211&Itemid=468