These were very much a surprise, because it is not by an agency that I normally have any contact with. I feel so blessed, and during the Coronavirus time, these honours are like silver linings. I feel affirmed in my work, and that APCOM is getting the recognition. The honours also go to our dedicated team members, and partners who have been part of the journey with us and continue to support us even during difficult times.
I think that it is great for Tatler Asia and Tatler Thailand to have something like this to recognise and profile activists and those working on social change, particularly on human rights in the region. I am grateful and humbled for this recognition.
APCOM, along with other non-governmental organizations—including ARROW and the Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (APA)—presented statements, supporting the draft Asia Pacific Indicator framework for monitoring progress on the implementation of the Programme of Action on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICDP) on 20 October.
Consideration of the indicator framework was Agenda 3 at the 6thSession of ESCAP Committee on Social Development (CSD) in Bangkok, held from 20 to 21 October 2020.
It was conducted both on virtual and offline platforms. Bangkok-based participants attended the offline meeting.
The Committee endorsed two key tools to move the social development forward in the region; the Action Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific, and the Asia-Pacific Indicator Framework for Voluntary Monitoring of Progress towards the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and of the Commitments Contained in the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development.
In the same statement, APCOM furthermore called for ensuring meaningful participation of LGBTQI communities and organizations in its implementation. The knowledge and experience of community organizations in reaching and responding to the needs of vulnerable and unreachable populations has been highlighted by COVID-19.
“Civil society organizations have demonstrated a wealth of knowledge and experience in reaching and delivering sensitive services to marginalized communities and populations. These have been highlighted in the response to COVID-19 which aimed to reach vulnerable populations,”
APCOM’s Executive Director Midnight Poonkasetwattana says during his statement.
“Meaningful participation of civil society organizations will result in more sensitive processes in data and evidence building.”
The statement further highlights that meaningful participation of civil society organizations and other stakeholders will contribute to ensure that the framework, spaces and processes around it, is leaving no one behind.
The draft indicator framework is based on the ‘Programme of Action’ of the ICDP, on the commitments and recommendations contained in the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration; and furthermore on the sustainable development goals.
For more information on ESCAP Committee on Social Development, Sixth Session.
