The COMPLETE LIST of countries and Interactive Contraception Policy Atlas for Asia Pacific can be found HERE.
For more information, contact:
Malarvili Meganathan, Regional Communications, Voice and Media Advisor IPPF ESEAOR, at [email protected].
In a significant development towards improving access to contraception and advancing reproductive rights in the Asia-Pacific region, the Contraceptive Policy Atlas for Asia and the Pacific Region 2023 was officially launched at a side event during the 7th Asian and Pacific Population Conference (APPC) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The event was organised by the International Planned Parenthood Federation – East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) in partnership with the FP 2030 Asia Pacific Hub and the European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF).
Civil society organisations, youth leaders, development partners, private institutions, and government representatives came together with a shared mission: to drive change by discussing current policies, identifying gaps, and enhancing data collection for contraceptive programs and access in the region.
Rights-Based Contraception Policies in Asia-Pacific: Challenges and Progress
In the Asia-Pacific region, the pressing issue of unmet modern contraception needs affects 140 million women, leading to more than 13 million unplanned pregnancies, posing severe risks to women's health, including an increased risk of unsafe abortions. Recognising the urgency of this issue, the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development during the 6th Asian and Pacific Population Conference identified ensuring rights-based access to contraception as a top priority in 2013.
Over the past decade, substantial progress has been made, but there are still significant challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. Governments must prioritise access to contraception as a critical strategy in addressing these challenges effectively.
To empower policymakers, civil society organisations (CSOs), and advocates in their efforts to improve contraceptive policies, the Global Parliamentary Alliance (GPA), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), collaborated with the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) and IPPF ESEAOR to develop the Contraception Policy Atlas Asia Pacific Region 2023.
Contraception Policy Atlas Asia Pacific Region 2023: Highlights
The Contraception Policy Atlas Asia Pacific Region 2023, the first intraregional comparative tool, assesses the contraception policies of 43 countries. Using 3 headings and 16 criteria, the Atlas scores policy frameworks on family planning and equitable access to contraception funding. Data for all 43 countries, collected in early 2023 and validated by IPPF ESEAOR, provides insights into reproductive rights and contraception access in the region, empowering advocates and policymakers.
Silvia Traina, European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) representative, and Lady Lisondra, the Advocacy External Relations Senior Officer at IPPF ESEAOR, presented key findings from the Contraception Policy Atlas Asia Pacific Region 2023. These findings shed light on the state of contraception policies in the region, revealing crucial insights.
It was evident that only 12 out of 43 countries have legislation enshrining the right to choose the number, timing, and spacing of children. This indicates a need for greater recognition of reproductive autonomy across the region.
In terms of healthcare coverage, the report noted that only 10 out of 43 countries cover contraception through their national health insurance, with just 7 providing full coverage. This suggests that access to contraception remains a financial barrier for many in the Asia-Pacific region. Emergency contraception availability also emerged as a key concern, with only 20 out of 43 countries making it available without a prescription. This underscores the importance of improving accessibility to emergency contraception.
Cambodia stands out as the best-performing country in the region. It ensures the right to bodily and reproductive autonomy in a national policy through a national policy and official strategic plans like the Reproductive Health Commodity Strategy. The country boasts a wide range of 6-10 contraceptive methods listed in its national essential medicine list, reflecting its commitment to family planning. Cambodia's dedication extends to international platforms, where it has pledged to enhance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and family planning.
Additionally, the atlas highlighted the need for improved information dissemination. Specifically, 30 out of 43 countries lacked user-friendly government-led websites informing citizens about contraception availability. The report also drew attention to specific challenges faced by Pacific islands, emphasising the lack of information and the necessity to develop national strategies for contraception, sexuality education frameworks, policies on emergency contraception, and effective management and funding of contraceptive supplies. These findings underscore the importance of targeted efforts to address reproductive health needs in this region.
Key Policy Recommendations for the Asia-Pacific Region
The following recommendations emerge from the atlas's findings and aim to guide policymakers, advocacy groups, and stakeholders in advancing reproductive health and rights in the Asia-Pacific region. National legislation should provide the right to access contraceptives, especially emergency contraception, without a prescription. Contraceptives should be included in the national health system.
Public health institutions must ensure the development of user-friendly and accessible online resources that provide information on a broad range of modern and effective contraceptives, including Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) like IUDs or implants. These resources should also guide individuals on where to access these contraceptives.
Public institutions responsible for family planning and contraceptive procurement should improve transparency and accountability by creating and publishing a dedicated budget line online. This will enable stakeholders and the public to track and scrutinise financial allocations and expenditures related to family planning efforts.
Collaborative Partnerships with Stakeholders: Youth Voices
Dadchaneeya Ruttanasiri, Chairperson, Youth SRHR Network in East, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific (YSNAP), emphasised the importance of actively involving youth in marginalised communities.
"In my experience, initiatives that engage with and seek to understand the challenges youth face in marginalised communities have proven most effective. Who better understands these challenges than the individuals experiencing them? Implementing laws and policies that require the provision of sexuality education and contraceptive services for adolescents while also garnering community support for these services is crucial,” she said. Embracing the 'nothing for us without us' principle ensures young people have a say in shaping policies and programs that profoundly impact their lives and futures.
Daniel Wahyu Priyambodo, FP2030 Youth Focal Point in Indonesia, offers effective strategies for involving young people in decision-making concerning contraceptive access:
"The absence of comprehensive data on youth-led organisations, especially at the grassroots level, impedes the active participation of many young individuals in decision-making processes. As a result, it becomes imperative for governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), and other stakeholders to gather and provide accessible data about such organisations.” He added that emphasising the importance of organising meetings that genuinely cater to the needs of young people and establishing safe spaces that encourage them to express themselves freely during the decision-making process in policy development.
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