14-17 November 2022, Pattaya City, Thailand – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean participated in the Parliamentary Forum at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) about “Family Planning & Universal Health Coverage: Innovate. Collaborate. Accelerate” held in Pattaya City. On this occasion, PAM was represented by Hon. Glamuzina (Croatia), member of the PAM Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF).
The ICFP is a platform for researchers, advocates, governments, and communities; a movement toward achieving access to family planning for all.
The 2022 theme, “Family Planning & Universal Health Coverage: Innovate. Collaborate. Accelerate” underscores the belief that family planning should be a core component of universal health coverage. Access to family planning and reproductive health services is a pillar of good personal health and a critical component of a country’s economic health. ICFP 2022 is a strategic benchmark as the community prepares to recommit to a goal of universal access by 2030.
During her interventions, Hon. Glamuzina addressed the topic of access to safe and voluntary family planning as a fundamental right and one of the steps toward gender equality and women’s empowerment. According to the UN, 217 million women have not yet access to safe and effective planning methods. Specifically, Hon. Glamuzina recalled that access to family planning is highly disparate in the PAM region and disproportionately affects refugees and geographically, maritally, or communally isolated women.
Hon. Glamuzina expressed her concern about the lack of adequate parliamentary representation of women, which prevents this issue from being addressed in national parliaments. The solution to such issues lies in cooperation and sharing good practices to lead to effective international policies and recommendations.
Hon. Glamuzina reiterated PAM’s commitment, through its WPF, to strengthening the presence of women in parliaments, encouraging regional cooperation, and sharing effective good practices in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf region.
PAM remains committed to promoting safe and equal access to family planning for all people in the region, and to promoting equality and ending fear, discrimination, and violence. //