IPPF Director General Dr Alvaro Bermejo attended the Parliamentarians’ Meeting on “ICPD30: Leaving No One Behind in an Ageing World”, which was held in Tokyo on 23 April 2024 at the occasion of 50th anniversary of Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP) along with parliamentarians from 20 countries. This meeting provided an excellent opportunity to look back to the 50 years of collaboration between Japan and IPPF as well as the achievements of the ICPD Plan of Action.  

Prior to the meeting, Dr Bermejo met the Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa at MOFA on 22 April 2024.

At the meeting, Foreign Minister Kamikawa said:

“Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, and activities to promote gender equality by IPPF and UNFPA are essential for the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC). Japan intends to continue proactive efforts to achieve UHC. We look forward to continuing our cooperation. I hope IPPF will further contribute to the objectives of “reaching the most vulnerable first” and “leaving no one behind.”  The activities of IPPF and UNFPA are of critical importance also from the perspective of women peace and security (WPS). Japan will be promoting WPS even more vigorously and in a cross-cutting manner. And would like to strengthen cooperation in this area.”

Dr Bermejo said:

“IPPF provides SRH services at the grassroots level, particularly for vulnerable groups that are hard to reach by public services. By doing so we contribute to improving the wellbeing of people, particularly women and promoting gender equality and women’s rights, which are the core issues of WPS. IPPF will collaborate with Japan’s efforts to achieve both WPS and population related global commitments. As sexual and reproductive rights become increasingly threatened on the global stage, we must all stand together to advance and protect SRHR, recognising it as fundamental to all other efforts towards gender equality and human rights.”

Photo credits: Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan