Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is expected to host the 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (6th APCRSHR) in Yogyakarta on October 19-22, 2011.

"The Center for Population Studies and Polices of the University of Gajah Mada has been entrusted with the task of organizing the conference," Head of National Population and Family Planning Agency Sugiri Syarif said here on Tuesday.

He said the conference was a biennial event held for the first time in the Philippines in 2001, the second time in Thailand in 2003, and the third time in Malaysia in 2005, the fourth time in India in 2007 and the fifth time in China in 2009.

Sugiri said the conference was expected to discuss population problems and their solution in the future.

"The conference is expected to produce an agreement that would serve as input for all parties in deciding public policies on various population problems in the Asia Pacific region," he said.

He said the conference had a significant meaning for Indonesia because it would be a forum for all policy makers in the face of population challenges.

In the meantime, Director of Gajah Mada University`s Center for Population Studies and Policies Muhadjir Darwin said in 2012 the world population was expected to reach seven billion.

The increasing world population number was marked by a high maternal rate, unwanted youth pregnancies, violence and women trafficking and the threat of HIV/AIDS in various parts of the world.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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