On 19-20 January, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), together with the Forum of Arab Parliamentarians for Population and Development (FAPPD), organized the Arab and Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting on SRH and Climate Change Resilience. This event was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), and in cooperation with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

The meeting was attended by parliamentarians from 18 Arab, Asian, and Eastern European countries, as well as eminent experts, who shared their knowledge and engaged in lively discussions. Particular mention was made of the moral responsibility to meet people’s needs while protecting environmental resources, the increased maternal and newborn health risks due to rising temperatures and water shortages, and the economic crisis associated with climate change, which has led to increased early marriage, gender-based violence (GBV), and early pregnancy among adolescent girls as a cause of death. The meeting concluded by emphasizing that in order to build a more comprehensive and resilient response to climate change, SRH, GBV, youth, and gender perspectives need to be integrated into national climate policies, and that women's leadership is essential to effectively address these issues.

On the following day, the participants visited the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and the Dubai Pakistan Association, where they observed the latest initiatives in sustainable agricultural technology, water resources management, and community-based health services, respectively. The participants commented that it was a valuable opportunity to consider the application of these activities to policies in their own countries, along with their appreciation for the Japanese government’s continued support for the activities of parliamentarians working on population and development.