It is an honour for IPPF to share this anniversary year with the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA). 2002 marks 50 years of work that the Federation has done in sexual and reproductive health, and it is serendipitous that APDA observes their 20th year of focusing on population and development issues. APDA has been not only supporting the activities of Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), but also carrying out the research and advocacy activities and acting as a secretariat for Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP).

　

IPPF is not alone in relying on APDA's information support; seminal research on population and development in Asia has contributed cutting-edge insights, which the Japanese government, for example has been able to make use of in the forging and review of population aid policy.

　

The information that APDA contributes to parliamentarians has also been critical, informing - and therefore shaping - crucial legislative processes. APDA's organ magazines and publications reach further than parliamentarians and the general public have found them useful too. With such sustained support to law, policy and opinion building, APDA's activities have had substantial impact on global advocacy, networking and partnerships; this is by no means a new function but has been conducted consistently over the last 20 years.

　

I applaud and encourage the presence of a particular mutual goal that IPPF and APDA share: that of supporting parliamentarians. I don't need to stress how vital the role parliamentarians play is, and can only urge APDA and IPPF to continue this fruitful relationship.

　

IPPF strives worldwide to provide quality sexual and reproductive health care, provide access to family planning, battle HIV/AIDS, empower women and young people, and remind men of their responsibility. We appreciate the valuable, ongoing support received by AFPPD and APDA. I take this particular opportunity to extend, on behalf of IPPF, our most cordial congratulations for 20 years of responsible, envisioned, unrelenting work.