The 2016 International Conference on Family Planning under the theme “Global Commitments, Local Actions” was held in Nusa Dua, Indonesia from the 25th –28th of January. It was co-hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the National Population and Family Planning Board of Indonesia (BKKBN). 

This event brought together researchers, program implementers, policymakers, advocates, youth leaders, media, and representatives of local and international organizations from all over the world to share best practices, success stories, and to help shape and influence the role and contributions of family planning in attaining the new Sustainable Development Goals.

The conference featured a variety of ‘ issue-oriented’ themes, such as: addressing youth needs and involvement; rights and quality of care: true improvements or lip service; the demographic dividend: how south-to-south exchanges can help its realization; implementation best practices (IBP); advancing FP through faith organizations; FP2020 progress and challenges; innovations in financing (GFF, Universal Health Care); and accountability and advocacy. In addition to the daily plenaries, a number of interactive skill-building sessions, panel presentations, poster sessions, a policymaker forum, and an exhibit area were accessible to all participants.

This impressive gathering of the worldwide family planning community was united in supporting the goal of the need to improve access to life-saving family planning information, supplies, and services. Dr. Sumithra Tissera (Director Medical) represented FPA Sri Lanka at this event.

Information courtesy of: http://fpconference.org/2016/about/