Indonesia Hosts 4th International Conference on Family Planning

President Jokowi and First Lady Ibu Iriana Jokowi arriving at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (25/1)

The 4^th International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) was officially opened on Monday (25/1) at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC).

The opening ceremony was led by President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo.

President Jokowi, who donned a black suit with a red tie, was accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana Widodo, who donned a yellow kebaya.

The President arrived at the conference venue at 3.20 pm local time.

This year’s conference, themed “Global Commitment, Local Actions”, was initially scheduled in November 2015, but was delayed following the closure of Ngurah Rai Airport due to the increasing volcanic activities of Mount Anak Rinjani.

Nevertheless, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani said that the delay did not dampen interests and enthusiasm of the participants who hail from many countries.

According to Puan, as many as 4,374 participants from 114 countries are expected to attend the 4-day conference, which is to be held between 25-28 January 2016.

“3,448 participants are from abroad, and 926 participants are from Indonesia,” Puan said.

For the record, the 2016 International Conference on Family Planning is the collaboration between the National Family Planning and Coordinating Board (BKKBN), the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

The bi-annual conference was previously held in Kampala, Uganda (2009) Dakar, Senegal (2011) and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2013).

“It is an honor for Indonesia to be trusted to host this event,” Puan said.

Puan further said that the conference serves as an opportunity to reinforce commitment to family planning programs, to exchange information, to enhance and expand the knowledge on the development of contraception technology and various aspects of family planning programs, as well as to show the world that Indonesia is committed to the progress of family planning programs at the global level.

Also attending the event were Former President BJ Habibie, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Babatunde Osotimehin who represents UN Secretary General, Minister of Health Nila Moeloek, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yembise, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Head of BKKBN Surya Chandra Surapaty, Ambassadors and Ministers from friendly countries, Bali Governor, as well as representatives of donor organizations and international organizations. (UN/GUN/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)