Special 20th anniversary issue of Asia-Pacific Population Journal launched

Mr. Kim Hak-Su presenting a copy of the anniversary issue of APPJ to Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid during the reception.

Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the Asia-Pacific Population Journal published by ESCAP with financial support from the UNFPA briefly grabbed center stage at the welcome reception of the 2006 IPCI-ICPD (see page 1) held on 20 November. Hosting the reception at the Shangri-la Hotel, Mr. Meechai Ruchuphan, President of the Thai National Assembly had kindly allowed the launch of the special anniversary issue of the Journal to take place at the same venue.

“We greatly value this unique opportunity to release the 20th anniversary issue of the Journal among such a distinguished international audience of parliamentarians gathered here tonight”, said Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary, ESCAP. “The Asia-Pacific Population Journal is undoubtedly a champion in a field close to your heart: advocacy for population and reproductive health programmes”.

Attending the reception, Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA expressed her pleasure to be present at the launch and said that the Journal was a publication “for which ESCAP should feel much pride in”. “It is wonderful to work with ESCAP on population and development issues – which are so important for this very diverse and dynamic region”, she noted. Referring specifically to the special anniversary issue of the Journal, for which she contributed an article, Ms. Obaid commented: “The insight and analysis contained in this special commemorative edition are most stimulating. It is this kind of knowledge sharing that is so critical to sound policy making and governance and to public dialogue and debate”.

Note: The above-cited special issue of APPJ is available in full-text from http://www.unescap.org/appj.asp