Japanese MP and eminent international advocate on population and development, Professor Keizo Takemi, is the new chair of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD).
“This is the most important network of parliamentarians for population and development,” Professor Takemi told the executive of AFPPD upon his election at a meeting in Manila.
Professor Takemi is one of only 25 eminent advocates appointed by the UN to the High-Level Task Force for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Members serve to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and young people through the ICPD Beyond 2014 process and the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
“The AFPPD is very fortunate to have such an effective and passionate advocate and parliamentarian for population and development as our new chair and we look forward to now being an even stronger force for parliamentarian engagement throughout Asia and the Pacific,” said AFPPD Executive Director Ramon San Pascual.
Professor Takemi is a Member of Japan’s House of Councilors and a former Senior Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
He has been involved in various global initiatives, including the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health (2010–2011); Global Health Workforce Alliance (2010–present), as a champion; WHO Expert Working Group on R&D Financing (2009–2010); and the International Organising Committee of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (2009–present).
In 2008, Professor Takemi led a high-level working group dedicated to advocating for collective action on global health, particularly on health system strengthening, within the G8 Summit, hosted by Japan. Both the pre-summit proposal and the follow-up report succeeded in ensuring strong commitment by the G8 2008 to recognise and address the global health workforce crisis.
AFPPD