UNFPA and Reckitt launch ‘Empowering Our Youth Project’ to mark the Strategic Partnership in Thailand.
UNFPA Thailand and Reckitt join forces, launching ‘Empowering Our Youth Project’ to kick-start the Strategic Public-Private Partnership Agreement to uphold the power of youth and human capital development as part of the journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
On 2 February 2023, UNFPA Thailand and Reckitt launch the Strategic Public-Private Partnership. Dr. Asa Torkelsson, Country Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Thailand and Representative of UNFPA Malaysia, and Mr. Rohit Jindal, President of Reckitt Thailand and IndoChina, sign the Strategic Public-Private Partnership Agreement between Reckitt and UNFPA Thailand. The signing ceremony is joined by Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of UNFPA Thailand Office, Dr. Panote Prapansilp, Medical & External Affairs Director at Reckitt Benckiser (Thailand) Ltd., along with representatives from the government, private agencies, CSO as well as the media.
Dr. Asa Torkelsson, Country Director of UNFPA Thailand and Representative of UNFPA Malaysia, addresses that UNFPA has undertaken a number of projects with the cooperation of the Royal Thai Government and various sectors in Thailand for more than 50 years. It focuses on three main goals: improving access to integrated reproductive health services, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending gender-based violence. These will lead to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 and 5, by 2030.
Dr. Torkelsson also remarks that Reckitt, which is part of the private sector, has been supporting and partnering with UNFPA Thailand since 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical success of the ‘Safe Birth for All’ project has led to the signing of this partnership under the 'Empowering Our Youth' project where Reckitt will actively support the work of UNFPA Thailand consecutively from 2022 to 2026. To achieve SDG 3, the project will promote condom accessibility for all, prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents, and the well-being of adolescent and vulnerable mothers. These also support SDG 5, which is achieving gender equality and increasing the role of women and girls.
Mr. Rohit Jindal, Managing Director of Reckitt Thailand and IndoChina, states that Reckitt has continuously supported UNFPA Thailand, and is pleased to continue to support the work of UNFPA Thailand. This is for the work of the ‘Empowering Our Youth’ project to be successful in promoting good quality of life and stability for adolescents, both female and male, as well as for adolescent mothers and mothers in vulnerable situations. In addition, the signing of this agreement demonstrates that the private sector can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals in various dimensions.
Dr. Panote Prapansilp, Medical & External Affairs Director at Reckitt Benckiser (Thailand) Ltd., says that Reckitt prioritizes empowering youth and the new generation towards Sustainable Development Goals. This has led to this signing of the partnership agreement. Reckitt wishes to see that every pregnancy is the intention of both the woman and the man. It also hopes to see family planning, support for adolescent and vulnerable mothers, ending infant and maternal deaths from pregnancy, and ending gender-based violence in Thailand. Work in collaboration from the public, private, and civil society sectors will enable us to truly lead Thailand towards sustainable development.
Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office, UNFPA Thailand, expresses gratitude to Reckitt for recognizing the importance of UNFPA work in Thailand and providing continued support for the next five years which will lead to increased confidence in the programme’s projects and activities. The support will focus on sex education guidelines that will help build self-prevention and self-care among adolescents. It aims at guiding the male adolescents to self-protection from sexually transmitted diseases. It intends to reduce unplanned pregnancy in female adolescents. It also aims to enable them to self-care if pregnancy occurs, to do planning during pregnancy, to access healthcare services, to have knowledge of childcare, as well as to be reintegrated into the society and live their lives with potential.
The agreement signing ceremony is followed by a discussion on ‘Empowering Our Youth Project’, uphold the power of youth and human capital development as part of the journey towards achieving towards Goal 3 and Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals. The panellists are Dr. Panote Prapansilp, Medical & External Affairs Director at Reckitt Benckiser (Thailand) Ltd.; Ms. Kanticha Chumma (Ticha), actress, model and the winner of The Face Thailand Season 2; Ms. Sudaporn Nakfak, Project Coordinator of Klum Khon Wai Sai (Adolescent Mothers Group) Chaing Mai; Dr.Olarik Musigavong, obstetrician and expert campaigning on health & reproductive health issues for women; and Dr. Pannin Sumanasrethakula, Director of the Thailand Future Foundation.
UNFPA Thailand is in its 12th Country Programme in cooperating with the Royal Thai Government and multi-sectors in Thailand to achieve the Three Transformative results: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. These are the pathways to also achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within 2030.
Photo collection/ อัลบั้มภาพงานกิจกรรม by UNFPA Thailand
UNFPA and Reckitt launch ‘Empowering Our Youth Project’ and Partnership in Thailand
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
About UNFPA:
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
In Thailand, UNFPA is in its 12th Country Programme in cooperating with the Royal Thai Government and multi-sectors in Thailand to achieve the Three Transformative results: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal death, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. These are the pathways to also achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 3 of good health and well-being and Goal 5 of gender equality, within 2030.
More information: https://thailand.unfpa.org/; FB: UNFPAThailand; Twitter: @Unfpa_Thailand; Instagram: UNFPA.Thailand
About Reckitt:
Reckitt is the company behind some of the world’s most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more.
Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always.
We are a diverse global team of c. 40,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society. Find out more, or get in touch with us at www.reckitt.com.
