Dispatches - August
Geneva Office Provides Assistance in African Emergencies
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GENEVA – When an emergency strikes in Africa, Geneva-based humanitarian staff are on standby to support the management of reproductive health services, which continue to be needed whatever the emergency. Recent missions have included Madagascar and Darfur.
In response to a cyclone and floods in February of this year, up to 300,000 people were affected by the disaster in seven of 22 regions of Madagascar.
“The challenge we face is convincing humanitarian actors that reproductive health and gender-based violence remain issues during an emergency,” said Jonathan Ndzi, Reproductive Health Advisor with UNFPA’s Geneva Office. “Our work in Madagascar and Darfur – and elsewhere in emergencies – is clear cut: help reduce excess maternal and neonatal deaths.”
“To do so we need to support and improve the capacity of health providers to respond to urgent reproductive health needs of the vulnerable population, and one of the ways we can do this is to provide them with individual clean delivery kits and other commodities.”
When the cyclone hit in February 2007, a flash appeal was launched to help fund this and other urgent needs. “Cyclones are cyclical,” said Dr Ndzi. “So UNFPA is now incorporating a humanitarian component into the regular reproductive health programme of the country office. This way, emergency preparedness plans are in place and we won’t have to wait until a cyclone hits before launching a funding appeal – we’ll be able to respond whenever there’s a need.”
UNFPA is also working in Darfur in prevention and response to gender-based violence, and coordination of emergency reproductive health including advocacy for certain reproductive health services.
“The people of the region were poor before the crisis,” said Dr Ndzi, who spent two years in Darfur as UNFPA Reproductive Health Coordinator and Team Leader before coming to Geneva, “and now they have virtually nothing. We provide training for reproductive health providers, such as refresher courses on how to manage certain complicated deliveries correctly, prevention of HIV transmission and other essential services.”
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Inter-Agency Reproductive Health Kits for Crisis Situations |
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Dispatches from Darfur |
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UNFPA Provides Supplies in Darfur to Meet Basic Needs |
29 August
New Danish Development Strategy Emphasizes Women's Rights
COPENHAGEN — Women’s rights are once again highlighted as a top priority for the Danish Government. Yesterday, the Strategy for the Danish Development Assistance 2008-2012: A World for All was launched. The strategy outlines how the Danish government will further consolidate and strengthen its prioritization of women’s rights and status by means of a series of bilateral and multilateral initiatives.
The expanded emphasis on women’s rights complements Danish development policy as outlined in the 2006 strategy on the Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. “The Government will continue the high profile of this often controversial area – both politically and contribution-wise – and strengthen the coherence between initiatives aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health as well as rights and initiatives aimed at combating HIV/AIDS.”
As part of the enhanced focus on women, the government proposes a large increase in the Danish contributions to UNFPA and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in 2008 and the years ahead. Other initiatives will increase activities to help African women through current Danish Sector Programmes, within areas such as water and sanitation, business development, education and healthcare provision. The Government will also set aside funds to the so-called ‘Fast Track Initiative’ for education – with the particular aim of improving girls’ access to education.
The development policy priorities for 2008-2012 continue the long-term strategy of placing Africa at the heart of Danish development policy. In line with this overall strategy, the Government also today presented a new Africa Policy, which will support the Danish efforts to promote women, gender equality and youth in that region.
A World for All also addresses three new opportunities and challenges, which are increasingly important items on the international agenda: 1) Climate change, energy and environment (Climate issues are expected to receive increased importance with the approach of the UN Climate Conference 2009 to take place in Copenhagen) 2) Migration and development and 3) Stability and democracy.
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Partnering with governments |
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Record Number of Countries Contribute Record Amount to UNFPA in 2006 |
Norway First Contributor to Joint UNFPA/UNICEF Programme Against FGM/C
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OSLO — Female genital mutilation is a brutal violation of women’s and children’s fundamental human rights, according to Norway’s Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim. He was speaking at a press conference announcing an increase in funding to fight female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).
The NOK 20 million or USD 3.5 million pledge will support a new joint UNFPA and UNICEF programme to help communities and countries eliminate female genital mutilation/cutting. The funds will support advocacy and partnerships with the media, civil society, religious leaders and reproductive health sectors.
Both Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director (Programme) of UNFPA and Dan Toole, Acting Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, attended the press conference.
“We must remember the 100 to 140 million women and girls who have been subjected to this harmful practice across the world,” said Ms. Mane. “Our thoughts also go to the 2 to 3 million women and girls who are forced to go through this practice every year.” She stressed the need for more action by the international community against this devastating practice.
She also addressed new worrisome trends that focus on reducing or hiding the practice rather than eliminating it. These include greater medicalization of the practice, the increase in the number of infants being mutilated to avoid complaints to the law enforcement agencies, and the promotion of the lesser cut rather than the practice’s abandonment.
“Despite decades of activism against female genital mutilation/cutting and the existence of laws criminalizing the practice in many countries, progress remains slow”, said Ms. Purnima Mane. “Ending female genital mutilation is important for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It will enhance the human rights of women and girls, contribute to their empowerment, improve maternal health and reduce child mortality.”
While acknowledging the many challenges ahead, Ms. Mane thanked Norway for inaugurating funding for the UNFPA/UNICEF programme. “We hope that many other development partners will join you in this critical support, as we need to upscale our interventions to end the suffering of millions of women and girls worldwide and protect their human rights, including their right to sexual and reproductive health.”
The Norwegian contribution to the UN fund doubles Norway’s international efforts to fight female genital mutilation. In 2006, about NOK 22 million were allocated to international efforts to end female genital mutilation. A substantial amount of this support was given to UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO.
