Dispatches - March 2007
Praise for the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health
GENEVA — In a presentation to the Human Rights Council, UNFPA praised the work of Paul Hunt, Special Rapporteur on the right to health, and the specific references he made to sexual and reproductive health in his annual and country mission reports.
In her intervention to the Council’s 4th Session on 28 March, Luz Angela Melo, UNFPA focal point for Human Rights, called the Special Rapporteur’s work invaluable.
“Working on reproductive health constitutes a very difficult agenda and the efforts of the Special Rapporteur have helped us in operationalizing the right to reproductive and sexual health with a human rights-based approach,” she said.
UNFPA considers the Special Rapporteur’s reports essential tools that allow everyone – including women, young people, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, survivors of conflict and natural disasters – to exercise their fundamental right to reproductive health.
Since the inception of the mandate, the Special Rapporteur has understood the importance of reproductive health to ensure the right to health, she said, adding that he had contributed significantly to the advancement of standards at the international level and, where it mattered most, at the local level.
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Reproductive Rights |
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UNFPA Participates in Human Rights Seminar at University of Jyväskyla
JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland — Asger Ryhl, Chief of UNFPA Nordic Office, gave a presentation on UNFPA, human rights and gender at a seminar on ‘Human Rights Issues in International Development Co-Operation’ sponsored by the Department of Communication of Jyväskylä University. The audience consisted of Finnish journalism students and foreign exchange students.
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UNFPA Officer to Speak on Traumatic Fistula in DR Congo
GENEVA — Ms. Karin Heisecke, Programme Coordination Officer at the UNFPA Brussels Office, will talk about traumatic fistula at an awareness-raising event on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The event, which was organized by Actions, Femmes et Développement (AFEDE) International to commemorate International Women’s Day, will also feature documentaries “La guerre de Christine” by Patrick Forestier and "Les âmes brisées" by Khalil Gueye. They will be shown in the Museum Autoworld in Brussels.
Other speakers at the event include the ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a representative from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and a psychologist.
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Programming to Address Violence Against Women: Ten Case Studies |
UN Joins Together to Seek Solutions to Violence Against Women During War
GENEVA — On the occasion of International Women’s Day, more than 150 people gathered to show solidarity with women worldwide and to discuss how the UN can better respond to sexual violence in conflict situations.
Six invited panellists, including Dr. Wilma Doedens, Technical Specialist with UNFPA Humanitarian Response Unit, grappled with how the UN can improve its response to address shocking levels of sexual violence. Their suggestions were wide ranging and included:
- being more proactive
- generating greater awareness about this type of violence
- ending impunity of perpetrators
- doing more to protect survivors
- promoting personal testimonies
- implementing international human rights law
- continuing to work together
Dr. Doedens reminded those present that inter-agency guidelines explain how humanitarian workers can prevent and respond to sexual violence in the early phase of an emergency. However, she added, gender-based violence is everyone’s concern and it will require more than action in the field to stop it.
“We must also act at a global level to address such issues as impunity and lack of accountability, even at the highest level in governments, military and humanitarian organizations,” she said, reminding everyone that violence against women can only be effectively addressed if everyone works together.
As the meeting closed, all those present were asked to stand and cross their fists against their chests, a new symbol that sends a clear message: Stop Rape Now.
The panel was co-sponsored by the ten agencies involved in humanitarian response that are working together on a new joint inter-agency initiative: UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict. The purpose of the initiative is to improve the United Nations response to sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict settings.
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No Woman Should Die Giving Life!
Message from the Nordic Goodwill Ambassadors on the occasion of International Women’s Day
COPENHAGEN — On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the four Nordic UNFPA Goodwill Ambassadors, have signed the following message calling for support for women during pregnancy and childbirth:
"Today, on the 8th of March, 1440 women will die while giving birth or of other pregnancy related injuries. This is equivalent to four jumbo jets filled with women or one woman dying every minute. But no woman should die giving life because we know what needs to be done.
Twenty years ago the world society launched the ‘Safe Motherhood Initiative’ and committed itself to decrease maternal mortality. The initiative has been successful in a few countries where women have gained access to contraceptives, midwives have been educated, and medical assistance is ensured for women suffering from complications during pregnancy or birth.
But in many countries, sex, pregnancies, birth and unsafe abortions too often lead to sickness and death. In Africa, one out of sixteen women still die in connection with pregnancies and birth. And for every woman that dies, 20 face severe complications and experience permanent handicaps.
Not only women loose out. Men and children are left behind and the social and economic consequences for societies are substantial.
Today, more than 350 million women still do not have a choice of protecting themselves with safe and efficient contraceptives. But more than one third of all pregnancy and birth related deaths, complications and infections can be avoided if all women had access to modern, safe and efficient contraceptives. And even more women could be saved if they did not have to deliver on the floor of small earth huts far away from medical assistance.
The 8th of March has been the International Women’s Day since 1922. Some call it a day of protest and call for equal pay and women’s equal rights. That is fine. But let us not forget that there is an essential fight that has not yet been won; the fight for saving women’s lives when giving life. We know what it takes, so let’s act."
Signed by:
Kattis Ahlstrom
Hanne-Vibeke Holst
Kari Jaquesson
Mikko Kuustonen
Find the statement in Norwegian on Kari Jaquesson’s blog
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Statement from UNFPA’s Executive Director on the Occasion of International Women's Day |
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International Women’s Day |
UNFPA Representative Speaks About Fistula at the Belgian Senate
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BRUSSELS — Dr. France Donnay, the UNFPA Representative in Pakistan, will discuss ‘Obstetric Fistula: A Neglected Area of Maternal Health with Devastating Consequences’ at a special session at the Belgian Senate, hosted by its president Senator Anne-Marie Lizin, on International Women’s Day.
The special session, ‘Saving Mothers’ Lives – A Key to Development’, will focus on the need to achieve Millennium Development Goal 5 (improving maternal health). Speakers include representatives of the Belgian Ministry of Development Cooperation, the European Commission, the international research project IMMPACT, and Senator Sabine de Bethune, who will present a draft resolution on women's health in developing countries.
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Statement from UNFPA’s Executive Director on the Occasion of International Women's Day |
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