UNFPA in the News: Week of August 2-8, 2003

INDIA: Opposition Two-Child Norm

An August 3 op ed by Francois Farah, UNFPA representative in India, that ran in The Times of India, noted that the Supreme Court upheld the Haryana legislation barring an individual from becoming a panchayat member if he or she had more than two children. Farah stressed: “Only an enabling environment, that emphasizes effective reproductive health services, gender equality leading to women's participation in reproductive decision-making and positive social change that values girl children, can equip panchayats to become true leaders and role models at the grassroots.”

INDIA: Female Feticide Continues

The Times of India reported August 8 that although the Supreme Court banned female feticide, census figures indicate that it continues. However, others feel that some headway has been made. " Awareness is on the rise," says Dr. Prakash Dave, regional coordinator, United Nations Population Fund. "Several doctors say they've discontinued such practices, which is good." But, he added, " With implementation of the law difficult and malpractices not happening openly, it's difficult to know."

KENYA: Music Performance on Reproductive Health Sponsored

The Nation (Kenya) reported August 7 that nursery and primary school students took to the stage with dance, verse and song at the annual music festival. The eight halls at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, in which the event is being held, were filled with 20,000 fans. In addition, a performance on reproductive health is being sponsored by UNFPA.

LIBERIA: Women and Children at Risk

Public Agenda noted in an August 4 story about the ongoing Liberian conflict that UNFPA recently warned that the conflict was worsening an already bad humanitarian crisis with adverse effects for women and children. Read: Public Agenda

NEPAL: Saving Youth from AIDS

Indo-Asian News Service reported August 6 that Nepal is at a critical stage of an AIDS epidemic, with the disease threatening to be the No.1 killer in the productive age group of 15-49, and over half its victims aged below 29, according to OneWorld.net. "If HIV continues to infect younger people of productive age groups, it will have a direct impact on infant mortality rate and overall life expectancy," said the assistant representative of the UN Population Fund, Bhanu Niraula. Read: Indo-Asian News Service

NIGERIA: Funding Delayed

Panafrica News Agency reported August 8 that Nigeria Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, assured Nigeria is determined to release counterpart funds for all donor-programs to speed their execution. While receiving the visiting Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, Imelda Henkins, the Minister said the delay in the release of such funds had tied down money from foreign donors for the country's development. She said the government was trying to instill fiscal and budgetary discipline by launching an economic reform program, adding that funds saved from the reform would be channeled into development programs.

PAKISTAN: UN Agencies Provide Flooded Regions

Pakistan Newswire reported August 5 that United Nations agencies are undertaking relief activities in the flood-affected regions with the provision of relief supplies to the most affected people in the worst hit districts of Thatta and Badin in Pakistan. The story mentioned UNFPA is directing medical supplies to Thatta from a recently cleared consignment at Karachi Port. On August 8, Pakistan Newswire reported the UN Agencies in Pakistan are scaling up emergency humanitarian relief assistance in the flood-affected regions amid growing prospects of flash floods with major dams filling to the capacity and rivers reaching the danger levels. In total, $450,000 worth of supplies and logistical support is being provided by UN agencies including UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, WHO and UNFPA. Read: Pakistan Newswire: Aug. 5 and Aug. 8

PHILIPPINES: Book Celebrates Salas

An August 6 story by The Manila Bulletin (Philippines) about a new book, “Rafael Paeng M. Salas Remembered,” celebrating his 75th birthday, mentioned that Salas was Philippine Executive Secretary and later became the first Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund and UN Undersecretary General.

UNITED STATES: Debate on Funding for UNFPA Continues

In The Village Voice (NY) August 6-12 issue, James Ridgeway noted, “[The Bush] administration denied $34 million in funding for the United Nations Population Fund, known as UNFPA.” Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, whose committee approved $50 million in funding for the agency in the Senate version of the foreign-aid bill, said, "This decision is an embarrassment and a travesty. It flies in the face of the facts, of the law, and of the intent of Congress." Read: Village Voice

An August 5 story by United Press International featured a debate on funding for UNFPA between UPI National Political Analyst Peter Roff and Jillian Jonas, a freelance journalist living in New York City. Supporters of the Crowley amendment call the withholding of U.S. funds because of a tenuous connection to forced abortion while millions of women and children depend on UNPFA services unfair. Opponents say the program encourages abortion as a means of population control in China and elsewhere and that the United States should, therefore, not participate. Question: Should the funds be restored?

The Chicago Tribune (IL) featured an August 2 editorial that noted last month marked the first anniversary of President Bush's woeful decision to kill $34 million in funding for the United Nations Population Fund. The editorial criticized, “It was a bad decision then, motivated by abortion politics. A year later, it doesn't look any better.” Read: Chicago Tribune

The Star Tribune’s August 5 editorial about speculation about Secretary of State Colin Powell’s retirement also noted he favored handing over the $34 million promised this year to the U.N. Population Fund. Read: Star Tribune

In an August 3 letter by Beckie Madigan of Indianapolis that ran in The Indianapolis Star (IN), she wrote: “In response to Dan Carpenter's July 23 lamentation regarding the lack of funds sent to the United Nations Population Fund, I for one am glad the money isn't forthcoming. With the state of our education system here at home needing an infusion of cash, I am not keen on sending the money overseas. Why doesn't Carpenter understand that we're a capitalist country, not a socialist one? I don't want to pay 80 percent of my income in taxes so the government can hand out money in other countries. If people here are so concerned with the issue, let them send their paychecks to the charity in question and leave me to decide where and when I will help out.”

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