UNFPA IN THE NEWS – AUGUST 14-20, 2004

CHINA: Promoting the Girl-Child

The Toronto Star (Canada) reported August 15 on the imbalance of female to male population in China. The story noted that Siri Tellier, United Nations Population Fund's representative in Beijing, called the government's aggressive response a breakthrough compared with past attitudes. "I think it's fantastic that they're tackling it very openly, because 10 years ago they were saying it's not a problem," she says. "They are certainly going all out." The challenge is not only to prevent a surplus of unmarried men, but also to change the underlying attitudes that undervalue women. Without such soul-searching, the gender gap might never be closed. "It's not just a question of young men being unable to marry, but why don't the Chinese want girls in the first place?" Tellier asks. "How do you change attitudes?" Read: Toronto Star

INDIA: New Representative Appointed to Post

The Hindu (India) reported August 15 that Hendrik van der Pol from the Netherlands has been appointed the new Representative in India of UNFPA. The story noted that this is his first professional tenure in an Asian country—after working as the UNFPA Representative in Guatemala .

KENYA: UNFPA-Sponsored Girl

The East African Standard (Kenya) ran an August 15 story on Inviolata Mmbwavi, a woman who has been living with HIV the past ten years, that mentioned that the United Nations Population Fund sponsored her studies in UK. She now heads the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK). Read: East African Standard

KOREA: Condom Supplier for UNFPA

The Korea Herald reported August 16 that Unidus Corp., the No. 1 condom maker in Korea , is having a second honeymoon with "Long Love." The story also mentioned that last year it accounted for 35 percent of the condoms purchased by the United Nations Population Fund, according to the organization's 2003 Procurement Statistics. The World Health Organization also is a buyer. Read: Korea Herald

LIBERIA: HIV/AIDS Threatens Working Population

The Analyst (Liberia) reported August 17 that UNFPA Country Representative Liberia, Dr. Deji Popoola, said that the Liberian workforce is at the highest risk of HIV/AIDS infection and needed to benefit from communication tools that will reverse the imminent danger. Popoola said, “As you may know, the working age population (15-65) is a little over 50 percent of Liberia's population, while at the same time, the sexually active population is 55 percent of national population. This high sexually active population has serious implications for reproductive health situation for labor supply aspect of the country." Read: The Analyst

MALAWI: Young People Disproportionately Affected and Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS

In an August 15 story by The Chronicle (Malawi), it mentioned, “’In Malawi, young people are not only disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, they are also particularly vulnerable to HIV infection because of the lack access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) information, education and services,' a recent UNFPA report says.”

PHILIPPINES: UNFPA Advises against Proposed 2-Child Policy

Business World (Philippines) reported August 19 that t he proposed two-child policy and moratorium on free childbirth services might violate human rights and would not solve the population problem, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said. UNFPA country representative Zahildul A. Huque said the government should instead come up with clear-cut policies that would guarantee individuals and couples wider access to information on reproductive health care and services, especially on birth control. "The state has the responsibility to promote smaller families to achieve the well-being of their citizens [but] ultimately, it should be up to individuals and couples to decide how many children they want to have depending on their social conditions, position or religion," Mr. Huque said.

SUDAN: Hepatitis E Continues to Be Reported

IRIN reported August 20 that relief agencies in the troubled Sudanese state of West Darfur have set up a working group to monitor and coordinate activities to stem the spread of Hepatitis E, as cases of the disease continue to be reported, the United Nations said. Last week, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned that unless immediate action was taken to avert the spread of the disease in Darfur, it could spread quickly among the hundreds of thousands of IDPs living in camps with poor sanitation. Read: IRIN

UNITED STATES: Continued Opinion Support for UNFPA Funding

The Denver Post (U.S.) August 15 editorial endorsing support for children’s education worldwide noted, “The Bush administration also should stop blocking millions of congressionally approved dollars for the United Nations Population Fund, whose mission includes curbing the spread of AIDS.” Read: The Denver Post

The Free Lance-Star (U.S.) ran an August 15 letter by Sue Hornik of the International Women’s Health Coalition that said: “Rick Mercier's op-ed on the president's halting of UNFPA [‘UNFPA is a necessary agency that all Americans should support,’ July 29] is to be commended. Not only did it eloquently deliver the facts, but it also encouraged radical extremists to reveal their true positions. Thanks to their letters, we now know that abortion isn't the issue at all. They want to deny women access to all contraceptives.” Read: Free Lance-Star

UNITED STATES: Continued Response to State Department’s Defending of UNFPA Funding Decision

The Wichita Eagle (U.S.) ran a letter by Director of UNFPA’s Information Division, Safiye Cagar, on August 16 that said, “In defending the Bush administration's decision to withhold congressionally appropriated funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Assistant Secretary of State Arthur E. Dewey made assertions that are not supported by the facts.” Read: Wichita Eagle, St. Petersburg Times, Free Lance-Star

The Free Lance-Star (U.S.) ran a letter by Suzanne Petroni on August 15. She wrote: “Assistant Secretary of State Gene Dewey's Aug. 9 letter claims that the ‘administration is firmly committed to protecting the health of women and children in the developing world.’ She continued, “The latest White House decision to withhold funding to UNFPA for the third straight year was based on charges that have been disproved by tens of investigative teams, including one hand-picked by the Bush administration itself.” Read: Free Lance-Star

The Free-Lance Star (U.S.) ran an August 15 letter by Jane Roberts of the 34 Million Friends campaign who wrote: “His second disingenuous letter, was in your paper Aug. 9, in which he says the decision not to fund the United Nations Population Fund was based on careful consideration of all relevant facts, then intimated that UNFPA supports and participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion and sterilization in China.” Roberts concluded: “So by defunding UNFPA, we are not hurting China but the 140 other countries where UNFPA works for safe motherhood and family planning. Secretary Dewey's letters to editors tend to leave out important facts.” Read: Free Lance-Star

UNITED STATES: 34 Million Friends of UNFPA

An August 14 column by Cay Crow in The San Antonio Express-News (U.S.), urged support for Jane Roberts and Lois Abraham and their 34 Million Friends of UNFPA campaign. She wrote, “Since the current administration initially denied funding to the UNFPA, two women have rallied a grassroots movement urging 34 million people to each send a dollar.” Roberts and Abraham began this campaign in July 2002 and have since raised close to $2 million. Read: San Antonio Express-News

The Pasadena Star-News (U.S.) reported August 17 that the Pasadena/Foothills Chapter of the United Nations Association-USA promises an "experiential evening” as the group celebrates Women's Equality Day on Aug. 26. The keynote address will be delivered by Jane Roberts of 34 Million Friends of the UN Population Fund.

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