UNFPA IN THE NEWS – MAY 1-7, 2004

WORLDWIDE GENDER GAP

In its May 10 issue, Newsweek (USA) ran an op ed by Kati Marton of International Women’s Health Coalition on how women worldwide suffer countless disadvantages compared with men. Morton noted: “AIDS is not the only threat women face. Consider the current state of reproductive health. An estimated 350 million couples want safe and effective contraception but are unable to get it. Since 2002 the United States has withheld its annual $34 million contribution to the United Nations Population Fund, the world's largest provider of family-planning services.” Read: Newsweek

SOUTHERN AFRICA: New Strategies Discussed to Deal with Sex and Gender-Based Violence, and HIV/AIDS in Refugee Camps

Panafrican News Agency (PANA) reported May 4 that the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) hosted a two-day workshop for its officials from Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe to map out new strategies to deal with issues related to sex and gender-based violence, and HIV/AIDS in refugee camps. The story also mentioned that Margaret O'Callaghan, country representative for the U.N. Population Fund reiterated her organization's support to the UNHCR in refugee camps, adding that the issue at hand was a matter of reproductive health. "With the advent of HIV/AIDS, especially inAfrica, we tend to be lending a blind eye on vices that contribute to the deadly disease. Sex and gender based violence, plus HIV/AIDS, should be an issue that concerns everyone," O'Callaghan observed.

AFGHANISTAN: Workshop for Women in Leadership in the Post-Conflict Country

IRIN reported May 4 that UNFPA hosted a five-day international training workshop to address issues of women in leadership in the post-conflict country. "The workshop aimed at accomplishing the task of supporting women especially in conflict and post-conflict situations," Maria Pia Dradi, UNFPA chief of operations told IRIN. Read: IRIN

BANGLADESH: Seminar Discusses the State of the Country’s 30 Million Poor

The Daily Star (Bangladesh) reported May 7 that speakers at a seminar, "State of the Poorest in Bangladesh 2004/05," demanded fair distribution of resources to improve the living standard of about 30 million chronically poor people who are suffering from hunger and under-nutrition. Quazi Shahabuddin, director general of BIDS, Angela Gomez of Bachte Shekha, Tauhidul Alam of UNFPA and AHM Nouman of DORP were in attendance.
Read: Daily Star

GABON: UNFPA Funds Efforts to Promote Reproductive Health

Panafrican News Agency reported May 2 that U.N. Population Fund's representative to Gabon, Dr. Renee Enombo has handed a check for $ 4,000 and 7,000 male condoms to the Gabonese Movement for Family Welfare to fight early pregnancies, HIV/AIDS and promote safe maternity among vulnerable groups.

INDIA: Girl-Child Imbalanced Ratio Must Be Addressed

Hi Pakistan reported May 7 that alarmed at the “shocking decline” in the ratio of the girl child in India due to selective abortions and infanticide, the United Nations has said the problem “must be addressed.” According to STAR TV, the United Nations Population Fund said, as a result of the sex selective abortions and infanticide, the ratio of girls to boys in India has shown a shocking decline in the last decade. Read: Hi Pakistan

MEXICO: UNFPA Director Praises Family Planning Programs

Reuters reported May 4 that Thoraya Obaid, executive director of the U.N. Population Fund, said Mexico was one of the success stories in implementing programs agreed at a 1994 U.N. conference on population and development in Cairo. "On this occasion I would like to congratulate Mexico on the remarkable advances it has achieved in the past 10 years," she said. Mexico's population would be around 170 million people, instead of just over 100 million, if not for family planning campaigns launched by the government 30 years ago, she said. Read: Reuters

NEPAL: Support for Nepal’s Development

A story in Nepal News’ May 7-13 issue noted that according to the World Bank’s Country Assistance Strategy Progress Report 2003, Department of International Development DFID (UK), Japan, USAID, EU, Norway, Germany, China, India, Switzerland and many NGOs have supported Nepal in areas of health and family planning. Likewise, the UN agencies like WHO, WFP, FAO, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNDP have been providing essential family planning services and safe drinking water supply through community based organizations. They are also working to improve peripheral health facilities like primary health centers, health posts, sub-health posts and district hospitals. Read: Nepal News

SUDAN: Conflict Having a Devastating Effect on Women and Girls

IRIN reported May 5 that the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, is one of the worst in the world. IRIN noted that the continuing conflict was having a devastating effect on women and girls, according to Pamela Delargy, the chief of the humanitarian response unit of the U.N. Population Fund. Women and girls were vulnerable both during attacks and when they left camps for internally displaced persons to do chores to gather water, fuel or fodder, she said. "As in many other recent conflicts, rape has become a weapon of war in western Sudan, with disastrous consequences for women and girls," she added. Read: IRIN, UN News Centre

URUGUAY: U.S. Lawmakers Meddle in Abortion Law Debate

Inter Press Service reported May 7 that a letter that six U.S. legislators recently faxed to Uruguay's senators, urging them to vote against a bill that would have legalized abortion in this South American country, amounted to undue pressure and meddling, according to legislators and activists. The story noted that abortion remains illegal in nearly all countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. But every year, more than four million abortions are practiced in the region, according to the United Nations Population Fund. Read: Inter Press Service

UNITED STATES: Letter Clarifying UNFPA’s Involvement in Global Health Conference

The Washington Times ran a May 3 letter by Richard Snyder, head of Information Division at U.N. Population Fund, that responded to an April 26 article and set the record straight. Snyder wrote: “UNFPA does not support abortion. It abides by the Programme of Action of the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development, which states, ‘In no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning.’ In line with this consensus, UNFPA promotes improved access to voluntary family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancies and eliminate the need for abortion. It also helps countries treat women suffering from the complications of unsafe abortion. UNFPA does not criticize the positions of member states. Like other U.N. bodies, it derives its mandate from and promotes policies and decisions adopted by the 191 member states of the United Nations.” Read: Washington Times

UNITED STATES: Practical Solution to Curb Spread of AIDS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (USA) ran a May 5 editorial that suggested practical solutions in the campaign to curb AIDS. The editorial also mentioned, “To placate conservative activists who fear the money might be used to fund abortions, the Bush administration is withholding the United States' $34 million pledge to the United Nations Population Fund. The UNPFA supports health clinics in some of the poorest areas of the world.” The editorial also noted: “Bush's dangerous approach to AIDS and pregnancy prevention is not only putting lives at risk, both here and abroad, but it also is isolating the United States from a world community eager to use all the tools available to stop the spread of disease and slow down population growth. The European Union, for example, has stepped up its financial support of family planning programs to fill what is called ‘the decency gap’ left by the United States' refusal to fulfill its pledge.” Read: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

UNITED STATES: U.S. Committee for UNFPA Fundraiser for Safe Motherhood

ArizonaRepublic (USA) reported May 3 that John Martinson, a board member for the U.S. Committee for the United Nations Population Fund, wants to raise funds for an international photo exhibit, Family of Woman, featuring women surviving under turmoil. The exhibit is planned for Aug. 28 to Oct. 1 at Arizona State University's Gammage Auditorium. J'Lein Liese, co-chair with Martinson for another group, Arizona Friends of the United Nations Population Fund, said they want to educate Valley residents on how the U.N. organization helps women. The organization has lost life-saving resources since 2002 from a $34 million reduction in U.S. funds. Read: Arizona Republic

Back to top