UNFPA IN THE NEWS – OCTOBER 16-22, 2004

BANGLADESH: Funding Runs the Risk of Faltering Due to Policy-Makers’ Inaction

United News of Bangladesh reported October 16 that the country's fragile health sector runs the risk of a major setback due to policy-makers’ inaction in negotiating with donors further funding of 31 projects for family planning services. The apprehension emerged as the Health Ministry could not reach any agreement with the donors for funding a Tk 9500 Crore 3-year Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Program (HNPSP) designed for running the programs. HNPSP donors include the World Bank, DFID, CIDA, SIDA, WHO and UNFPA. Read: United News of Bangladesh

BANGLADESH: Women’s Political Empowerment Emphasized

The New Nation (Bangladesh) reported October 16 that speakers at a seminar emphasized empowering women politically to attain the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. They said Bangladesh, which is being seen as a model for the improvement in reproductive health and progress in family planning, has also a key role to play for empowering women politically. The speakers also called for ensuring universal reproductive healthcare by 2015. The seminar on “ICPD+10: Bangladesh Context” was organized by Khan Foundation in cooperation with UNFPA. Read: New Nation

EUROPEAN UNION: Funding for UNFPA Announced

Taiwan News reported October 16 that the European Union has pledged $75 million to UNFPA for contraceptives, medicines and other supplies for needy men and women. The grant was announced at the U.N. General Assembly session that reviewed 10 years of programs since a landmark ICPD in Cairo in 1994. Read: Taiwan News

GHANA: Additional Funding Sought for Youth Program

Ghana News Agency reported October 20 that members of the Africa Youth Alliance (AYA), a program directed towards the adolescent sexual and reproductive health, held a meeting in Gomoa to develop a plan to secure additional funding before current funding ends in March 2005. Ghana’s AYA program is managed by Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Pathfinder International and UNFPA and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Read: Ghana News Agency

IRELAND: Defending UNFPA’s Mission

In an October 19 letter that ran in The Irish Times by Safiye Cagar, Director of Information at UNFPA, she defended UNFPA by writing: “Mary Stewart (October 14th) repeats long discredited claims against the UNFPA. Several independent teams have studied UNFPA assistance in China and found no evidence that the fund supported coercive abortion. A hand-picked assessment team sent there by the US administration reported that the UNFPA had registered strong opposition to such practices. Three other independent teams from the British Parliament, the United Nations and a multi-faith panel of religious leaders reached the same conclusion. The UNFPA does not support abortion in China or anywhere in the world. Indeed, abortion rates have decreased in Chinese regions where the UNFPA provides assistance. The UNFPA promotes voluntary family planning, which helps eliminate recourse to abortion.”

PAKISTAN: Report on Grants

The Daily Times (Pakistan) reported October 19 that the National Assembly was told that the Pakistani government had received $22.58 million in grants since November 2002 from different countries and donor agencies to improve the education system. The State Economic Affairs and Statistics Minister reported that the World Food Program gave $12.06 million, the European Union gave $5.21 million, Norway donated $3.02 million, the United Kingdom contributed $1.86 million, the United Nations Population Fund gave $200,000 and the Islamic Development Bank gave $230,000. Read: Daily Times

PAKISTAN: Prime Minister Meets with former UNFPA Head

Pak News (Pakistan) reported October 17 that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz met with Dr. Nafis Sadiq, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General on HIV/AIDS in Asia. The story noted that the Prime Minister assured that the Pakistan would continue to give priority attention to the national HIV/AIDS program, which had its emphasis on raising public awareness and prevention against this scourge. He appreciated the efforts of the UN agencies, particularly the WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF in funding projects for training, public awareness and provision of medicines. Read: Pak News

PHILIPPINES: President Not Doing Enough to Curb Population Growth

Agence France-Presse reported October 21 that Philippine health officials assured critics that there were enough contraceptives for distribution to willing couples despite opposition from the dominant Roman Catholic Church. The Health Department said in a statement that it had 111 million pesos ($1.96 million) worth of contraceptives, enough to last till the middle of next year. This does not include some 240,000 vials of injectible contraceptives donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.N. Population Fund, the statement added. Business leaders say President Gloria Arroyo is doing too little to curb runaway population growth for fear of angering the Catholic Church, which counts more than 70 percent of the population as followers. Read: ABS-CBN News (Philippines), Manila Times (Philippines)

PHILIPPINES: President Has Yet to Release a Statement on Refusing to Sign
ICPD +10 Statement

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported October 19 that although more than 250 global leaders, including 85 heads of state and government, signed a statement reaffirming a 1994 United Nations plan to help promote women's rights to education, health care, reproductive health and family planning, President Macapagal-Arroyo and U.S. President George W. Bush, did not. Chi Vallido, deputy executive director of the Philippine NGO Council for Health, Environment and Development (PNGOC), said Arroyo and Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit were invited by UNFPA to sign the statement. Arroyo has yet to issue a statement on why she has not signed the statement although former President Fidel Ramos has asked that his name be included in the document. Read: Philippine Daily Inquirer

SIERRA LEONE: Army Educates Religious Leaders on HIV/AIDS

Concord Times (Sierra Leone) reported October 20 that Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) educated Imams and chaplains about the HIV/ AIDS pandemic and its devastating effects on the people. UNFPA Country Representative, Dr. Mamadou Diallo, said that the disease has attracted the widest attention in human history and it is not only a medical problem that requires multi-sectored approaches. Diallo added that the RSLAF has a pivotal role to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS in providing valves and morals while caring for the victims. Read: Concord Times

SOUTH AFRICA: Growth Rate Only a Third of the Official Estimate

The Sunday Independent (South Africa) reported October 17 that South Africa's population may be growing at only a third of the official estimate—largely because of HIV/AIDS. The story noted that the latest UNFPA report puts South Africa's population growth rate at 0.6 percent, indicating a concrete decline for the first time. Read: The Sunday Independent

SUDAN: Return of Displaced Persons and Refugees Could Lead to Further HIV/AIDS Spread

IRIN reported October 18 that the anticipated return of hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees, once peace comes back to the south and west, could lead to a further spread of HIV/AIDS which already affects 2.6 percent of the adult population, UNFPA warned. HIV-infection in Sudan, according to UNFPA, is already considered to have reached epidemic proportions. Infection rates are particularly high among vulnerable groups, such as internally displaced persons and refugees. Read: IRIN, Voice of America

UNITED STATES: U.S. Funding for UNFPA

The Chicago Tribune (U.S.) reported October 20 that abstinence education has become politically charged under the Bush administration, which has sought to double spending for abstinence only sex education in the U.S., and has repeatedly canceled contributions to the United Nations Population Fund. In an October 19 op ed by Sharon Lerner, senior fellow at the Center for New York City Affairs, that ran in The Village Voice (U.S.), she mentioned: “Bush went on to cut funds for family planning throughout his time in office while pouring money into "abstinence-only" education, which forbids frank discussion of birth control. For the past three years, Bush has withheld $34 million for international family planning from the United Nations Population Fund. Meanwhile, he is promising to increase abstinence funding, already at record levels, and to insist that nearly one-third of domestic funding for HIV/AIDS be spent on abstinence.”

The Charlotte Observer (U.S.) ran an October 16 op ed by Tom Ashcraft who wrote, “Though it's unclear what campaign promises Kerry will keep, he will, if elected, undoubtedly reverse Bush decisions on the Mexico City policy and UNFPA funding.” Ashcraft added: “U.S. foreign aid, at its best, should represent a helping hand and an affirmation of the original American purpose of ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ Under Kerry, because he and his party are wholly committed in favor of abortion, it will export a culture of death to some of the poorest people on earth.” Read: Charlotte Observer

On October 17, The Santa Fe News Mexican (NM) ran a letter by Libby Ericson who wrote: “The $93 million allocated by Congress for the United Nations Population Fund serving 140 developing countries has been blocked by this president—funding providing safe motherhood, family planning and reproductive health, while preventing HIV/AIDS, infant deaths and unwanted pregnancies. No UNPFA funds are used for abortions. Reducing unwanted pregnancies is a powerful weapon to fight the perceived need for abortions.”

ZAMBIA: Women’s Group Urge Government to Increase Funding for
Maternal Care

IRIN reported October 22 that Women for Change, a leading women's advocacy group in Zambia, has appealed to health authorities to spend more funds on improving maternal care. The story cited a study by UNFPA that found excessive bleeding accounted for some 34 percent of maternal deaths. Research showed a higher incidence of hemorrhaging among deliveries in the villages (27 out of 48 women), compared to five out of 14 for those at health facilities. Read: IRIN

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