UNFPA IN THE NEWS — AUGUST 5-11, 2006

INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE IN TORONTO

Ahead of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Xinhua General News Service reported August 11 that UNFPA said it is time to deliver universal access to prevention, treatment and support for women and girls living with or threatened by HIV/AIDS. "After 25 years of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we now see some progress, but more must be done," said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA executive director. She noted that HIV infection hit the women and girls the hardest. Worldwide, seventy-six percent of all HIV-positive women live in sub-Saharan Africa, while young women comprise 74 percent of 15-24 percent of all HIV-AIDS are women. The story also noted that UNFPA and partnera are bringing in 250 young people from all over the world for a special youth pre-conference, featuring panels, satellite sessions and the opportunities for exchanging views with among youth with first-hand experience of the pandemic's impact. Read: Xinhua General News Service

Reuters reported August 9 that U.N. envoy Stephen Lewis said Canada, host to what organizers bill as the largest global gathering on HIV/AIDS, has not taken seriously its avowed effort to help defeat the pandemic. The story noted according to 2005 estimate by UNFPA, 38.6 million people were living with HIV/AIDS and the death toll stood at 3.1 million. Read: Reuters

CELEBRATING WORLD’S INDIGINOUS PEOPLES

UN News Centre reported August 8 that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said the annual commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People should serve as an opportunity to reflect on the critical challenges confronting these populations. The story noted that Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA, said her agency was concerned about the “thousands of indigenous women who are victims of gender-based violence in need of legal protection and health services, the high maternal mortality rates of indigenous women, and the lack of information on sexual and reproductive health and development opportunities for indigenous adolescents and youth.” Read: UN News Centre

The Himalayan Times in Nepal reported August 9 that on the occasion of the World Indigenous People’s Day, UNFPA welcomed the adoption of the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People by the Human Rights Council. The article also pointed out that the Declaration will serve as a roadmap for agencies such as UNFPA to follow in their programmes at country level, as well as at the community level where indigenous peoples live.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

The Daily Star ran an August 11 op ed by A.H.M. Kishowar Hossain, assistant professor in the department of population sciences at the University of Dhaka, in commemoration of International Youth Day. Hossain stressed, “Youths are now facing serious health challenges.” The op ed cited a 2004 UNFPA report that revealed that in developing countries, one woman in three gives birth before the age of 20; in West Africa, 55 percent of women do so. The report also found that pregnancy-related problems constitute a leading cause of death for young women aged 15 to 19 years, with complications from childbirth and unsafe abortion representing the major contributing factors. Read: Read: The Daily Star

BUSINESSES TO PROFIT FROM DEMANDS FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER

The New York Times reported August 10 that a group of big businesses is moving to profit from the water market that experts predict in the United States to be worth at least $150 billion by 2010. Many experts estimate that water-related equipment and services already make up a $400 billion global market. The story noted UNFPA projects that in 2025, if present rates of water consumption are maintained, 5 billion of the world’s 7.9 billion people will live in areas where safe water is scarce. Read: The New York Times

BANGLADESH: Experts Call for Promotion of Condoms on Television

The New Nation reported August 6 that experts at a roundtable discussion organized by UNFPA called for the promotion of condoms on television to prevent unintended pregnancies and the spread of HIV. The roundtable was chaired by Pomchai Suchitta, acting UNFPA representative, and was moderated by Major General (Retired) ASM Matiur Rahman, chief HIV adviser and chairman of the Technical Committee of National AIDS Committee. Read: The New Nation

INDONESIA: Op Ed on Human Trafficking and Smuggling

In an August 8 op ed that ran in The Jakarta Post, Jonny Sinaga, a graduate of the University of Indonesia's School of Law in Jakarta and Tulane Law School in New Orleans, described human trafficking and smuggling as the “most pressing problems” related to migration. Sinaga cited UNFPA’s 2005 State of World Population report that revealed the number of international migrants in 2005 was estimated at about 175 million, almost 10 times the population of Australia. Read: The Jakarta Post

KAZAKHSTAN: Skilled Workers Needed

Business and Power, a weekly newspaper, reported August 11 that  Kazakhstan's amnesty for undocumented migrants has come into effect since the beginning of the month.  The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection cited lack of people with certain skills as a reason for the amnesty and for the increased  quota of labor migrants.  "We should produce experts who can participate in realization of projects of development of the Caspian shelf",  said Minister Karagusova and added, "shortage of specialists leads to the necessity to bring foreign labor".  To discuss labor migration, a seminar was devoted to the issue,  organized within the framework of a UNFPA-supported project to analyze the migration situation in Kazakhstan.  Read in Russian:  Business and Power

LEBANON: United Nations Rushing Aid to Syria

UN News Centre reported August 9 that U.N. agencies rushed aid to Syria as part of the overall effort to assist Lebanon’s civilians caught in the crossfire of the Middle East conflict. The story noted that UNFPA provided emergency obstetric kits for pregnant women and newborns as well as safe blood transfusion kits, drugs and supplies for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. UNFPA also provided the Syrian Family Planning Association with a mobile clinic, a gynecologist, and an ultra sound machine, as well as other mobile health services, essential drugs, contraceptives and fuel for the mobile clinic and vehicles. Read: UN News Centre, United Press International, IRNA

LEBANON: Sea Routes Sought to Deliver Humanitarian Aid

UN News Centre reported August 8 that with Israeli bombing having destroyed all roads and bridges to the southern city of Tyre, the U.N. looked at the possibility of using sea routes to bring in humanitarian supplies. The story noted that UNFPA has been assisting the Lebanese Red Cross in helping around 7,000 displaced in the Bekaa area of the country. Read: UN News Centre: Aug. 5, Aug. 6, Aug. 8

NEPAL: UNFPA to Provide Reproductive Health Care in Conflict Area

The UN News Centre reported August 9 that UNFPA, with support from the European Commission, will soon provide civilians of Nepal’s decade-long conflict lifesaving reproductive health care and treatment. “This project is essential to provide preventive and corrective measures for reproductive health concerns, which cause much death and suffering and severely limit livelihoods,” said Junko Sazaki, UNFPA’s representative to Nepal. Mobile medical teams will set up temporary facilities offering family planning, emergency obstetric care, and diagnosis, counseling and treatment of potentially life-threatening concerns such as sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence, according to UNFPA. The story was widely reported, including in The Himalayan Times, Rising Nepal and Nepal Television. Read: UN News Centre

NIGERIA: HIV/AIDS Development Project Increases to N28 Million

The Daily Triumph reported August 11 that at the opening of a workshop for teachers of family life and HIV/AIDS project in Katsina, State Commissioner for Education Dr. Isma'ila Abubakar Tsiga said the government expanded its HIV/AIDS development project to about N 28million for 600 HIV/AIDS patients currently receiving treatment. Dr. Tsiga credited UNFPA for introducing the program aimed at promoting positive behavior in youth. Read: Daily Triumph

NIGERIA: “Vital Registration” Workshop Held

The Tide reported August 7 that during a sensitization workshop titled “Vital Registration,” National Population Chairman Samu’ila Makama advocated for a law making the presentation of birth certificates mandatory for recruitment into government service and registration in schools. The story noted that Makama also commended UNFPA and UNICEF for their continued technical and financial support in keeping the program on course. Read: The Tide

PAKISTAN: Seminar on Preventing and Treating Obstetric Fistula

The Pakistan Newswire reported August 7 that during a seminar titled "Prevention and Treatment of Fistulae in Pakistan" held by UNFPA, Provincial Secretary Health Dr. Shafi Muhammad Zehri said, "Fistula is a preventable and treatable condition, yet 4,000 to 5,000 cases occur each year in Pakistan." In appreciation of UNFPA’s efforts, he pledged the government's full support and cooperation to the anti-fistula campaign. At the seminar, Deputy Representative of UNFPA in Pakistan Dr. Hulki Uz said the campaign aims to surgically repair and rehabilitate hundreds of women suffering from fistula by establishing regional fistula surgery centers in Karachi, Islamabad, Multan, Quetta, Larkana, Lahore and Peshawar and training local doctors in surgery and post operative care.

PAKISTAN: Pakistan to Launch Demographic and Health Survey

Business Recorder reported August 9 that the National Institute of Population Studies will launch 'Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey' 2006-07. The survey will provide the policymakers information to improve planning of population and health interventions. Data will be collected on fertility levels and preferences, family planning use, childhood mortality levels, and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS and other indicators relevant to the Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. The project is funded by USAID. UNFPA and UNICEF are providing logistical support to monitor the survey.

UNITED STATES: U.S. Contributes and Procures Most from United Nations

In addition to being the biggest single financial contributor to the U.N. by paying 22 percent of the regular annual budget, the United States also procures the largest amount of U.N. contracts by averaging over 22.5 percent of all U.N. purchases annually. Inter Press Service’s August 9 story quoted one senior U.N. official who deals with procurement as saying, "On a cost-benefit ratio, the United States gets as much – or even more – than what it gives to the United Nations.” The story mentioned that besides the U.N. Secretariat, New York City also hosts several U.N. agencies, including the UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA. Read: Inter Press Service

UZBEKISTAN: Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan Holds Training

UzReport.com reported August 7 that with assistance from UNFPA, the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan held a training on legal and social issues and provided assistance to women in crisis situations. N. Tureeva, deputy chairwoman of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan, said the five-day seminar is the first step in the creation of a social and legal support center for women in Namangan region.

YEMEN: Shipment of Equipped Vehicles and Contraceptives Arrives

Yemen Times reported August 10 that Dr. Arwa Al-Rabea, Deputy Minister of Health and Population, UNFPA’s Hans Obdeijn and Roelof C. Buffinga, deputy head of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Sana’a received a shipment consisting of seven equipped vehicles and two containers with 83 pallets of contraceptives. The shipment, donated by the Netherlands and procured by UNFPA, is expected to cover the nation’s contraceptive needs for 2006 and 2007. Obdeijn said UNFPA seeks to ensure that the contraceptives are accessible in every Yemeni district. Read: Yemen Times

YEMEN: Working on the “One U.N.” Notion

Yemen Times’ August 7 story featured an interview with Flavia Pansieri, UNDP resident representative in Yemen, who spoke about ongoing efforts to implement activities based on the “One U.N.” notion. Pansieri said: “We very much are working toward that goal…most specifically, in the area of monitoring Yemen’s development progress via a common system of collection, analysis and publication of indicators because we do think there’s a lot of duplication that can be eliminated by working together in these areas. UNFPA is leading this effort, with support from the other agencies, in using DEVINFO methodology first spearheaded by UNICEF. So, as you see, it’s truly a collective effort.” Read: Yemen Times

WEST AFRICA: Youth Forum Held

The Daily Observer reported August 8 that youth representatives from the Ecowas member states took part in a five-day sub-regional youth forum themed “Youth and the Fight Against Poverty.” On behalf of Sheikh Omar Faye, Secretary of State for Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs, Baboucarr Jatta, Secretary of State for Interior, opened the forum by saying care for the young people, especially the marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged, is a moral duty of the government, communities, and individuals. He also quoted UNFPA Executive Director, Thoraya Obaid as saying, "Today millions of young people are threatened by poverty, illiteracy, risk of pregnancy and childbirth, and HIV/AIDS. More than 500 million people aged 15 to 24 live on less than $2 per day; while 96 million young people in the developing countries do not know how to read, or write; and 14 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 become mothers every year. Every day, 6,000 young people are infected with HIV.” Read: The Daily Observer

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