UNFPA IN THE NEWS – FEBRUARY 11-17, 2006

SEVENTH ANNUAL JEDDAH ECONOMIC FORUM

Dar Alhayat reported February 12 that in the opening statement of the Seventh Annual Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), Prince of Mecca Abdel Majeed Bin Abed Al-Alaziz emphasized, "Saudi Arabia is the heart of the Islamic world that faces a number of political and economic challenges, the critical issue between pluralism and identity should be solved." UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid commended King Abdullah Bin Abed Al-Aziz's initiatives and underlined three main challenges Saudi Arabia is currently facing. Read: Dar Alhayat, Okaz, Arab News: Feb. 11, Feb. 12

Khaleej Times reported February 12 that at the opening of the JEF, Ms. Obaid spoke on the topic of “Saudi Arabia in the global village.” She said the kingdom was gearing up to face challenges of the changing global environment. There was a confrontation between global human values and local values and traditions of collective rights, and that human rights could not be forced from the outside. Read: Khaleej Times

Asharq Alawsat reported February 12 that during the second session of the JEF, Obaid stated, "The great challenge the kingdom is facing is managing the demographic transformation and the ascending growth in population, as it will rise to reach 24 million people during 2020.” Read: Asharq Alawsat

Asharq Alawsat featured a February 15 interview with Obaid who spoke about the major challenges facing the Saudi economy today. Obaid also spoke about the progress Saudi women have made: “When I read the newspapers during my visits to Saudi Arabia, I see the many positive changes witnessed by Saudi women. Ten years ago, for instance, we did not have as many working in the media industry, Saudi women have been able to learn, get educated, and formulate their own ideas and opinions, and now they have their own lives. If this indicates anything, it indicates a promising awakening of women. Read: Asharq Alawsat

Asharq Alawsat reported February 15 that at the Women Cultural Forum in Jeddah, Obaid presented a working paper titled "If poverty was a man, I would have killed him." She talked about her experiences during her frequent travels, as she witnessed poverty in each and every country she visited, especially war torn countries. Read: Asharq Alawsat

Ghana News Agency reported February 11 that over the three days, there were be 35 plenary and selective sessions to be addressed by 91 speakers, one of which was UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid. Read: Ghana News Agency

ASIA: Explanations and Effects of Missing Girls

The New York Times magazine ran a February 12 column by Eve Conant that examined various explanations for the large number of girls missing in Asia and Africa. Siri Tellier, UNFPA representative in China, sent a warning about inconclusive findings by saying, "We should not draw shaky conclusions, which could lead to ill-advised action." Also noted in the story was that although India bans sex-selective abortions, they remain common. Ena Singh, assistant representative of UNFPA in India, described the misuse of ultrasound as "an unholy alliance between tradition and technology." Read: The New York Times

ASIA AND AFRICA

Women’s Enews reported February 14 on a 15-minute documentary on the causes and effects of obstetric fistula in Asia and Africa, "Love, Labor, Loss." The film, made by filmmaker Lisa Russell and producer Carrie Svingen, tells the stories of women in Niger who either live with or are recovering from obstetric fistula. Read: Women’s Enews

BANGLADESH: Delegation Visits Fistula Center of Dhaka

United News of Bangladesh reported February 14 that a high-profile delegation of UNFPA and German Foundation for World Population representatives visited the UNFPA-funded Fistula Center of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Since opening in 2003, the center has operated on 500 fistula patients, and 99 percent were fully cured.

GHANA: Faith-Based Organizations’ Nurse and Midwife Training Incorporates Reproductive and Sexual Health Education

Ghana News Agency reported February 13 that the Youth Friendly Service program of the African Youth Alliance (AYA) and Pathfinder International in Ghana announced a major breakthrough with the integration of sexual and reproductive health into the pre-service curricula for nurses and midwives into the health delivery systems of faith-based organizations. The breakthrough was detailed in an evaluation report presented by Dr. Robert Mensah, the national program officer of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and UNFPA. Ghana News Agency

INDIA: Supreme Court Orders Marriage Registration to Curb Child Marriages

Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported February 14 that in an effort to protect girls from child marriage, the Supreme Court of India has ordered that all marriages be registered. Federal and state governments were told to amend rules and procedures to make the directive effective in three months. According to UNFPA's State of the World Population 2005 report, over 50 percent of India's girls are married before they turn 18.

MALAWI: Hunger Crisis Causes Increase of Anemia in Pregnant Mothers

The Chronicle Newspaper reported February 13 that during a ceremony marking the handover of reproductive health kits to health workers in Malawi, UNFPA Representative Esperance Fundira said that the prevalence rate of anemia in pregnant mothers is on the increase because of weakness caused by poor nutrition due to the hunger crisis. Read: The Chronicle Newspaper

MALI: Mali Asks for Help to Right Bird Flu

Angola Press Agency reported February 16 that Livestock and Fisheries Minister Oumar Ibrahim Touré has appealed to development partners to back Mali’s plan to fight bird flu. The story noted that the appeal went to development partners that include the European Union, UNDP, FAO, Germany and UNFPA to raise the balance 540 million francs CFA. Read: Angola Press Agency

MAURITANIA: Mauritanian Ulemas Release a Fatwa Against Female Genital Cutting

Le Calame reported on 11 February that on the occasion of International day of Zero Tolerance to FGC the Association of Imams and Ulemas has released a fatwa denouncing female genital cutting and clarifying its place in jurisprudence. The ceremony was organised by the State Secretariat for Women with the support of UNFPA and UNICEF. The fatwa declares that the Holy Koran does not contain any text that suggests that girls should be excised. The fatwa also clarified that the Hadiths of the Prophet Mohamed, according to the ulemas and other scholars do not contain any proof that excision was recommended for girls.

MAURITANIA: Youth Center Surveyed in Mauritania

Horizon reported 11 February that a national youth centre survey has been conducted by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports with the assistance of UNFPA and Population Council. The survey covered all the 18 youth centres in Mauritania, and sheds light on the characteristics of the young people visiting the centres, the types of activities proposed, and the discussions conducted on adolescence and youth sexual and reproductive health issues. The survey has provided strategic insights and recommendations that will help to improve the quality of the services offered and diversify the type of young public visiting these centres.

NAMIBIA: Agreement Reached to Fight HIV/AIDS and Poverty

The Namibian reported February 16 that the U.N. and the Namibian government signed an agreement under which the world body will pump more than N$1 billion into Namibia's fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty. U.N. Resident Coordinator Simon Nhongo said the signing gave the U.N. agencies and affected ministries the go-ahead to implement activities covered by the annual work plans. He said although the County Program Action Plans covered UNICEF, UNFPA and UNDP’s activities, it represented the joint participation of the entire U.N. Country Team. Read: The Namibian

PAKISTAN: UNFPA Report Reveals Children and Women Abused in Quake Region

Hindustan Times reported February 13 that a UNFPA report found that children and women in quake-hit areas of Pakistan are being subjected to sexual and physical abuse along with falling into the trap of human trafficking. There was also evidence that there was an increased risk of domestic violence in these areas because of lack of employment and growing poverty, the report added. The Daily Times quoted the UNFPA report as saying: "As time goes on, some risks evolve while others might disappear. Long-term displacement and poverty make people vulnerable to substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, crime and human trafficking." It added, "Women's entitlement to property is of particular concern in earthquake-affected areas given the discriminatory inheritance practices." Read: Daily Times

PAKISTAN: Rural Health Centers Established

SANA reported February 15 that in an effort to re-establish the health infrastructures destroyed in the earthquake in Pakistan, UNFPA will inaugurate the first of 22 pre-fabricated health facilities. UNFPA’s pre-fabricated rural health center is the only one in the area providing comprehensive primary healthcare for a population of around 20-25,000 people, where reproductive health and maternal and child health care services are also available. Read: SANA

PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN: New Contract Signed to Improve Reproductive Health

Manila Standard reported February 15 that Japan and the Philippines have signed a new grant contract for the construction and procurement of health centers and medical equipment in Taysan, Batangas. Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki and Taysan Mayor Anacorita Portugal signed the P3.9 million ($70,864) grant deal, which is expected to benefit some 31,000 town residents who have been lacking proper reproductive health care. The story noted that Japan, through UNFPA, also supported a similar project in Batangas from 1993 to 1999. Read: Manila Standard

SIERRA LEONE: HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program Launched

Concord Times reported February 14 that the Minister of Health & Sanitation, Abator Thomas, officially launched the Mano River Union HIV/AIDS prevention and control program, a UNFPA-funded component of the Sub Regional African Development Bank. Read: Concord Times

TAJIKSTAN: 2006 International Donor Appeal

IRIN reported February 16 that the U.N. launched an appeal for Tajikistan for 2006, requesting more than $51 million from international donors. "One of the priorities between 2005 and 2009 is improving public services, including the reduction of infectious diseases, and the health and nutrition of women and children. The projects on these issues will be mutually implemented by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and others," said Santino Severoni, head of the WHO mission in the country. Read: IRIN

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