UNFPA IN THE NEWS – JANUARY 14-27, 2006

PUSH TO NAME A WOMAN TO LEAD THE UNITED NATIONS CONTINUES

Radio Free Europe reported January 26 on Equality Now's continued push to have a woman selected to serve as the next secretary-general of the United Nations. Equality Now has identified experienced candidates that include U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour,  UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyiof Burma . Read: Radio Free Europe

BASIC STATISTICS ON GENDER EQUALITY NOT FULLY REPORTED

Associated Press reported January 18 that dozens of countries around the world are failing to fully report basic statistics on wages, births and deaths, making it impossible to examine differences between the sexes and achieve equality for women. AP noted that the failure among many countries to produce adequate gender statistics is closely tied to the very discrimination accurate data could help combat, said Francois Farah of UNFPA. "Women are not visible in most vital statistics because they are simply often not made visible in their own societies and communities," he said. Read: Associated Press, Inter Press Service

AFGHANISTAN: Family Response Unit Opens

Xinhua General News Service reported January 22 that Afghanistan 's first Family Response Unit opened for all Afghan people to call for help and advice on family related crimes. Xinhua noted that UNFPA has provided a fully furnished container office with a reception, bathroom and two interview rooms. Read: Xinhua General News Service, UN News Centre

AFGHANISTAN: First Family Response Unit Inaugurated

IRIN reported January 17 that the Afghan National Police is set to inaugurate the first ever Family Response Unit in the post-conflict nation. UNFPA is supporting the endeavor. “Violence within the family is a matter of power and lack of accountability," said Paul Greening, program and staff development officer for UNFPA. “Women know that being beaten is wrong but they need somewhere to go for support and for the law to be enforced." Read: IRIN

ANGOLA: U.N. Session on Conflict and Related Issues

Angola Press Agency reported January 25 that UNDP and UNFPA held a discussion at U.N. headquarters in New York on HIV/AIDS, recovery and development, prevention of sexual violence against women, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in post conflict Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read: Angola Press Agency

BANGLADESH: Female Journalists Awarded
Daily Star reported January 25 that 11 female journalists were recognized for their contribution to journalism in Bangladesh . Each of them received a certificate, crest and prize bond worth Tk 10,000. The story noted that Suneeta Mukherjee, country representative of UNFPA in Bangladesh , spoke at the awards ceremony. Read: Daily Star

BANGLADESH: Population Council to Meet with Partner Organizations

The New Nation reported January 19 that the President of the Population Council Dr. Peter J. Donaldson and Vice President Dr. Anrudh Jain toured Dhaka on a two-day visit to Bangladesh . During their brief stay, Dr. Donaldson met with partner organizations in Bangladesh , including the Ministry of Health and Family Planning, Department of Youth Development, USAID, UNFPA, CIDA, research organizations and NGOs. Read: The New Nation

GAMBIA: Training Concludes on Adolescent Reproductive Health

Daily Observer reported January 16 that the National Youth Council concluded a two-week intensive training of peer health educators under its Adolescent Youth Reproductive Health Project, sponsored by the UNFPA. Read: Daily Observer

GAMBIA: Safe Motherhood Campaign Launched

Ghana News Agency reported January 16 on the Safe Motherhood Week festivities in Bolgatanga. Dr. Abdul-Razak Dokurugu, senior medical officer in charge of reproductive health in the region, said making motherhood safer was not only a matter of human rights but also fundamental to improving human welfare, reducing poverty and promoting economic development. He cited antenatal care, family planning, good nutrition, safe delivery and awareness information as some essential ingredients for making motherhood safer. Dr Dokurugu said with the support of UNFPA, UNICEF and other development partners, maternal and child health in the Upper East had seen significant improvement over the years. Read: Ghana News Agency

INDIA: Middle-Class Contributing to Gender Imbalance

Sydney Morning Herald ran a January 21 story on India 's middle-class use of pre-natal sex testing that is contributing to the country's gender imbalance. Dr. Ena Singh, assitant representative for UNFPA in India, said: "Technology is colliding with a traditional preference for sons. Ultrasound scans aren't all that expensive and are widespread in well-educated, high-income areas. This is a new, middle-class trend." The story also cited Francois Farah of UNFPA who said a devastating "unholy alliance" has formed between a modern desire for smaller families, the widespread availability of affordable pre-natal sex tests and abortions and entrenched social traditions of son preference and discrimination.

INDONESIA: Conflict Reconciler Honored

Antara reported January 19 that UNDP representing a number of UN bodies like WHO, UNICEF, FAO, UNFPA and a number of non-governmental organizations gave an award to North Maluku Governor Thaib Armaiyn over his success to reconcile local people in the conflict ever-torn region. Read: Antara

MALAWI: ADB Grant for Reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates

The Nation reported January 26 that the African Development Bank has given Malawi a $21.44 million grant to finance programs aimed at reducing the number of mothers and babies who die due to pregnancy complications. The story noted that Malawi 's maternal mortality rate has risen from 620 per 100,000 women/live-births in 1992 to 1,820 per 100,000 women giving birth in 2005, according to UNFPA statistics. Last year, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid urged governments—especially those in the developing world like Malawi—to ensure that every pregnant woman has access to reproductive health services. Read: The Nation

NICARAGUA: Fund Created to Support Gender Equality and Sexual and Reproductive Rights

La Prensa reported on January 19 that Nicaraguan civil society, with the help of donor countries, created a fund to support education and advocacy activities on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights. La Prensa reported UNFPA was one of the main facilitators in creating the fund. Read: La Prensa

NIGER: Efforts to Cure Fistula

The Capital reported January 23 on the International Organization for Women and Development's efforts to cure many African girls and women of vesico-vaginal fistula, a serious complication of childbirth that leaves the mother physically debilitated and also ostracized by her family and community. IOWD has shipped out a number of doctors to various African countries, such as Niger , on short-term relief trips to treat women with fistulas. The story noted that UNFPA estimates that more than two million women and girls around the globe, most in Africa and Southeast Asia , suffer from fistulas. Surgery to repair a fistula is not only simple but relatively inexpensive – only about $300. But millions of poor women in Africa cannot afford it.

NIGERIA: Census Regulations Presented

Daily Trust reported January 24 that at the public presentation of the National Population and Housing Census regulations, both UNFPA and UNDP representatives gave goodwill messages. The UNFPA representative said that the introduction of the regulations will greatly benefit the forthcoming exercise and was happy about the systematic way the census has been conducted.

NIGERIA: Bauchi Government to Enhance Reproductive Health Services

This Day reported January 23 that the Bauchi State local government council adopted a measure to enhance the region's reproductive health status by providing free ante-natal, free delivery and surgery services as well as free drugs. During the visit to the local government area by UNFPA, the Council Secretary Alhaji Ado Aska noted that the council adopted the measure in collaboration with UNFPA to ensure that maternal and child mentality rates are reduced to the barest minimum. Read: This Day

The Daily Independent reported January 27 that UNFPA's medical equipment and capacity building contributions to Bauchi State has reduced the area's maternal mortality rate. Deputy Chairman of the governing council, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Nuhu Zaki, commended UNFPA's efforts and assured that his council was ready to partner with the U.N. agency to ensure free access to reproductive health care in the area. Read: Daily Independent

PAKISTAN: Clinics Beginning to Be Rebuilt

Agence France-Presse reported January 19 that Pakistan has started to rebuild clinics destroyed by the 2005 October earthquake as harsh winter weather fuels fears of disease outbreaks. AFP noted that groups including UNICEF and UNFPA were helping the government with the work. Read: Agence France-Presse

PAKISTAN: Offices Closed for Second Consecutive Day after Threats

Balochistan Times reported January 18 that anonymous calls threatening UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, WHO, WFO, and other foreign international organizations caused them to close for the second consecutive day. Balochistan Times

PHILIPPINES: Activities to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Manila Bulletin reported January 17 that in order to disseminate information on their teen pregnancy prevention campaign, the Advocates for Youth Philippines Foundation created programs and activities that included an essay writing contest in partnership with UNFPA and Meg Magazine. Read: Manila Bulletin

ROMANIA: Supplies to Be Delivered

Jurnalul National reported January 23 that UNFPA will provide Romania 's Ministry of Health with two-thirds of the national need of contraceptives and syphilis tests. These supplies are a part of the five-year agreement signed last year by the Romanian government and UNFPA. The agreement stipulates an increase in access to quality reproductive health services and prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS infections. Read: Jurnalul National

SOUTH ASIA: Parliamentary Seminar of HIV/AIDS

The Daily Star reported January 27 that while delivering the keynote speech at the Second Sub-regional Parliamentary Seminar on HIV/AIDS in South Asia in Dhaka, Dr. Nafis Sadik, U.N. special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and former UNFPA executive director, said, Bangladesh can be a role model for other Muslim nations in involving religious leaders for creating awareness on taboos like HIV and AIDS. During her speech, Sadik encouraged preventative measures in the fight against HIV/AIDS by saying: “You know what you must do to raise the curtain of silence and denial. You must advocate for universal condom provision through health services and commercial outlets." Read: Daily Star

United News of Bangladesh reported January 27 that at the seminar, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia urged all to come up with collective and coordinated efforts at local, national, regional and international levels to fight HIV/AIDS. It was also noted that the two-day seminar was sponsored by CIDA, Norway , UNAIDS, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNDP, UNIFEM, UNFPA and WHO. Read: United News of Bangladesh

TURKEY: Report on Honor Killing Launched

BBC World Service's Assignment ran a January 22 segment on UNFPA and UNDP's launch of the “The Dynamics of Honor Killings in Turkey : Prospects for Action.” The segment featured UNFPA Representative in Turkey Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen.

UGANDA: Training Held to Repair Vesico-Vaginal Fistula

The Monitor reported January 18 that two Ugandan doctors and two nurses are undergoing training in vesico-vaginal fistula repair at Kitovu Missionary Hospital in Masaka District. The month-long project is funded by Engender Health and the training equipment is supplied by UNFPA. Read: The Monitor

UNITED STATES: Two U.S. Doctors Travel to Asia and Africa to Repair Vesico-Vaginal Fistulas

The Baltimore Sun reported January 20 on two traveling doctors, Dr. Marcella L. Roenneburg of Mercy Medical Center and Dr. Clifford R. Wheeless Jr. of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who work to repair vesico-vaginal fistulas in girls in Asia and Africa . The Sun noted all women are at risk for the problem, but young or malnourished women with small, underdeveloped pelvises are especially susceptible. Girls typically marry between the ages of 10 and15 in rural areas of many developing countries, according to the United Nations Population Fund. L ike many medical problems, this one is easier and cheaper to prevent than to fix, said Kate Ramsey a technical specialist at the UNFPA's Campaign to End Fistula . While a cesarean costs about $60 in developing countries, repairing a fistula costs about $300.  Read: Baltimore Sun

VIETNAM: Study Finds Youth Optimistic about Future

Vietnam News Service reported January 17 on a study that found almost all Vietnamese young people have an optimistic look about the future. The outcome of the Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth was shared by representatives from UNFPA, the Swedish International Development Agency, and the World Bank at talks on youth-related issues held by the U.N. agencies in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.

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