UNFPA IN THE NEWS – JANUARY 7-13, 2006

U.N. Survives U.S. Funding Neglect

Inter Press Service reported January 9 that the United States, a major funder of the United Nations and its myriad agencies, has a longstanding notoriety for exercising its financial clout to threaten U.N. bodies refusing to play ball with Washington. The story noted that last month, the administration of President George W. Bush threatened to hold up the U.N. budget for 2006-2007 until and unless member states agreed to U.S.-inspired management reforms, including the appointment of a chief operating officer mandated to run the world body along the lines of a U.S. corporation. Meanwhile, the Bush administration has withheld a total of about $127 million dollars – a sum duly appropriated by the U.S. Congress -- from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. "The United States failed to derail two U.N. agencies despite cutting off funds," an Asian diplomat told IPS. "Both UNESCO and UNFPA have survived the U.S. onslaught." UNFPA executive director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid told reporters last week that more countries contributed to UNFPA in 2005 than in any year since its establishment in 1969: 171 donors compared to the 2004 record of 166. Read: Inter Press Service , United Press International , Women's Enews

AFGHANISTAN: Photo Exhibit by Women

Associated Press reported January 11 that a photo exhibition on display in Kabul this week is showing something rarely seen in public here: Afghan women smiling. Taken during a photography course aimed at giving women skills to find jobs, the pictures reinforce hopes that the lives of women are slowly improving. But they also highlight the problems they still face four years after the ouster of the Taliban regime. "There have been some successes, but still not enough is being done for women," said Paul Greening, a UNFPA development officer, which sponsored the training course. "Women are still very much second- and third-class citizens in some remote areas. There is a great disrespect for their position in society," he said.

ETHIOPIA: Preparation for Census Underway

The Ethiopian Herald reported January 8 that Ethiopia 's Central Statistical Agency says preparation is under way for the national population and housing census next year  with initial support for the census being provided by UNFPA for preliminary activities. Read: The Ethiopian Herald

GHANA: Women Advised to Focus on Legal Protection

Public Agenda reported January 9 that a leading women's rights activist in Ghana , Nana Oye Lithur, has called on Ghanaian women to focus attention on legal issues that affect the interest of women in 2006. Lithur said "looking at the legal framework, we still do not have a comprehensive framework that protects the rights of women." Early marriage of girls denies them a number of rights guaranteed by the convention on the rights of the child. These include the right to education, the right to be protected from all forms of physical and mental violence, injury or abuse including sexual abuse and all forms of sexual exploitation, the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of health and the right not to be separated from their parents against their will." According to UNFPA, in 15 Sub Saharan countries, husbands of girls aged 15 to 19 years are on average 10 years older. Read: Public Agenda

INDIA: Study on 20 Years of Selective Abortions

Agence France Presse reported January 9 that around 10 million female fetuses may have been aborted in India over the past two decades because of ultrasound sex screening and a traditional preference for boys, according to a study published online in The Lancet. The study published by the London-based medical journal comes on the heels of a report last October by UNFPA, which warned that infanticide or abortion was driving India towards a gender imbalance with alarming social consequences. Afghanistan , China , Nepal , Pakistan and South Korea face similar problems, UNFPA said. Read: Agence France-Presse: Jan. 9 , Jan. 12 , Toronto Globe and Mail

JAPAN AND PAKISTAN: Additional Aid for Earthquake Relief Efforts

Pakistan Press International reported January 9 that Japan announced additional assistance of $65 million to Pakistan for humanitarian work and the construction of hospitals and schools in earthquake-hit areas. Additional assistance will be given for humanitarian work being carried out by various international organizations including UNDP, WFP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO, UN-Habitat, ICRC and IFRC. Read: Pakistan Press International

LIBERIA: HIV/AIDS Prevention Project Launched

The NEWS reported January 12 that the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Peter Coleman has launched a three-year HIV/AIDS prevention and control project in the Provision City of Ganta, Nimba County . The project is sponsored by the African Development Bank and is a joint effort between the Health Ministry, UNFPA, the Mano River Union Secretariat and UNAIDS. Read: The NEWS

LIBERIA: Revised Population Policy Disseminated

The NEWS reported January 10 that a one-day seminar, organized by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs in collaboration with UNFPA, was held to formally launch the revised national population policy. Read: The NEWS

JAPAN AND OPT: Japan Extends Assistance

WAFA (Palestine News Agency) reported January 11 that the Japanese government and the United Nations decided to extend assistance totaling $5,276,745.90 for "Isolated and Disenfranchised Communities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)" project. A press release issued by the Japanese government said that the assistance will go through the Trust Fund for Human Security to the project that will be implemented by various U.N. agencies including UNFPA. Read: WAFA

UNITED STATES: 34 Million Friends of UNFPA

The Press Democrat ran a January 8 column by Susan Swartz on Jane Roberts' continuing support for UNFPA with her 34 Million Friends of UNFPA campaign. Swartz noted while warming up before a recent speech in Santa Rosa to the U.N. Association of Sonoma County and World Affairs Council, Roberts said, “The U.S. is the only country ever to deny funding to UNFPA for political rather than financial reasons. The result is we're playing political games with women's lives.” Read: Press Democrat

PAKISTAN: Worst Winter for Women in Quake-Hit Kashmir

Women's Feature Service reported January 13 that t his is the worst winter for women in the quake-hit areas of Kashmir . Many are shelter-less, poor and without access to healthcare. In fact, the fragile and inadequate health system of the state has been thoroughly exposed in the recent months. Aid workers say many women in the quake areas are pregnant and urgently need high protein food and medicines. Recently, the UNFPA appealed for $3.2 million to meet the needs of pregnant women in the quake zone. Media reports quoted UNFPA saying, “the physical and psychological shock may increase the number of women needing emergency medical care to prevent maternal or infant death.” Read: Women's Feature Service

YEMEN: Improvement Noted in Women's Development

Yemen Observer reported January 7 that according to an analysis of gender and development in Yemen by Oxfam , Yemen has made significant progress in human development since the revolution of the 1960s. The story noted that UNFPA provides women with reproductive health care training programs, information and services to exercise more control over their own reproductive health—a key component of the empowerment process.  Read: Yemen Observer

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