UNFPA IN THE NEWS — OCTOBER 21-NOVEMBER 3, 2006

UNITED NATION ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY ON RELIGION

The International Herald Tribune ran an October 24 op ed by Azza Karam of the U.N. Development Program and Matthew Weiner of the Interfaith Center of New York who wrote: “In the absence of a comprehensive U.N. strategy on religion, individual agencies engage with faith-based organizations on an ad-hoc basis. The U.N. Development Program, UNICEF and UNESCO have this experience. The U.N. Population Fund employs ‘culturally sensitive approaches,’ wisely targeting religious and tribal leaders as critical ‘agents of change.’” The op ed concluded: “This is not an easy task, but it is an important part of reforming the United Nations and enhancing multilateral cooperation, coexistence and sustainability. In a world where religions are as powerful as ever for good and ill it is a risk worth taking.”

ASIA:  Using Treaty to Assist Women Migrants

Inter Press Service reported 3 November that senior government officials from eight Southeast Asian countries will meet in Bangkok  6 November for a two-day meeting to discuss the use of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to better protect women migrant workers in the region. Today women migrant workers make up at least 50 percent of all migrants in Asia and outstrip the numbers of male migrant workers in some countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. According to UNFPA's State of World Population report,  women constitute almost half of all international migrants worldwide -- 95 million or 49.6 percent. Read: IPS

ASIA AND PACIFIC: Low HIV/AIDS Prevalence Countries Urged to Resist Complacency in Prevention Efforts

UN News Centre reported October 30 that delegates at an HIV conference in Mongolia said that relatively low rates of the disease in the Asia-Pacific region should not lead to complacency. The government of Mongolia organized the four-day meeting, “The First Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support in Low Prevalence Countries,” in partnership with the U.N. Country Team in Mongolia – UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and UNAIDS. Read: UN News Centre

CENTRAL ASIA: Maternal and Child Health Forum in Tashkent

UZ Report ran a story November 3 on the 10th Central Asian Republics Maternal and Child Health Forum in Tashkent.  Health Ministries of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan,   WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNODK, World bank, ADB and international experts in the field of maternity and child health participated in the forum. The purpose of the two-day annual forum is to find ways to improve the maternal and child health in Central Asian countries.

AZERBAIJAN: Training on “Gender and Morals”

Demaz.org reported November 1 that a recent training for young researchers titled “Gender and Morals” was held at West University and organized by the Center of Gender Researches and the UNFPA. Read: Demaz.org

BELARUS: Young People are Leaving

Zvezda  reported November 3 that international migration is currently a top priority in Belarus. Too many young people are leaving the country seeking a better life abroad, said the article, which also made reference to the 2006 State of World Population report and its comanion Moving Young. Read: Zvezda 

BRAZIL: Youngsters disseminate news about AIDS

The state owned media complex Radiobras broadcast a series of interviews from October 16 to 22 on the importance of youth participation in HIV/AIDS prevention efforts for youth. The interviews were produced in conjunction with the release of a report on a joint project with UNFPA and UNAIDS in 2003 that trained young radio broadcasters to raise awareness about HIV prevention issues among youth.

BRAZIL: Brazilian Foreign Policy Challenges

TV Camara reported October 24 on the importance of South-South cooperation for the Brazilian foreign policy. Elizeu Chaves, UNFPA Brazil program officer, who was invited to participate in the news show Expressao Nacional, pointed out that “the cooperation between developing countries will continue.” According to him, Brazil acquired technical expertise in several areas, including HIV/AIDS prevention, gender issues, and civil society articulation, and it is only natural that the country shares its experiences with other developing countries. Watch: TV Camara 

CAMEROON: University of Yaounde Installs Condom Distributor

Cameroon Tribune reported November 3 that the Scout Association of the University of Yaounde 1 installed an automatic condom distributor in the campus. The machine, which is a free gift from UNFPA, is part of the association's program for the fight against HIV/AIDS in the university campus. Read: Cameroon Tribune

ETHIOPIA: Ministry of Health and UNFPA Sign Agreement for Contraceptives

The Reporter reported October 21 that Ministry of Health and UNFPA have signed an agreement for contraceptive procurement services. UNFPA will provide procurement services to the MoH for contraceptive commodities worth $11.5 million to be financed by the World Bank and other donors. Read: The Reporter

GERMANY: Obaid Visits Germany

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung ran an interview October 21 with Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, on official visit to Germany. Asked about AIDS, she said:  "AIDS is a disease that is most often sexually transmitted. For us, it is therefore important that advice about HIV and AIDS is given to women before, during and after pregnancy. To connect reproductive health and HIV prevention brings many advantages: it saves time and money. And it helps women if they don’t have to go to the AIDS clinic, but have access to a general health center. People infected with AIDS are still stigmatized."

General Anzeiger Bonn, in its interview with Ms. Obaid on October 21, brings up population growth, writing that she does not like the term “population explosion”, a “term of the past with negative connotations”, as she explains. Developing countries had regarded it specifically as a Western strategy, and family planning was equated with population control. This changed after the Conference on World Population in 1994, said Ms. Obaid: “Since then, it is about the right of the woman to decide how many children she wants, when she wants to have them, and in what time frame.”

GUYANA: U.N. Support for Social and Economic Advancement

GINA reported October 25 that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said Guyana’s social and economic advancement over the past four decades was largely due to various levels of support granted by UNDP. The Prime Minster noted that the Parent Program – through several agencies such as UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, FAO and PAHO/WHO – has assisted in many ways which include serving the cause of peace and development. Read: GINA

INDIA: UNIFEM Report Highlights Corporate Responsiveness to HIV/AIDS

Indo-Asian News Service reported November 3 that a report on the “Activities of United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)” cited a number of projects in India including a partnership between UNIFEM and the Indian Railways that incorporate gender-responsive policies and practices related to HIV/AIDS. The report labels its collaboration as a project that is a 'recognized model of public sector intervention' and adds that UNIFEM, along with UNFPA and representatives of Chinese Railways have visited the program to look into possible replication. Read: Indo-Asian News Service

INDIA: Domestic Violence Act Comes into Play

Associated Press reported October 26 that men who beat, threaten or yell at their wives or live-in girlfriends could be jailed and fined under the Domestic Violence Act that took effect and specifically targets the often-tolerated problem of domestic violence in India. The law also applies to men or their families who harass wives for larger dowries, the government said. The story mentions a UNFPA report that said up to 70 percent of married women aged 15-49 in India are victims of beating or coerced sex. Read: Associated Press, Reuters, The Independent

KENYA: MP Njoki Ndung'u Named “U.N. in Kenya Person of the Year”

East African Standard reported October 22 that MP Njoki Ndung'u has been named the 2006 "U.N. in Kenya Person of the Year." The United Nations Information Centre said Ndung'u, a women's rights campaigner and activist, was recognized for spearheading and pushing for the adoption of the 2006 Sexual Offences Bill by Parliament. “Ndungu's selection for her work on pushing through the Sexual Offences Act, which she launched as a Private Member's Bill, is further recognition of the importance the U.N. pays to eliminating gender-based violence in Kenya," UNFPA Representative in Kenya Kemal Mustafa said. Mustafa said that unless efforts to combat gender-based violence are given the support they need, attempts to reduce HIV prevalence and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Kenya would be seriously threatened." Read: East African Standard, Xinhua General News Service

KYRGYZSTAN: U.N. Day Observed

The Times of Central Asia reported October 27 that on U.N. Day, the country observed that the U.N. has been working in Kyrgyzstan for the past 13 years, growing to become a strong partner with the Kyrgyz government. The story noted that six organizations that currently have offices in Kyrgyzstan are UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP and WHO.

LATIN AMERICA: Ibero-American Summit

Inter Press Service reported November 1 that ahead of the 16th Ibero-American Summit to be held in Montevideo, Uruguay November 3-5, a debate was held on "The hidden face of migration: Twenty-first century slavery?" in Montevideo. The summit was organized by the Uruguayan government and the International Organization for Migration, in collaboration with UNFPA and the European Union. Read: Inter Press Service

LEBANON: Women and Peace Process

Alanwar reported October 28 that the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) represented by the First Lady of Lebanon, Mrs. Andree Lahoud, and UNFPA Country Office Director, Mr. Faysal Abdel Gadir, signed a cooperation protocol for a new project in the framework of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.  This project aims at empowering women in the war affected regions in Lebanon  to increase their participation in the peace process and conflict resolution. Read: Alanwar

MADAGASCAR: A Week for Mother and Child Health

Les Nouvelles reported October 26 that six million women and three million children under five were the targets for intensive outreach and free treatments during the week of mother and child health in Madagascar, and that UNFPA provided 92.000 USD in contraceptives for the effort. Yolande, a young mother pregnant with her second child, interviewed during her very first  pre-natal check-up, said her first delivery had been without any assistance - "a difficult experience that I don't wish to go through again" - and that she had learned a lot from the health workers participating in the week long campaign: "I did for example not know before how that a pregnant woman needs enough iron", she said.

MALAWI: The Role of Girls and Women in the Home

The Daily Times ran an October 24 op ed by Raphael Mweninguwe who works in the U.N.’s Malawi office about the role of girls and women in the home. Mweninguwe wrote: “In Chazale like many areas in Malawi, a lot of girls drop out of school because of tradition, poverty and lack of good infrastructure.” He mentioned: “Food security also remains pivotal and the World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are working with the government in ensuring that Malawi is food secure; United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) focus their activities in areas of child protection, health, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, human rights and good governance, collectively.” Read: The Daily Times

 
MALAWI: Gender Violence High
The Nation wrote on October that at a conference of the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians, Esperance Fundira, UNFPA representative to Malawi, called on women MP's to raise awareness on domestic violence ands speed up the process of of tabling the amended Wills and Inheritance Act. She said the passing of this bill will provide an effective legal framework for responding to gender-based violence and property grabbing, which has become a national issue in recent years.

NEPAL: MPs Call for New HIV/AIDS Policy

Himalayan Times reported October 27 that at a national workshop on Youth and HIV/AIDS, Members of Parliament (MPs) stressed the need to formulate a new policy and come up with fresh programs to combat HIV/AIDS. The workshop was jointly organized by the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, WHO, Society for Local Integrated Development Nepal, UNFPA, UNIFEM, UNAIDS and UNESCO. Read: Himalayan Times

NEPAL: WFP and UNFPA Provide Food Aid to Drought-Affected Districts

The Press Trust of India reported October 25 that WFP and UNFPA partnered to provide essential food aid and health care to hundreds of drought-affected families in the Mugu and Humla districts of western Nepal. Under the assistance program, WFP distributed rice, wheat and other food items to nearly 5,000 people coming from eight VDCs in Mugu and Humla districts. UNFPA distributed medicines to patients and to local health clinics in desperate need of supplies. Junko Sazaki, UNFPA representative to Nepal, said there was an urgent need to provide reproductive health services in remote areas to address life-threatening concerns. "We were very pleased to receive this request from WFP and immediately organized a three-day reproductive health camp for the people of Mugu and Humla," Sazaki said. Read: Press Trust of India, NepalNews.com

NIGERIA: Child Education and Crime Eradication Championed

This Day reported October 24 that the News Agency of Nigeria is partnering with the Child Education and Crime Eradication Foundation (CECEF) to champion child education and crime eradication amongst youths. Coordinator of CECEF Princess Evelyn said, “We also work in close collaboration with U.N. agencies, including the UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM and UNDP. We also collaborate with ILO to specifically accord significance to child labor and child trafficking, knowing full well the consequences of these vices on individuals and the nation.” Read: This Day 

PAKISTAN: Earthquake-Affected Areas in Need of Health Care

The Nation’s October 23 story reported on the need to restore the health system in the earthquake-affected areas of AJK and NWFP and establishing health centers outfitted with reproductive and maternal care equipment and supplies. “UNFPA needs more funds to provide equipment and health facilities to pre-fabricated structure of $4,000 to function as a health house,” said a UNFPA sheet made available to The Nation. “Agency support to adequately care for the thousand of women who need medical assistance in the coming months,” said UNFPA officials, adding that UNFPA emergency relief operation have been supported by generous donations from Norway, Germany, Kuwait, UK, Japan, the republic of Korea and European commission for Humanitarian Aid. 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Health and Demographic Survey Underway

PNG Post-Courier reported October 31 that a health and demographic survey to find out the trends of infant and child mortality, maternal mortality, family planning and HIV/AIDS is underway in the Southern Highlands. The survey is funded by AusAID, New Zealand Aid, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and the national government.

RUSSIA:

Rebenok reported October 26 that the number of births among  young women under the age of 20 has declined. 70 per cent of births are  to women between 20 – 29 years. According to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, statistics show that the average marriage age for women globally is 23 years old and 26 years in developed countries. Read in Russian: Rebenok

RWANDA: UNFPA Funds Adolescent Reproductive Health Program

The New Times reported October 26 that at a journalist workshop, Marc Ramaekers, UNFPA's program officer for adolescent reproductive health, said UNFPA has injected a total of $900,000 to support the awareness of reproductive health among youth. "Its $900,000 from 2002 to 2006 but we are also looking at the possibility of extending it to 2007," Ramaekers said. Read: The New Times

RWANDA: Maternal Mortality Could Affect Development

The Daily Times reported October 27 that high maternal mortality rate is affecting population dynamics in Rwanda, according to UNFPA facilitator, John Bosco Ruzibuka, in a workshop on population issues for journalists. During the four-day workshop, Ruzibuka told journalists that maternal mortality rate is high in the country and it may affect development. “Even though there is high fertility rate in Rwanda it’s affected by high mortality rate, which is one of the challenges of the population dynamics,” Ruzibuka said. Read: The New Times

SUDAN: Government Committed to Combat Violence against Women

Suna News Agency reported October 31 that director of the Ministry of Justice's unit of combating violence against women and children, Dr. Ateyat Mustafa, affirmed the state’s commitment to boosting the status of women through education and economic advancement. The story quoted Dr. Maha Al-Mana of UNFPA on the important role of the media in combating the issue.

SWAZILAND: Senate President Hails UNFPA

Swazi Observer reported October 31 that Senate President Gelane Zwane hailed UNFPA for helping the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) prepare a strategic plan to be at par with WPCs in other parliaments. Senator Zwane said, “The organization has over the years been deeply involved with a number of government ministries namely the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development especially in the statistics department where UNFPA assists with population activities and the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare and Home Affairs.” Read: Swazi Observer

SWAZILAND: Workshop on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Commodity Security

Swazi Observer reported November 1 that during the sexual reproductive health and commodity security workshop, UNFPA Country Representative in Swaziland Aisha Camara Drammeh pledged continued support to government to scale up HIV/AIDS prevention. “Sexually transmitted infection, low condom use, early sex and population momentum are some of the driving force of the HIV and AIDS prevalence in the country,” said Drammeh. Read: Swazi Observer: Nov. 1a,Nov. 1b

UGANDA: Communication Strategy on Reproductive Health Launched

New Vision reported November 1 that at the launch of a communication strategy on reproductive health, Fatma Mrisho, UNFPA resident representative, asked the Ugandan government to improve the health system and make efforts to reach people at their dwelling places. Read: New Vision

UNITED STATES AND ETHIOPIA: Family Planning Interference

The Des Moines Register ran an October 29 column by Rekha Basu on the Bush administration’s interference on sexual and reproductive health services. The column noted, “The Bush administration also has for five years denied funding to a key ally in the reproductive health field, the U.N. Fund for Population Activities, because of a claim, which our government's own investigators found to be groundless, that it supports forced sterilizations in China.” The column concluded, “Apart from its strategic value or promoting an ideological agenda, Americans ought to care about Ethiopia for Ethiopians' sake – and to ensure that our efforts there help them to thrive.” Read: Des Moines Register

UNITED STATES: Condoms and the Economy

The New York Times’ October 29 story reported on U.S. condom manufacturing and the debate among donor countries about what degree foreign aid is about saving jobs at home or lives abroad. The story noted that the U.S. government, the world's largest donor of condoms, has bought more than nine billion condoms over the past two decades under President Bush's global AIDS plan. Over the years, USAID could have afforded even more condoms if it had it bought them from the lowest bidders on the world market, as have UNFPA and many other donors. Read: The New York Times

Vietnam News Service reported October 29 on UNFPA’s International Film Festival and featured an interview with Joshua Marston, screenwriter and director of Maria Full of Grace and winner of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award. Read: Vietnam News Service

VIETNAM: Assistance for 2009 Census Anticipated

Vietnam News Service reported October 27 that Vietnam's General Statistics Office is expecting financial and technical assistance from UNFPA and other international organizations to the country's census scheduled in 2009. The assistance is needed for mapping, data processing, questionnaire and document printing. Read: Vietnam News Service

YEMEN: Risks in Giving Birth

Yemen Observer reported October 31 on the hazards of giving birth in Yemen. Each year, thousands of women die or suffer permanent injury due to complications during childbirth, including postpartum hemorrhaging, says the Ministry of Health. The story mentioned a UNFPA study revealing that 38.8 percent of mothers die due to the lack of a nearby medical facility; 14.8 percent die because they cannot afford childbirth operation expenses; 8.8 percent die due to the absence of proper medical equipment and facilities; 5.5 percent die because of lack of transportation in these distant regions; and 2.6 percent die due to the husband’s refusal to take the mother to a hospital. Read: Yemen Observer

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