UNFPA IN THE NEWS — FEBRUARY 12-18, 2007

NGOS CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW U.N. WOMEN’S AGENCY

Inter Press Service reported February 14 that during the upcoming U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), beginning Feb. 26, a coalition of over 150 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will use it as a platform to urge Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help create a new U.N. women's agency. June Zeitlin of the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) said, "There is a clear consensus that the current structure is insufficient to meet the needs of women around the world or to fulfill the commitments governments have made at [the 1995 Women's Conference in] Beijing and other U.N. world conferences." Zeitlin mentioned the three existing women's units have a total budget of about $65 million, compared to $450 million for UNFPA and about two billion dollars for UNICEF. She also pointed out that an initial target of some $200 million for the proposed new women's agency will be recommended. Read: Inter Press Service

CONFERENCE ON MUSLIM SUPPORT FOR POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Jakarta Post reported February 14 that Muslim leaders were urged to endorse population and development programs to achieve the Millennium Development Goals during the International Conference of Muslim Leaders. The event, which is expected to produce an action plan to assist Muslim leaders in their efforts to promote population and development issues in their respective communities, is a joint initiative between the government, National Family Planning Coordination Agency, UNFPA and the International Conference of Islamic Scholar.

LANCET’S SERIES ON PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING MDG 4, 5, 6

The Lancet’sFebruary 17 issue included kudos from UNFPA’s Arletty Pinel, Pascal Villeneuve and Rama Lakshminarayanan who welcomed The Lancet's series on the progress towards achievement of the fourth, fifth and sixth Millennium Development Goals, through the continuum of maternal, newborn, and child health care.

AFGHANISTAN: Maternal Mortality among Worst in World

IRIN reported February 16 on the dire state of maternal mortality in Afghanistan. With 6,500 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, Badakshan province has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, according to UNFPA. Read: IRIN

ANGOLA: Minister to Attend Meeting with African Women Parliament Members

Angola Press Agency reported February 12 that the Angolan Family Promotion Minister Cándida Celeste attended a meeting in Cape Verde with African Female Members of Parliament and Ministers Network. The meeting, organized by UNFPA, examined concerns about reproductive health, gender and HIV/AIDS. Read: Angola Press Agency

ARMENIA: Results from the Demographic Research and Health Issues for 2005

News Armenia reported February 16 that during a presentation on “Demographic Research and Health Issues for 2005,” U.S. Embassy Representative in Yerevan said Armenia has achieved promising results from their child vaccination efforts and decreased child morality rates. However, only 20% of the people survey used contraception. The 8,013 Armenian citizens interviewed during the research was the second largest demographic and health research conducted in Armenia. The research was conducted by the National Statistics Service with the technical and financial support of UNFPA, USAID and UNICEF. Read: NewsArmenia/Ru

BANGLADESH: Media Campaign on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Services

United News of Bangladesh reported February 16 on a three-day media campaign, organized by Family Planning Directorate with UNFPA, about reproductive health, safe motherhood and gender.

BELARUS: Health Centers in the Center of Europe

Express News reported February 16 that UNFPA organized a seminar, "Reproductive Health of Young People." Representatives from the Ministry of Health, regional medical institutes and medical personnel from youth centers gathered to discuss reproductive health issues, sexual education and culture. Read: ExpressNews/Ru

BELARUS: National Care Issues

Belarus Today reported February 14 that UNFPA organized a “Round Table” with Deputies of the National Chamber of Belarus to discuss three scenarios of Belarus’ population and development. The first scenario examined the 50-year projection of population decreasing to 6 million. The second scenario examined possibility of the country improving the childbirth, maternal mortality rate and reproductive healthcare. The final scenario looked at the benefits of instituting a National Demographic Program.  Read: BelarusToday/Ru

BHUTAN: U.N. Refutes Rumors on Plans to Pull Out Development Assistance

Keunsel reported February 14 that a representative from the U.N. system in Bhutan refuted the recent rumors that they were planning to pull out their development assistance despite plans for other international development organizations’ to do so. In the last 15 years, the U.N. development cooperation, which includes UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, WFP, WHO, FAO and IFAD, had spent about $260 million in the country’s development activities. Read: Keunsel

COLOMBIA: Mothers in Colombia Are Young and Younger

El Colombiano reported February 12 that according to the Sexual and Reproductive Health in Colombia 2005 study by Profamily and UNFPA, adolescent pregnancy accounted for 19 percent in 2000 compared to 21 percent in 2005. It also found that young people’s contraceptive use was low. Read: El Colombiano

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: At Risk Pregnancy

Clave Digital reported February 15 on preliminary results of a recent survey, “Quality of the attention to the Pregnancy, Parthian and Puerperio.” The survey was implemented by CONAFOPA and UNFPA. Read: Clave Digital 

HUNGARY: Photo Exhibit on Display on Women’s Fate in Armenia and Ecuador

Hungarian News Agency (MTI) reported February 13 that "Women Fates," a display of photos, taken by independent French photographer Clement Saccomani on the life of women in Armenia and Ecuador will open in Budapest's House of Future Centre. The story noted that pictures were taken at a Yerevan women's clinic supported by UNFPA.

INDONESIA: International and U.N. Flood Assistance

Antara reported February 13 that U.N. agencies stand ready to support the Government of Indonesia in response to the severe flooding that has affected the capital of Jakarta and the surrounding areas in recent days. Thus far, several countries and international non-governmental organizations have provided or offered assistance to Indonesia, including the United States, Australia, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and the United Kingdom. U.N. agencies, including OCHA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, as well as IOM are ready to provide assistance as requested.

Antara reported February 12 a total of $3 million worth of humanitarian assistance was sent to Indonesia from international and U.N. Assistance also came from U.N. agencies such as UNICEF ($150,000), UNFPA ($96,000) and UNHCHR ($25,000).

OMAN: UNICEF Regional Director to Meet Ministers and Officials

Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported February 13 that Omar Abdi, UNICEF Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa will meet with Omni ministers and officials and UNFPA Representative Dr. Nora Al Nahedh to examine UNICEF's new country program with the Sultanate of Oman. Read: MENA/En

PACIFIC REGION: Review of the Adolescent Health and Development Project

Fiji Times reported February 14 that during the Adolescent Health and Development review, UNFPA Pacific Representative Najib Assifi said there is a lack of policies for young people’s sexual and reproductive health services. Assifi added all policymakers need to work together to ensure effective service delivery. The UNFPA-funded South Pacific Community implemented a Regional Adolescent Reproductive Health project that started in 2001 in 10 countries. He said last year, Pacific Education Ministers recommended countries working with UNFPA incorporate sexual and reproductive health issues including HIV/AIDS into the school curriculum.

Fiji Times reported February 16 that during a joint UNFPA-SPC workshop to review the Adolescent Health and Development Project, health officials said more young people under 15 years of age are becoming sexually active.

Fiji Times’ February 16 editorial described the number of unplanned pregnancies among teenagers as “alarming” and called for support of programs such as the regional Adolescent Reproductive Health. The editorial noted organizations such as UNFPA, the United Nations Foundation for International Partnerships and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community should be commended for their initiative and support of such programs. Read: Fiji Times: Feb. 14, Feb. 16

PACIFIC REGION: Pacific Design Male Condoms Launched

PacNews reported February 13 that for the first time Pacific Islanders can enjoy their very own brand of condoms – the Pacific Design Male Condoms. The designer condoms have been developed as part of a joint project of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and UNFPA’s Pacific office. In support of condom programming, UNFPA has developed a Rapid Needs Assessment toolkit to help countries review the main issues affecting condom supply, distribution, acceptability and usage and to identify the next steps to improve condom programming at the level of the nation, province or area/district.

Fiji Times reported February 14 that UNFPA Pacific Representative Najib Assifi said response from the 11 Pacific Island countries who part took in the pilot testing of the condoms was overwhelming. The new condoms should be available free-of-charge from all government clinics including in hospitals, health centers, nursing stations in the Cook Islands, Federated states of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Read: Fiji Times

PACIFIC REGION: Interview with a Secretariat of the Pacific Community

PacNews featured a February 12 interview with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) who explained that its funding of more than $46 million comes from its traditional donors (founding members, European Union, UNFPA and the Global Environment Facility) and from more recent partners such as the Asian Development Bank and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

PAKISTAN: 6th National Census to Be Held in October 2008

Associated Press of Pakistan reported February 16 that the 6th National Population and Housing Census will be held in October 2008. The story noted that in preparation for the census, a workshop on census methodology has been organized by Population Census Organization in collaboration with UNFPA. Read: Associated Press of Pakistan

PAKISTAN: Health Reforms Program Launched

Daily Times reported February 16 that during a seminar on reducing maternal deaths, Health Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal said a health reforms program had recently been launched in Lahore to provide modern health care facilities. The seminar was organized by National Program for Family Planning and Primary Health Care in collaboration with UNFPA. Read: Daily Times

PHILIPPINES: Donor Assistance to Focus on Economic and Food Security Issues

Minadao Times reported February 16 that during the recent Working Group Technical Meeting in Mindanao for Maguindanao, local chief executives agreed with foreign donor agencies to focus donor assistance on economic and food security problems as a priority area to facilitate development in the province. UNFPA was one of the many international aid organizations and agencies in attendance. Read: Mindanao Times

SWAZILAND: UNFPA Representative Visits FLAS

The February 17-18 issue of The Weekend Observer reported that during a visit to Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), UNFPA Representative Alaha Camara-Drammeh discussed the low rates for female condom use compared to the male condom. Camara-Drammeh also applauded the group’s implementation of youth-friendly centers.

SYRIA: UNFPA Supports Interactive Theater in the Rural Parts of Syria

Dar AlHayat reported February 15 on a project involving interactive theater in the rural parts of Syria to raise awareness on development issues. The project is supported by UNFPA and implemented by the Syrian Fund for Rural Development.  Read: DarAlhayat/Ar, ChamPress/Ar

TUNISIA: Meeting of the Center of Arab Woman for Training and Research

Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported February 15 that Tunisia will host the meeting of Center of Arab Woman for Training and Research (CAWTER) headed by Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz with the participation of AGFUD, the Arab Gulf Fund for United Nations Development Organizations, UNDP, UNFPA, UNIFEM, World Bank, League of Arab States, and the International Federation for Family Planning.  The participants will discuss the center's programs for the next year in the areas of research and training. Read: WAM/Ar

UNITED STATES: Winner of Essay Contest on “Health and Dignity of Women” to Go to Malawi

The Honolulu Advertiser reported February 16 that Americans for UNFPA is holding an essay contest for college students on the topic of "health and dignity of women." The winner will receive an expense-paid trip to Malawi from July 29 to Aug. 4, with Americans for UNFPA staff, to observe women's income generation projects, visit maternity clinics, observe innovative HIV prevention outreach, and meet with members of Malawi's Parliament. Read: Honolulu Advertiser

YEMEN: Country Observes International Day against Female Genital Mutilation

Yemen Times reported February 12 that according to UNFPA’s office in Sana’a, 24 percent of Yemeni women have been exposed to female genital mutilation (FGM). The story noted that during the Feb. 6 International Day against Female Genital Mutilation, UNFPA called for preventing such a practice, which “violates the basic rights of women and girls and seriously compromises their health.” Read: Yemen Times

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