UNFPA IN THE NEWS —JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 11, 2007

INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

UN News Centre reported February 5 that UNFPA called for stepped-up efforts against female genital mutilation (FGM) and the alarming new trend of parents using healthcare workers to perform cutting in the belief that any medical problems can be minimized. In observance of the International Day against FGM, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid voiced concerns about what she dubbed the “medicalization” of the practice. To challenge proponents of FGM, Obaid said: “Laws need to be enforced, people need to be educated, and communities must be engaged…contrary to popular belief, FGM or cutting is not required by any religion. In fact, many religious leaders and scholars and faith-based organizations from around the world have called for the practice to be banned.”

Reuters reported February 5 that the UNFPA said according to demographic surveys and patient reports, the trend has been spotted in Egypt, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen. "This tendency arises from increased awareness of the health risks associated with the practice," said Obaid. Read: UN News Centre, Reuters

BAN MAKES SECRETARIAT APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS

KUNA reported February 9 that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon appointed a number of officials to top posts in the U.N. Secretariat, in addition to reappointing Thoraya Obaid of Saudi Arabia as head of UNFPA. Read: KUNA, Washington Times

COUNTRIES FACE TOUGH DECISION TO USE CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE

UN News Centre reported February 7 that the WHO stressed countries face tough decisions before making the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer widely available, including cost-effectiveness, delivery and education. The story noted that in December 2006, UNFPA stressed the need for funding to make the vaccine available in the developing world. Read: UN News Centre

SUCCESS IN USING INTEREST-GROUP ANALYSIS

The Lancet ran a February 3 response by Brendan O'Brien and Mandeep Janeja of UNFPA, agreeing with the December 9 Viewpoint by Kent Buse and colleagues about the need for agencies working in sexual and reproductive health policy to engage in applied political analysis as part of their core activities. O’Brien and Janeja pointed to UNFPA’s success in Guatemala by using a form of interest-group analysis to plan and facilitate the adoption of that country's first social development and population law in 2001.

ASIA: HIV Infections Rise despite Funding Increase

PNG Post-Courier reported February 7 that at a recent Asian Parliamentary workshop held in Bangkok, it was revealed that despite the availability of funds to fight HIV, the infection rate of the disease is continuing to rise in many Asian countries. The story noted that the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, along with UNFPA, brought together 35 parliamentarians and other elected representatives from 14 Asia-Pacific countries to attend the HIV/AIDS prevention advocacy intervention strategy.

ASIA: Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth Assessed

Vietnam News Service reported February 1 that at a workshop to assess the implementation of the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia, a specialist said Vietnamese youth are no longer shy but have been active to learn about sexual and reproductive health issues. The story noted that since its inception in 2004, the initiative, co-funded by the European Commission and UNFPA, has provided information and services to young people to enhance their knowledge and encourage safe and healthy practices. "[The initiative] has been a pioneering project that has helped awaken parents, teachers, policymakers and youth themselves to the importance of young people’s sexual and reproductive health to national development," said Ian Howie, UNFPA representative to Vietnam. "Much work remains to be done to ensure young Vietnamese women and men are able to make safe and informed choices with regard to their sexual and reproductive behavior." Read: Vietnam News Service

ASIA PACIFIC REGION: International Conference of Religious Leaders

Kompas, Berita Kota, Jaknews andAntara reported February 9 that ahead of the International Conference of Religious Leaders, the National Family Planning Board (BKKBN) is enhancing its collaboration with religious leaders in Indonesia to strengthen the country’s family planning program. The UNFPA-supported international conference will be attended by 90 religious leaders from 17 Muslim countries in Asia Pacific region. UNFPA Representative Dr. Zahidul Huque said religious leaders’ support for the family planning program is crucial, especially since Indonesia has been known for its successful family planning program and became a model for other developing countries.

BAHRAIN: 25% Housing Repairs Completed

Bahrain Tribune reported February 5 that twenty-five percent of the National Housing Renovation Program has been completed. Chairing the weekly session, the Deputy Prime Minister, Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, told members that the project, with BD22 million provided by the government for 2004-2008, aims to help low-income citizens and provide them with better housing services. The meeting approved two agreements with UNFPA. The first was on launching a technical support project for the population and development sectors to be implemented by the UNFPA and the Bahrain National Population Committee between 2007 and 2009. The second was to set up a credit fund for the project. Read: BahrainTribune

CAMBODIA AND JAPAN: Statistics Division Prepares for 2008 Census

Xinhua General News Service reported February 8 that in preparation of Cambodia’s 2008 census, Japan’s International Cooperation Agency entered a five-year plan to bolster Cambodia’s National Institute of Statistics, a division within the Ministry of Planning, until September 2010. The story noted that the Ministry of Planning requested assistance from the Japanese government for about 38 percent of the census projected cost. The Cambodian government will undertake 12 percent of the budget, while UNFPA and the German government 50 percent. Read: Xinhua General News Service

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: UNFPA  Calls for Stronger Efforts to  Eradicate FGM

Le Potentiel reported February 5 that in observance of the International Day against FGM, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid voiced concerns about  the “medicalization” of the practice. According to UNFPA, between 120 and 140 million women have been subjected to the practice, and 3 million girls face the risk of mutilation every year. 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: UNFPA to Help Combat Trafficking

The Dominican Today reported February 5 that the UNFPA Representative Gilka Meléndez affirmed that human trafficking in the Dominican Republic is a very serious problem and the authorities are not paying much attention to the issue. Meléndez also revealed that this year UNFPA will invest more than RD$50 million in education and social programs to benefit poor people. Read: Dominican Today

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Alarming Number of Women Assassinated by Spouses

Diario Libre reported February 2 that UNFPA considers the number of women murdered by their husbands in the Dominican Republic alarming. During a signing ceremony for an agreement to reduce domestic violence, UNFPA Representative Gilka Meléndez said the murder of 158 women in 2006 represents one of the highest murder rates from domestic violence in the world. Read: Diario Libre

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Family Planning Regulations 

Hoy Digital reported January 25 that the Secretariat of Public Health and the National Population and Family Council presented the “National Family Planning Regulations,” which includes principles, criteria of operations, policies and strategies of family planning services. UNFPA Representative Gilka Meléndez said in the Dominican Republic, 39% of all women do not use contraceptives, 70% of women are without children, and 43% of women between the ages of 15 to 49 do not use any form of family planning method. Read: Hoy Digital

GEORGIA: Findings on Men’s Reproductive Health to Be Released

The Georgian Times reported January 29 that UNFPA held a seminar to reveal findings from research on men’s reproductive health in Georgia. Svobodnaya Gruzia reported February 1 that the report found that men are main contributors to improving reproductive health and gender equality. Read: Georgia Times, Svobodnaya-gruzia, Geo Times

INDONESIA: Collaboration with Religious Leaders on Family Planning

Kompas, Berita Kota, Jaknews and Antara reported on 9 February that the National Family Planning Board is to enhance its collaboration with religious leaders in Indonesia in order to strengthen the country’s Family Planning programme, said the institution’s chairperson Sugiri Syarief at the International Conference of Religious Leaders to support population and development in Bali on 12 -17 February. The UNFPA-supported international conference would be attended by 90 religious leaders from 17 Muslim countries in Asia Pacific region. UNFPA Representative Dr. Zahidul Huque was quoted as saying that support from religious leaders to family planning programme is crucial, especially since Indonesia was known for its successful family planning programme and became a model for other developing countries.

INDONESIA: U.N. Ready to Assist after Deadly Flooding

UN News Centre reported February 5 that U.N. humanitarian agencies say they are standing by to help Indonesian authorities respond to the deadly flooding that has paralyzed the capital Jakarta and surrounding areas in recent days, forcing almost 150,000 people to flee their homes. OCHA has identified emergency food and water supplies, clothes, blankets, medicines, equipment and search-and-rescue teams that it can deploy quickly once the Indonesian government requests help. The U.N. response is likely to include UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and the WHO.

On February 9, UN News Centre reported that up to $2 million from the United Nations’ emergency fund was released to help Indonesia’s government deal with the deadly floods that have already killed at least 50 people and displaced half a million others in the capital Jakarta and surrounding areas. The story noted that supplies valued at more than $150,000 have been provided by UNICEF, while UNFPA has allocated $96,000 for hygiene kits that will be distributed through the Health Department’s Crisis Management Centre. Read: UN News Centre: Feb. 5, Feb. 9

INDONESDIA: National AIDS Meeting Held in Surabaya

The Jakarta Post reported February 6 that at the 3rd National AIDS Meeting in Surabaya, Nafsiah Mboi, chairwoman of the National AIDS Prevention Committee, said that the quick distribution of the drugs was badly needed to maintain the health of people with HIV/AIDS. The story noted that UNFPA’s prevention activities in the country include condom promotion among young people and sex workers.

INDONESIA: China Donates Supplies for Disaster Relief through U.N. Agencies

Xinhua General News Service reported January 31 that at the Ministry of Health of Indonesia, the Chinese government turned over donated goods and materials to the Indonesian government through the WHO for disaster relief. The story noted that the Chinese government also donated tents, blankets, sewing machines, computers and other materials valuing at $45,000 to the Indonesian government through UNFPA. Since the tsunami catastrophe hit Indonesia at the end of 2004, Chinese government has fully implemented relief aid worth $25 million to the Indonesian government. Read: Xinhua General News Service

MADAGASCAR: Increase in Early Pregnancies

L'Express  ran an article February 6, addressing the many early pregnancies in Madagascar. Annually, 15 per cent of girls 15 to 19 years of age become pregnant. Only 11 per cent of married adolescents have access to family planning. Said Marie Sandra Ramonjison, former Yoth Fellow with UNFPA: "It is important to create more youth-friendly services" to make information and family planning widely available to young people. Read: L'Express

MADAGASCAR: Support for Flood Victims

Le Quotidien  reported February 5 that emergency health kits were distirbuted to the food stricken area Antananarivo. UNFPA worked closely with the Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes by giving priority to the  needs of pregnant women and young girls.

MALAWI: Youth Community Based Distribution Agents Applauded

The Daily Times reported February 7 that the Banja La Mtsogolo has applauded Youth Community Based Distribution Agents (YCBDA) for carrying out basic health services such as condoms and pills distribution effectively. The story noted that the YCBDA program gets support from BLM’s development partners, especially the European Union through UNFPA. Read: The Daily Times

MALAWI: 4-Year Framework Signed

The Nation reported February 8 that U.N. agencies in Malawi and government officials signed a four-year United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) that includes $265 million for Malawi. Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe commended UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and WFP for producing their country program documents within the context of the UNDAF 2008-2011. Read: The Nation

MOLDOVA: 400-Page Demographic Report on Health

Moldova Independent reported February 2 that an international team of scientists and experts from different organizations and institutions with UNFPA have conducted a global demographic and economic research of the Moldavian Society. The 400-page report includes research on childbirth, life expectancy, mortality rates, reproductive health and abilities of nation. Read: Moldova Independent

MONGOLIA: Government Signs Country Program Agreement with U.N. Agencies

Century News and Daily News Agencies reported February 2 that UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and Mongolia signed a joint country program agreement. The CPAPs were signed by H.E. N. Enkhbold, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and Pratibha Mehta, U.N. Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative; Delia Barcelona, UNFPA representative; and Dr. Yameen Mazumder, UNICEF OIC/Program Coordinator. The goals are to support the four strategic UNDAF outcomes and achieve maternal and child health related Millennium Development Goals included in the National Development Strategy 2015.

NAMIBIA: People Engage in High-Risk Behavior despite High HIV/AIDS Awareness

The Namibian reported February 5 that the Ministry of Health and Social Services unveiled the “Communication for Behavioral Impact” program (COMBI for short) that aims to address HIV-prevention by looking at why people with sufficient knowledge of HIV/AIDS still engage in high-risk behavior. Nuzhat Ehsan, UNFPA country representative, reiterated that 84 percent of Namibia's population is knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, and yet infection rates were only declining marginally. Read: The Namibian, New Era

NEPAL: Six Lakh Women Suffer from Uterine Prolapse

The Press Trust of India reported February 6 that UNFPA revealed that around six lakh Nepalese women suffer from Uterine Prolapse, a painful medical condition where the uterus is displaced from its normal position. One third of them need immediate attention, UNFPA Representative Junko Sazaki said, adding that ten percent of women in Nepal who are in their reproductive age suffer from the disorder.

NEPAL: The Importance of Adolescent Reproductive Health

The Rising Nepal ran a January 31 op ed by Jhabindra Bhandari, faculty member at the Mahidol University of Public Health in Bangkok, on the importance of adolescent reproductive health to the entire country. Bhandari  wrote: “Everyone has the right to enjoy reproductive health, which is a basis for having healthy children, intimate relationships and happy families.” Bhandari added: “As envisioned by the UNFPA, it is also essential to ensure that every child is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.” Read: Rising Nepal

NEPAL: RHIYA Program Releases Final Report

The Rising Nepal reported January 29 that the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) Program in Nepal disseminated its final report. The story noted that the European Union and UNFPA launched and implemented the RHIYA Program in Nepal from 2003 to 2006. UNFPA Representative Junko Sazaki said the program has been implemented in seven countries in Asia. She added that the RHIYA program in Nepal has been instrumental in setting up 92 Youth Information Centers and 55 Youth Friendly Services Delivery Services for the benefit of youths. Read: Rising Nepal

NIGER: Tennis Tournament for Young Girls

Le Sahel reported January 29 from a tennis tournament organised on Saturday 27th of January at the General Seyni Kountché stadium in Niamey. The tournament was a partnership between the Niger Tennis Federation and UNFPA, with the aim to raise the interest of girls in tennis for personal fulfilment and offer basic information on sexual and reproductive health, prevention of  early pregnancies, STDs and HIV/AIDS. In her opening speech Mme Lays, UNFPA representative in Niger, mentioned that this partnership could be an opportunity for girls to exchange information on reproductive health including HIV/AIDS and develop their talent in order to prepare for a better adult life. The president of the federation, Mr Ahmed Ousmane Diallo mentioned his appreciation for UNFPA’s support and ensured his involvement for the consolidation of the partnership in the future.

NIGERIA: Hospital Reports over 2,000 Operations to Repair Fistulas

The Tide reported February 9 that the Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital Sokoto, has operated on more than 2,366 vesico vaginal fistula patients since its establishment in 1997. The story noted that the chief medical director stated that UNFPA had assisted the hospital in 2005 when it operated on 180 VVF patients. Read: The Tide

PAKISTAN: Asian Woman Selected as FIGO’s Vice President

Daily Times reported January 9 that the Pakistan Medical Association organized an event to honor Dr. Shahida Zaidi, the first Asian woman to be elected the vice president of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). The Community Intervention for Reducing Maternal and New Born Mortality and  Morbidity is FIGO’s only program in Thatta. "If we succeed in making it a model project, there would be a replica of such projects in the future," Zaidi said. Common causes of death of the women is excessive bleeding after delivery. The birth attendants are not skilled in the country and are unaware of the symptoms. The story noted that UNFPA will also help train people and are also working on making contraception available. Read: Daily Times

SWAZILAND: Maternal Deaths Worry UNFPA

Times of Swaziland reported February 5 on the donation of a new vehicle by UNFPA to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in support of reproductive health services. UNFPA country representative, Ms. Aisha Camara-Drammeh said it was "very disturbing" to realize that in Swaziland women and girls continued to suffer from poor sexual and reproductive health.

SYRIA: Plans Underway to Achieve Country’s Population and Development Goals

SANA reported February 4 that during a meeting with Lina Moussa, UNFPA resident representative, Information Minister Mohsen Bilal emphasized the media's role in the country’s development. Moussa said that cooperation between Syria and UNFPA will contribute to reaching important population, development and reproductive health goals.

In the meantime, plans for the 7th Regional Cooperation Program between Syria and the UNPF are underway. Read: SANA

UKRAINE: New Fatherhood Program 

The 1st Crimea reported January 28 that approximately 80,000 men of reproductive age are dying annually in Ukraine. In an effort to reverse the demographic trend, the government organized a program to improve motherhood, childhood and additionally, fatherhood. According to the research conducted by UNFPA, life expectancy of Ukrainian men is 62 years old – not because of aging, but to alcohol, drugs and HIV/AIDS. Read: First Crimea/Ru

VIETNAM: U.N. Funds 5-Year Program to Enhance Socio-Economic Development

Vietnam News Service reported February 5 that Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem on behalf of the PM ratified on Jan. 31 a project funded by the United Nations on socio-economic development for the central highlands province of Kon Tum. The project will receive $5 million from UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF.

VIETNAM: Country Advances Gender Equality

Vietnam News Service reported February 7 on a meeting between the United Nations and Vietnamese government on gender equality in Vietnam last week. Departments and organizations presented solutions for gender equality and completing the law on domestic violence, which is expected to be submitted for approval in June. Due to historical reasons, gender disparity in the country had given men an unfair advantage over women, and the problem had to be extracted not only from men’s consciousness but also women themselves. UNFPA Representative Ian Howie, said, “Discrimination happens in many countries worldwide. Vietnam has a good legislative system. But, we need to pass the law in the next phase so that it becomes more than just a piece of legislation and improves the daily lives of women.” Read: Vietnam News Service

YEMEN: Initiative to Gather Information on Laws Pertaining to Women’s Rights

Yemen Times reported January 31 on a promising initiative that gathers articles related to women from laws on labor, family and women’s human rights and simplifies the articles to be accessible to the general public. The initiative was conducted by the gender equality component of the Strengthening National Capacity in Human Rights Project implemented by the Ministry of Human Rights with the support from UNDP. UNFPA Gender Program Officer Sawsen Al-Refai praised the initiative as a first step that must be taken, adding, “It’s important to start somewhere and that’s what this project is achieving. However, without sincere government commitment, implementing such laws in real life will remain unaccomplished.” UNFPA’s Elobaid Ahmed Elobaid added: “Rights are useless unless you know about them. Our work here increases the chance of having more effective laws because only when you know what exists, can you identify what needs to be changed.” Read: Yemen Times

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