UNFPA IN THE NEWS —MARCH 19-APRIL 1, 2007

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON U.N. COORDINATION

Antara reported March 28 that top international development experts are scheduled to hold a two-day consultation in Jakarta to exchange views on U.N. coordination worldwide. The consultation will focus on a range of topics, including humanitarian assistance and the environment, best practices and lessons learned. The story noted that Mari Simonen, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA will be one of the many speakers from the United Nations.

ASIA-PACIFIC REGION: More Attention Needed for Region

PacNews reported March 27 that UNFPA Asia-Pacific Division Director Sultan Aziz called for the world community to pay more attention to the Pacific region. Aziz said the international investment in the well-being of the region has fallen largely on the shoulders of Australia and New Zealand. Aziz added the rest of the donor community needs to take a second look at what is happening in the Pacific in terms of political and social upheaval and other deeper issues that need to be addressed. Read: Radio New Zealand International

UN POPULATION REPORT

Australia: Canberra Times ran a March 19 letter by Tom Gosling, communications manager of the Australian Reproductive Health organization, who wrote, “It was pleasing that The Canberra Times put the subject of world population growth on its front page.” He quoted UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid as saying about 200 million women in poorer countries lacked access to safe and effective contraceptive services, which "could free them from unintended child-bearing and empower them to help reduce poverty.”

Brazil: O Estado do Parana newspaperreported March 23 that the fertility rate in the country might drop to less than 2.0 according to UN estimates. UNFPA Specialist Ralph Hakkert said Brazil is an example of a country where the fertility rate has dropped drastically. Read: O Estado do Parana

Paraguay: Neike’s March 22 story on new population data quoted UNFPA executive director Thoraya Amhed Obaid on the benefits of providing access to family planning. Read: Neike

Russia: Lenta reported March 19 that Russia will turn into a country of babies and pensioners. In the coming 43 years, the population of Russia will decrease from 140 to 108 million people, according to a UN report. Lydia Bardakova, UNFPA representative in Russia, said that these figures are revisited on a regular basis. The purpose of the report is to help governments to improve the demographic situation in their countries and not only to describe the current demographic picture. Read: Lenta

Uganda: East African reported March 19 that the projected decline in the HIV/AIDS infection rate will help make East Africa one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, according to the UN’s recent population report. UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said the population projections for the poorest countries underscore the urgency of giving couples the means to exercise their human right to freely determine the sizes of their families. Read: East African

BANGLADESH: Fistula Patients Training and Rehabilitation Centre Opens

Financial Express reported March 26 that the Fistula Patients Training and Rehabilitation Centre opened in Bakshi Bazar. The story noted that Director General of Health Services, Dr. Shahjahan Biswas, inaugurated the centre, while Assistant Representative of UNFPA, Tahera Ahmed, Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Sarker M. A. Matin, attended as special guests. Read: Financial Express

BANGLADESH: 874 People Found HIV-Positive

The New Nation reported March 21 that in Bangladesh, 874 people were found to be HIV-positive, while HIV/AIDS prevalence at present is low according to the seventh round of National HIV Surveillance. Bangladesh ranks the 4th highest in violence against women in the world. This was disclosed at a day-long media sensitization workshop on ‘Reproductive Health, Gender Balance and HIV/AIDS’ organized by UNFPA and Department of Mass Communications at PIB.  Read: The New Nation

BRAZIL: Parliamentary Group on Population and Development Created

Jornal da Camara reported March 21 that MPs and representatives from UNFPA and the Inter-American Parliamentary Group met to discuss legislative achievements in the area of population and development in Brazil. The meeting, which was hosted by the Women’s Caucus at Camara dos Deputados, led to the creation of a parliamentary group on population and development. Read: Jornal da Camara

CHINA: Family Planning Policy Leads to Temporary “Demographic Divide”

FT.com ran a March 19 op ed by Tom Miller, deputy editor of the China Economic Quarterly, who mentioned there is some concern that a continuation of China’s formal family planning policies risks a pension crisis down the road. He noted that UNFPA defines a population as "aged" when persons over 60 account for more than 10 percent, a figure China hit in 2000. Dr. Bernard Coquelin, UNFPA representative in China, observes that from 2005-2020 China will experience a temporary "demographic dividend" as the population dependency ratio falls below recent levels, due to a continued rise in the working population and a fall-off in the number of children.

CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: Reproductive health Equipment Donated

La Collecte ran a March 19 story on the hand-over of reproductive health commodities and equipment form UNFPA to three of the country's hospitals. "The importance of this equipment becomes clear in light of the intoleable number of maternal deaths in Congo - 781 deaths for every 100,000 births", said David Lawson from UNFPA's headquarters. "With this, we are promoting the right of mothers to give birth without dying", he said. Read: La Collecte 

CUBA: Concern about Caring for Older Women

Inter Press Service reported March 20 on the concern for caring for women born in the mid-1960s who had no children, or chose to have only one child, under the protection of a health system that made contraception freely available and legalized abortion to prevent maternal deaths. The story noted that according to UNFPA estimates 16.2 percent of the Cuban population is over 60 years of age. Cuba and Barbados will soon become the countries with the most elderly populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. "In any country in the world, if ageing of the population occurs rapidly and abruptly, it will have a big impact. It's not the same thing to provide for a young population as for an elderly one, with greater needs of all kinds," said Alfonso Farnús, UNFPA country official. Read: Inter Press Service

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: ECLAC Reports Ageing Population Growing

Diario Libre, 19 March, reported the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) report indicates that the Dominican Republic experiences one of the more accelerated processes of ageing of its population. The investigation of ECLAC was presented by the Representative of UNFPA, Gilka Melendez. Read: Diario Libre

Listin reported March 19 that during the presentation of the study “Future Scenarios and policies for the ageing in the Dominican Republic,” UNFPA Representative Gilka Meléndez said only an alarming 10 percent of the elderly population in the country receives retirement benefits or a pension. Read: Listin, Clave Digital

Listin reported March 21 that during the “First Encounter on Local Public Policies for the Elderly,” UNFPA Representative Gilka Meléndez said the country lacks public policies for the elderly. Read: Listin

ETHIOPIA: Women's Race Against Violence

Ethiopian Television and BBC reported April1 that thousands of women ran, jogged and walked through the streets of Ethiopia´s capital Addis Ababa on Sunday, in a bid to end violence against women and girls in the country. Participants of the fourth edition of the annual women-only five kilometer race, Women First Run, a by-product of the world renown 10 kilometer Great Ethiopian Run dedicated the race to ‘ending violence against women in  the new Ethiopian millennium. The race was sponsored by several partners, including UNFPA. ”The violence has to stop. It has to stop now", said UNFPA country representative, Monique Rakotomalala. "Women have to be respected partners in society. Otherwise, no matter how many MDGs are set, full development of society will not happen,” she said.

ETHIOPIA: Recent Incident of Violence against a Young Woman Highlights Issue

Xinhua General News Service reported March 31 that Ethiopian society has been in an uproar since 21-year-old Kamilat Muhdin was hospitalized two weeks ago, victim of an attack by an alleged spurned admirer with sulfuric acid, which burnt off most of the flesh on her face, including her nose, eyelids and lips. "Violence against women is traditionally defined as physical assault," said Monique Rakotomalala, UNFPA country representative in Ethiopia. "But in fact, it is common practice, permeating society and reflecting the deep inequalities among men and women." She added, "Violence is seen for example in women's limited decision-making and control to make use of contraceptives, which means that women are denied reproductive choices – that too is violence." The story noted that a UNFPA-sponsored televised debate on the issue is also scheduled to go on air, which will potentially reach 8 million viewers. Read: Xinhua General News Service

INDIA: U.S. Actress Promotes Women’s Rights

Reuters reported March 20 that during a trip to India to promote women's rights for Population Services International, actress Ashley Judd said her experience of emotional, physical and sexual harassment when she was young has helped her relate to abused women and understand their problems. Judd said she wanted to reach out to Indian women who face humiliation not only at the hands of society but also at the hands of their parents, husbands and relatives. According to a 2005 UNFPA report, more than two-thirds of married women in India between the ages 15 and 49 are victims of beating, rape or forced sex. Read: Reuters

JORDAN: Forum on Population and Development

Jordan Times reported March 29 that the third national forum on population and development entitled, "The Demographic Dividend," concluded with the adoption of a resolution for drawing up new recommendations for formulating a national policy to ensure best use of the expected demographic dividend. The new proposals will first be studied by the Higher Population Council (HPC) and then referred to the Cabinet for endorsement. The event was organized by the HPC, in cooperation with UNFPA and the Department of Statistics. Read: Jordan Times

Jordanian News Agency reported March 26 that Princess Basma opened the 3rd national forum on population and development. The two-day forum was organized by the Higher Council for Population in cooperation with the General Statistics Department and UNFPA.

JORDAN: U.N. Report Finds Women Legislators’ Performance Falls Short

Jordan Times reported March 21 that women deputies serving in the current Lower House failed to take advantage of their legislative position to vote for laws that positively affect women's lives in Jordan, according to a U.N. study, "Jordanian women's participation in political life: An analytical study of the performance of women MPs in the 14th Parliament." The story noted that her Royal Highness Princess Basma said the emphasis His Majesty King Abdullah placed on women's role in the democratic process, including elections, makes the information in this study very timely. Princess Basma also acts as goodwill ambassador to UNDP and UNFPA and draws on this extensive complementary experience to promote the rights of all women. Read: Jordan Times

LEBANON: Lebanon Teen Website Offcially Launched

Lebanon media reported March 27-28 that the Minister of Social Affairs’ (MOSA) Information Education Communication project at the MOSA with UNFPA launched http://www.lebteen.com. The website is in Arabic and English and aims at providing young teens with basic knowledge and information about adolescent reproductive health. During the opening ceremony UNFPA Assistant Representative, Asma Kurdahi,said results of a study on Lebanese youth reveal the need to provide young people access to youth-friendly services that integrate adolescent reproductive and sexual health in the curricular and extra-curricular activities. Read: AsharqAlawsat/Ar , Assafir/Ar, Alanwar/Ar, Almustaqbal/Ar, Aliwaa/Ar, Annahar/Ar, Al-akhbar/Ar

MADAGASCAR: UNFPA Support

Le Quotidien reported March 28 from a meeting between the Prime Minister, Général Rabemananjara and UNFPA country representative Benoit Kalasa, quoting Mr. Kalasa as commiting to standing by Madagascar in good times and in bad: "Our cooperation's main goal  is the population's well-being, both in normal circumstances and in times of emergency time, providing reproductive health care and family planning", said Mr. Kalasa. Read: Le Quotidien

MALAWI: The Road Map Launched to Combat Maternal Mortality

UN News Centre reported March 30 that in Malawi – where 16 women die every day giving birth or during pregnancy – the government kicked off a United Nations-backed campaign to combat maternal and infant death. “Pregnancy and childbirth are supposed to be joyful occasions,” said Esperance Fundira, UNFPA representative in Malawi. “For many mothers in Malawi, they turn into a very sad occasion that tears families apart.” The new scheme, called the Road Map, is among the first to be initiated among African countries and it provides strategies to ensure that women undergo pregnancy, childbirth and post-delivery safely and also that their children are alive and healthy.

The plan, developed with assistance from UNFPA, WHO and UNICEF, includes access to contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions; skilled assistance at births; and timely high-quality emergency obstetric and infant care. “Too many women are dying to give life, and that is unacceptable, particularly when we know how to prevent it,” Fundira said. Read: UN News Centre, Xinhua General News Service, Voice of America

MONGOLIA: Five-Year Country Program Signed

Mongolian National News Agency reported March 21 that the Mongolian government and UNFPA signed a 5-year Plan of Action (2007-2011), which falls under the 4th Country Program. UNFPA Country Representative Delia Barcelona presented and signed the documents along with government officials. The Country Program includes initiatives and activities to improve vulnerable groups’ knowledge and attitudes and access for quality reproductive health services. Read: Montsame

MOROCCO: Cooperation Important to Achieve Human Development in Africa

Kuwait News Agency reported March 24 on the importance of cooperation among African countries to achieve sustainable human development. UNFPA Representative in Morocco George Georgi affirmed the need to establish a network among African Associations to achieve better communication, exchange experiences and knowledge in the area of development among these countries. Read: KUNA/Ar

NEPAL: Free Treatment for Uterine Prolapse

The Rising Nepal reported March 29 that women from rural areas of the Makwanpur district suffering from uterine prolapse will get free treatment in four different health camps in the district. The free health service will be provided jointly by UNFPA, Rotary Club of Kathmandu Mid Town and Disabled Child Hospital and the Rehabilitation Centre Banepa. Read: Rising Nepal

The Rising Nepal ran a March 30 opinion piece by Balaram Chaulagain who wrote, “In order to have a better future of the nation, we must address the health issues of married and unmarried adolescents as well as preventing and curing prolapsed uterus problems.” Chaulagain noted UNFPA, in collaboration with the WHO, has started to treat uterine prolepses, a debilitating condition which in the long run leads to severe degrees of physical deformity including inability to work and walk. Read: Rising Nepal

NIGERIA: Girls Face Pressure to Exchange Sex for Good Grades

Associated Press reported March 25 that girls in Nigeria are being pressured for sex by teachers in exchange for better grades. The story noted that harassment is commonplace in schools and colleges in many African countries. Miriam Jato, a senior adviser to UNFPA, said dodging teachers' advances consumes a girl's school years. "In some rural areas, parents withdraw girls from schools when they reach a certain age because they are afraid they will have to have relations with teachers." Jato added, "It ruins their job prospects…or they get pregnant and they are kicked out of school as well….The only possibility for her to get anywhere is for her to get married, and she can't even do that if she is pregnant. So she may even be forced into prostitution." Read: Associated Press

NIGERIA: Youths Encouraged to Contribute to National Development

The Tide reported March 19 that during the meeting of the National Council on Youth Development, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development announced it is encouraging Niger Delta youths to contribute to national development. In a goodwill message from UNFPA, Dr. Isma’ila Suleman said the Fund is always prepared to partner with Nigerian government at all levels toward empowering the youth. Read: The Tide

PAKISTAN: RHIYA Trains 300,000 Youth

Business Recorder reported March 28 that the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) has achieved its target of training 300,000 youth on adolescent reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, sexual abuse, sexual violence and gender-based violence in the five districts Chakwal, Kohat, Muzaffarabad, Jacobabad and Killa Saifullah. At the concluding ceremony of a national conference titled "The MDGs and Youth Empowerment Building on RHIYA's Achievements," UNFPA Technical Advisor Nadir Gul said about 3.3 million unemployed human capital comprises mostly the young populace:  50 percent of children are unable to complete their primary education and 19 percent total maternal deaths occur in the age of 15-19 that can be prevented through reproductive health awareness. The conference was also attended by UNFPA Country Representative Dr. France Donnay and SACHET Executive Director Dr. Rukhshanda.

Pakistan Newswire reported March 26 that young people from all provinces are scheduled to meet in Islamabad to participate in UNFPA Conference on MDGs and Youth Empowerment. Over 100 young people, girls and boys, from around the country will convene in Islamabad to celebrate the achievements of the national program for youth development and reproductive health awareness. UNFPA is organizing the conference for youth to share their experiences in this program with the government, NGOs and civil society. Read: Daily Times

PAKISTAN: Seminar on Fistula

Business Recorder reported March 30 on a seminar on “Management of Fistula in Pakistan,” organized by UNFPA at Lady Willington Hospital. Punjab Health Minister, Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal inaugurated the fistula center, equipped with an operation theatre. The minister commended UNFPA and the Lady Willington Hospital for developing the center.

PHILIPPINES: More Political Will Needed to Reduce Maternal Mortality

Associated Press reported March 29 that the Philippines needs to take urgent action or it might not reach a universal goal to reduce its maternal death rate by 75 percent by 2015, said UNFPA Representative in the Philippines Suneeta Mukherjee. According to Mukherjee, more than 400,000 abortions are recorded each year. She said many of the unwanted pregnancies could have been avoided if women had better access to reproductive health services and information. Mukherjee said more political will is needed to cut the rate down to a targeted 52 deaths by 2015. Read: Associated Press

PHILIPPINES: Organizations Say Government Violates CEDAW

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported March 30 that the Philippine government has violated the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) – to which it has been a signatory by continuing to deny Filipino women access to all information and services on family planning methods, according to various non-government organizations (NGOs). At a forum sponsored by UNFPA to coincide with the end of the Women’s Month celebration, UNFPA Program Officer for Gender, Auralyn Anorico, noted that the NGOs “hold [the Philippine government] accountable for the systematic and structural discrimination of women. It is not fulfilling its obligations to provide access to all forms of contraception as provided in Article 12 of CEDAW.” Read:

PHILIPPINES: Program Launched to Address HIV-Infected Overseas Workers

BusinessWorld reported March 29 that the United Nations will infuse a total of $2 million to address the problem of the growing number of HIV-infected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). UNFPA Representative in the Philippines, Suneeta Mukherjee, said UNFPA and the Philippine government have teamed up to create a distinct program for the OFWs affected or in danger of attracting the virus.

Asia Pulse also reported March 28 on the Philippine government and UNFPA’s Letter of Understanding on the Joint Program on HIV and Migration to address the growing problem of HIV-infected OFWs. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Sunseta Mukherjie, UNFPA representative, signed the agreement.

PHILIPPINES: Rights for Muslim Women

The Sunday Times ran a March 25 column by Amina Rasul on women’s rights for Muslim women. She mentioned a March 20 forum organized by the Women and Gender Institute and the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy. UNFPA’s Jurma Tikmasan was among a group of women who presented their case to improve Muslim women’s rights. Miriam College President Patricia “Tattie” Licuanan and WAGI head Aurora “Oyie” de Dios invited women’s organizations to help address the implementation of the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in the Muslim areas. Read: Sunday Times

ROMANIA: Country Faces Childcare Crisis

There was widespread national coverage March 29 on UNFPA's analysis of the country's crisis in childcare. The applications for kindergarten far outnumber  the available places and the worst situation is registered in Bucharest, where 8,000 preschool children will remain outside the educational system this fall. The situation occurs after three years – 2003 to 2005 – of constant increase in the birth rate, especially in the big cities, and of rural-urban migration of young families with small children. "Romania needs a national strategy on population and development which could offer solutions to face these changes", said Dr. Laurian Arghisan of UNFPA. "The country could be prepared only if it takes into consideration the detailed forecast of the demographers and the current statistics that offer an accurate image of the population structure, and also if it considers in due time the demographic effects of certain measures. For example, the kindergarten crisis could have been avoided had the authorities conducted yearly evaluations of the number places in the education system as opposed to the number of newborns and developed a medium term strategy. The solution would have been to slowly increase the number of places in kindergartens and then in schools – we must not forget that these preschool pupils will have to be accommodated by the elementary schools in 2009-2010", said Dr. Arghisan. Read: Adevarul, Gandul, Realitatea Romaneasca, ProTV International        

RUSSIA: Expert on Demographic Issues to visit Belarus

Regnum reported March 30 that professor of Jerusalem University, Dr. Aliah Ben Moshe, will visit Minsk in April for an official tour organized by UNFPA’s office in Belarus. During the visit he will meet with the Deputy Minister of Statistics and Analysis to discuss issues concerning the initiation of the population census in 2009. Read: Regnum/Ru

SUDAN: Preparations for the 5th National Census Underway

Sudan Vision Daily reported March 27 that preparations for the 5th National Population and Housing Census are underway. The story noted that UNFPA is providing technical support for an eight-day training ahead of the pilot census scheduled for April 2007. Read: Sudan Vision Daily

UGANDA: African Youth Alliance Evaluated

New Vision reported March 27 that while assessing Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health messages condoms, confidence with abstinence and negotiating condom use were found to be the most significant lessons learnt from the African Youth Alliance program. “In-school evaluations found that, for primary pupils, the most significant change was in condom knowledge, while for the secondary school students, it was in building healthy relationships, confidence to refuse sex and negotiating condom use," UNFPA Representative Daniels Ugochi said. Read: New Vision

UKRAINE: Program to Reduce HIV-Infection among Youth

Mukola reported March 21 that during a roundtable discussion on the introduction of the program, “Reducing the spread of HIV infection among youth,” a cooperation agreement was signed between the executive agencies of the United Nations and Nikolaev City Administration. The Nikolaev region is one of the areas most affected by the HIV epidemic in the Ukraine. The story noted that a three-year program, “Reducing the spread of HIV infection among youth,” is being implemented by UNFPA in Crimea, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson and Nikolaev. Read: mukola/Ru

VIETNAM: $64.5 Million Cooperation Agreement Signed

Vietnam News Service reported March 29 that representatives from the Lao Government, UNDP, and UNFPA signed a $64.5 million cooperation agreement (2007-2011). The story noted that UNFPA will help Laos intensify policies relating to population and reproductive health in a bid to reduce the maternal fatality rate and support the family-planning policy of Laos.

WESTERN ASIA: Forum on Improving Adolescent Reproductive Health and Rights 

The Georgia Times’ March 21-24 issue reported on a regional forum with parliamentarians, governmental officials, experts and civil society representatives from the South Caucasus and the European Union. The forum was held to promote dialogue among the stakeholders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the E.U. to discuss strategies to improve the sexual and reproductive health of young people in the region. The forum concluded with a Statement of Commitment calling for action on the issues of reproductive health and rights of young people. Read: Georgia Times

ZAMBIA: 6th Country Program Action Plan Launched

Xinhua General News Service reported March 23 that the Zambian government with UNFPA support launched the 6th Country Program Action Plan (2007-2010) worth over $15.3 million. The program will be implemented in North-Western and Luapula provinces covering reproductive health, population and development and gender component.

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