Welcome to AFPPD Newsletter

Innovative population issues tend to be low on the political agenda and national policies, are often unclear and strong political support is lacking. Consequently, there is a glaring need for concerted advocacy aimed at lawmakers and decision makers. The Hewlett Foundation has funded the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) for the Person-to-Person Advocacy Programme , with new elections in project countries, efforts is now to reach newly elected national parliamentarians. PPAP aims at improving elect representatives advocacy, knowledge and commitment to population and development issues, particularly for family planning and reproductive health concerns in individual countries in the Asian region. The projects overall objective is to implement and improve the commitment of parliamentarians and other elected representatives on ICPD issues at the national level. This approach is a combination of research with advocacy, in order to assess and promote awareness, knowledge. opinions, and actions taken by individual parliamentarians in the field of reproductive health.

PPAP is currently being implemented in 4 Asian countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia. India and Laos are recently starting programme. The following is a report of the AFPPD-Hewlett Foundation PPAP

Cambodia: High Awareness and Active Participation in Reproductive Health Issue; Condom Use Low

Third year of Person-to-Person Advocacy with Parliamentarians (PPAP) Project is being successfully implemented in Cambodia. The PPAP project was developed jointly by AFPPD and Cambodian Association of parliamentarians on Population and Development (CAPPD), and first launched in Cambodia in March 2002. Under the project, based on a questionnaire distributed before hand, the appointed discussants individually met with parliamentarians and provincial leaders and discuss on the broader issues of Population and Development. The questionnaire effectively identifies what people know and don’t know. Referencing the result of questionnaire, the discussants provide information as well as accurate knowledge.

Last year, the project expanded its target group with newly elected Parliamentarians and the district Leaders called Commune Council Members (CCMs). Total of the 41 parliamentarians and 520 CCMs in three provinces, namely Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu and Ta Keo were interviewed. This is about 90% of all the CCMs in the three provinces and 79% of 52 newly elected MPs. Each interview mostly took 60-120 minutes. This could indicate the level of interest shown by the CCMs. Actually, the interview was conducted in a very cooperative and enthusiastic atmosphere.

The result of the questionnaire shows that most of the MPs and CCMs are aware of Reproductive Health before. Among all the issues relating to population, the MPs and CCMs think HIV/AIDs and Maternal Mortality Rate are the most problematic. This shows that the MPs and CCMs understand the current situation of Cambodia that is, of high HIV prevalence rate and high Maternal mortality as compared with Asian countries.

Although the CCMs are generally knowledgeable about population issues, they still lack knowledge on issues such as the advantage of antenatal care and the full advantageous of condom use. These knowledge gaps are also filled by the PPAP project. As a result, CCMs could make many of suggestions and expressed their commitment to population and development. The distinctive feature of PPAP strategy is its dual impact. One is not only able to assess the level of knowledge among lawmakers, but also can raise awareness among them by provide new or accurate knowledge/information with them.

In general, the three-year PPAP project’s implementation brought lot of satisfactory results. Assessment of the current level of awareness, knowledge, opinions, and action of parliamentarians and CCMs on reproductive health and birth spacing especially on safe motherhood and HIV/AIDS were made and documented. The awareness of CCMs in regards to RH and birth spacing (especially on safe motherhood) has increased due to new knowledge and clarity on facts. Moreover, the actions of CCMs have been promoted by providing feedback on the behaviors and actions with regard to RH and birth spacing.

All of the council members and parliamentarians reported that they are committed to contributing to the well-being of Cambodian people through improved reproductive health by increasing their involvement and participation in actions related to reproductive health and birth spacing.

The CCMs and parliamentarians were very interested in advocacy & IEC/BCC materials provided. They also suggested providing advocacy & IEC/BCC materials as much as possible such as newsletters, fact sheets, leaflets, posters, etc. for their awareness raising and references during the meeting.Most of CCMs and parliamentarians suggested CAPPD to increase awareness of community people on reproductive health and birth spacing by expending PPAP project to the other locally elected representatives.

Indonesia: Gender, Culture, Religion Crucial to Achieve Development

The memberships are as follows: Central Parliament (40); South Sumatra Provincial Parliament (22); West Kalimantan Provincial Parliament (27); East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Parliament (23) Members of IFPPD are also placing efforts to establish the Forum in West java parliament and increase memberships of parliamentarians from the region.

Apart from the tragedy of Tsunami, the year of 2004 was the election year for the Indonesian. There were 3 elections took place; 1st and 2nd round of presidential election and the general election for parliament. Out of 550 elected parliamentarians, about 70% of them are the newly elected one. 200 senators are also newly elected.

PPAP interviews were restarted in November 2004 targeting newly elected MPs and senators. It ambitiously targets provincial level representatives as well. 46 MPs and senators, and 68 local representatives in East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan and South Sumatra have been interviewed by now.

The interviews have so far been successful. Discussants were discussed with them on the variety of issues related to Population and development such as reproductive health and gender. In the central level, greater interest was shown by the parliaments who belong to commission IX and VIII which is respectively responsible for population, health, manpower and transmigration, and religion, social and women empowerment. The MPs from commission VIII were especially interested in gender issue.

Religious and cultural matters are crucial when you wish to achieve success in population and development especially the country like Indonesia where religion is deeply rooted in society and religious leaders are still influential in the community. In this sense, it was good the MPs and senators from commission VIII showed great interest. Remarkably, despite of the Islamic society that normally is hesitant to touch upon sexuality or sexuality among unmarried people, HIV/AIDS and Adolescents reproductive were discussed during the interview.

The major constraints discussant faced in PPAP activities that sometimes they had a difficulty to reach MPs and senators. Some of the MPs and senators were too busy and the other did not see the connection between population and their concerned issue. It is important to boost their interest by making MPs to convince that there is the linkage as well as make them realize that the importance of the population issue in their society. Providing small IEC materials with them could be one method.

Population issue is crucial to the development of the country. With many of sick people, no single country could be as productive as it could be otherwise. With adequate number of family member, people are more inclined to afford to have education, be freed from daily worries and have a quite moment to look into themselves, which can help them to realize their potential and allow them to look up higher world. In the long run, it is these people who will be the basis of the prosperity of the country.

In other matters, IFPPD conducted AFPPD supported seminar for women parliamentarians at the Central Parliament Hall, Jakarta in November 2004. This seminar aimed to sensitize women parliamentarians with issues of population and development and the work of AFPPD/IFPPD/PPAP. This seminar saw high attendance of women parliamentarians who actively participated by sharing their views and concerns. The Minister of Women Empowerment of Indonesia addressed this conference which was attended by UNFPA and other officials.

Malaysia: More Advocacy Needed on RH Issues

The respondents were requested to assess the implications of population in their respective constituencies in such important national issues as public housing, education, employment, health centers and poverty. They were asked to assess whether the issue was a problem, exist in their constituency and rate the problem. Suggestions were also solicited on measures to resolving the specific issues.

The opinions of the respondents were solicited on the sources of information the general public obtained on family planning. Five main sources were presented as a guide. These are group discussions, electronic media, print media, health specialist and seminar/workshop.

Based on the response of 148 parliamentarians, health specialist was seen as providing the main source of information with 43.9 per cent. This was followed by information from electronic media (29.7 per cent), printing media (15.5 per cent), 7.4 per cent from group discussions and only 3.4 per cent from seminars/workshops.

Parliamentarians suggested that schools and higher learning institution can play a role in educating and advocating on these issues through their respective counselors. Besides, Women’s Association(HAWA) can also play an important role in providing information to the societies. They also suggested that the elected members should ensure their constituency has been fully informed.

There are barriers on family planning. The proponent of this view (28.4 per cent) cited cultural and religious perceptions of some section of the society, to the traditional Muslims in general, they would object to family planning if the purpose were strictly to prevent pregnancy or fear of being unable to maintain a family. Catholics on the other hand prohibited the use of condom among its followers.

The other view (67.6 per cent) is that there are no barriers on family planning depending on the real intent and purpose. Family planning should be encouraged for the purpose of maintaining the health of the mothers and the establishment of a stable and prosperous family and comply with the religious injunctions. It should be delivered in a simple and easy to understand language so as to avoid misconception.

Given the necessary information, expertise, support, and funds, the parliamentarians were asked what they will do to advocate the following issues of national importance: i.e. population and development; family planning; sexually transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS; adolescents’ reproductive and sexual health; and violence against women.On the issue of population and development, 22.3per cent were willing to vote for, 71.6 per cent willing to speak at the debate, 21.6 per cent to mobilize financial resources, 57.4 to sponsor/participate in awareness workshop and 66.9 per cent to advocate in the constituency.

On the issue of adolescent reproductive and sexual health, only 23.6 per cent were willing to vote for, 71.6 per cent to speak at the debate, 24.3 per cent to mobilize financial resources, 61.5 per cent to sponsor/participate in awareness workshop and 66.0 per cent to advocate in the constituency.

On the issue of violence against women, only 25.7 % were willing to vote for, 73.0 % to speak at the debate, 23.6 % to mobilize financial resources, 60.8 %

Phillipines: Information Gaps a Hinderence to Family Planning

The survey covered wider range of issues including Family Planning and HIV/AIDs. The study shows that despite of the fact that those influential were generally aware of most of the issues, their knowledge are sometimes limited or biased due to lack of information.

For example, the issues that were most concerned in Philippines are family planning and safe motherhood. The local influential people are aware of the importance of birth spacing. They also think the family size is too big as well as couples have a right to chose the number of children they have. However, most of the influential are not really knowledgeable about the contraceptive methods, especially modern contractions. Perhaps the result with the influence of the Catholic Church in the society, most familiar method is Rhythm method and overwhelms the familiarity with condoms.

Moreover, the over 80% of them answers that the main sources of HIV/AIDS transmission is the sex with prostitute. That is they are not really aware that it could be transmitted by sexual intercourse not only with prostitutes. Much less number of them knows about the other source of the transmission i.e. mother-to-child transmission and injections. This may be because the situation of HIV/AIDs in Philippines is not so serious. However, this result can indicate the risk of prejudice towards the people living with HIV/AIDs. Thus, more information is needed. Considering the gap between high awareness and the knowledge level among the local legislator, even little more information and education can make big differences and eventually will give them motivation to lead the community.

Philippines is now getting ready to reach majority of parliamentarians in the newly elected parliament and senate by meeting and discussing with them reproductive health, population, and related issues. These programs funded by Hewlett Foundation will bring out the view of parliamentarians on Population on and development issue.

Newly formed Laos Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (LAPPD) is the national parliamentary committee of Laos with full time staff support from UNFPA and AFPPD is now ready for action in involving majority of parliamentarians on Person-to-Person meeting on Population, RH and HIV/AIDS related issues.

India will also work on Person to Person Advocacy Project for the first time as this is seen as a more effective method to reach majority of parliamentarians and discuss with them on individual level about their view on population and development related issues. Indonesia, Cambodia, and Malaysia are on the last phase of the programme.

The midterm evaluation conducted by an independent consultant found PPAP as one of the best methods to educate and motivate parliamentarinans .

Enhancing Political Commitment for HIV/AIDS AUSTRALIA

Senator Brian Greig, member of APPGPD, successfully moved a motion in the Senate, saying that the Government is pursuing a flawed process for developing the new HIV Strategy and is delaying the development and release of the 5th National HIV Strategy. Grieg called on the Government to expedite the conclusion of the 5th National HIV Strategy and support the expansion of HIV/AIDS prevention activities both locally and internationally. The motion was passed by the Senate with only the Government opposing it. Senator Lyn Allison submitted a question on notice in Parliament to the Government asking them to extend Medicare benefits to HIV testing to encourage better screening and further limit the spread of the disease. The Government’s response is pending.

Gender in Times of Disaster

The meeting also discussed plans for the International Women’s Day 2005, a Panel discussion on “Gender and Human Rights in the Context of Disaster” is planned. The theme is to focus on security, development, disaster, and human rights. AFPPD informed the meeting of AFPPD’s upcoming activities for 2005 and specifically the 3rd Women Ministers and Parliamentarians conference planned for July 2005 in Malaysia.

AFPPD at ATLAS Training for NGOs

Japanese Parliamentarians Study Visit

On January 17, 2005, AFPPD hosted a luncheon in honor of visiting Japanese parliamentarians, including Ms. Wakako Hironaka, Former Minister of Environment, Ms. Kayoko Shimizu, Former Minister of Environment and current Vice-President APDA, Mr. Tsrunen Marutei, House of Councilors, Mr. Katsuhide Kitatani, Chairman of 2050, Ms. Sakurai of 2050, Japan. The Japanese MPs met with their Thai counterparts including. Senator Mrs. Maleerat Kaeka, Senator Den Tohmeena, Senator Damrong Pootan, and Senator Mrs. Prateep Ungsongtham. Also present were Mr. G. Giridhar, Director of UNFPA/CST Bangkok, and Ms. Keiko Okaida, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNESCAP, Shiv Khare of AFPPD. The study visit was organised by Population 2050 of Japan to Laos and they stopped in Bangkok on thier way back.

South Asian Parliamentary Seminar on HIV/AIDS in Pakistan

She presented the experience of Thailand lauding AFPPD efforts on HIV/AIDS Prevention through programmes such as the Small Grant Project and the Thailand Tambon (Sub District) Leaders programme in Thailand.
Dr. Malinee suggested that there should be encouragement in organizing activities consistently and continuously, particularly at national and local level.

Dr. Malinee concluded her presentation emphasizing that parliamentarians can be key to HIV/AIDS prevention. As policy makers, parliamentarians need to increase their political commitment and bridge policy with the HIV/AIDS realities in their communities. She also talked on the importance of monitoring the progress closely for its effectiveness, and the need to work in collaboration with others to meet the goal of HIV/AIDS reduction.

Mr. Michael Johnson MP, Chair of the Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (member of AFPPD) spoke on the topic of HIV prevention efforts, using Australian successes and failures as a case study.

UN Population Division Bring Relaities in Open: Population on the Rise

It is going to be a strain on the world, but it seems feasible,” said Hania Zlotnik, director of the U.N. Population Division. “It doesn’t seem that there is a crisis coming, but that doesn’t mean that some countries are not facing a crisis.”

Populations will at least triple in some of the poorest nations including Afghanistan, and East Timor in Asia amongst others in Africa. The UN report predicts that nine countries will account for half of the 2.6 billion increase: These include India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, the DRC, Bangladesh, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the United States.

India is expected to surpass China as the world’s most populous coutry by about 2025, five years earlier then estimated. The population of the most developed countries will remain virtually unchanged at 1.2 billion until 2050, the report says. Fifty-one developed countries including Japan, Russia, Italy, and Germany should have smaller populations in 45 years. The populations of some developed countries like USA and UK with their falling fertility rates, however will see an increase due to the arrival of migrants.

Ms. Zlotnik warned that the United Nation’s predictions depended on controlling the spread of AIDS. “We cannot emphasize enough the huge impact of this disease,” Zlotnik said. “We also have to emphasize that these projections in the long term are assuming that humanity is going to have success in combating the spread of this disease, by mostly behavioral change and prevention.”

World Watch Institute: Over the past few decades, countries from every major political and religious background and in virtually every region have experienced momentous change in the size and structure of their populations. Yet the global demographic transition—the transformation of populations from short lives and large families to longer lives and small families—remains woefully incomplete.

Studies show that countries at the early stages of this transition bear the highest risks of becoming embroiled in an armed civil conflict—warfare within countries that ranges from political and ethnic insurgencies to state-sanctioned violence and domestic terrorism. Most are bogged down by a debilitating demographic situation: they are home to large and growing proportions of young people; many are experiencing rapid urban population growth; and many face very low per-capita availability of cropland or fresh water.

South Asian Parliamentarians Address Women and Youth Issues to Attain Peace

Leaders and members of parliaments from South Asian countries met in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 29th November-3rd December 2004 for the Fifth General Assembly of the Association of Asian Parliamentarians for Peace (AAPP). Sen. Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, MP Thailand and Secretary General of AFPPD, was amongst other parliamentarians who attended this conference addressing peace and stability in the Asian region and the role of parliamentarians to make Asia a secure place.

Since its inception in 1999 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, AAPP has made gradual but consistent growth affirming the key role of parliamentarians in evolving common strategies for promotion of peace and development in the continent of Asia, in particular, and the world, in general.

The theme “Vision for Asia: Peace and Development through Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue and Cooperation” recognizes that through parliamentary diplomacy and involvement in the peace process, facilitating inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, provides a vital link between governments and parliaments to join efforts in order that fundamental commitments become realities for citizens.

Some of the issues the assembly committed to include political issues, socio-economic issues, peace and security issues, and women and youth. For women and youth, parliamentarians placed emphasis n the need to implement and enforce laws on reproductive health.

In Brief...

The Third Asian Pacific Reproductive and Sexual Health Conference will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 17-21 November 2005. An International Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Kamar Uzaman Ali discussed preparatory issues including topics to be discus participation and resource persons for the conference. Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director, represented AFPPD at the meeting.

Asia Pacific Leadership Forum of UNAIDS and AFPPD has been working closely since the formation of APLF. Recently AFPPD officials met with APLF Manager Mr. David Bridger, APLF Adviser Mr. Tony Bates , and Coordinator for South Asia, Mr. Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan at AFPPD Secretariat to discuss future plans and strategies to involve elected representatives in HIV/AIDS programs.

Dr. Bouphany from the Laos Assocation of Parlaimentraians on Population and Development (LAPPD) met with AFPPD officials in Bangkok in January to discuss future collaborative efforts with AFPPD which includes possibilty of hosting regional conferences and workshops, implementing the AFPPD person-to-Person Advocacy Project (PPAP), amongst others. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between LAPPD and AFPPD commiting to work together in the region for advocacy of population and Reproductive Health issues with Lao parliamentarians. UNFPA has provided Dr. Bouphany to oversee the programme in Laos.

AFPPD was represented by Mr. Sakil Satyal and Ms. Pariyaporn Techanaparak at the Symposium on Community Based HIV/AIDS Management hosted by Mr. Montri Pekanan, Deputy Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT) . The symposium was a wrap up session of a 3 day workshop for participants from across Asia working in the fields of Commnity Based HIV/AIDS preventionand care programs. The guest of honor for the evening was Mr. Matsuo Matushi, Executive Director, FASID, Japan.

The UNESCAP Executive Secretary, Mr. Kim Hak Su, who has been instrumental in giving a new image to UNESCAP and trying to make it a more vibrant organization has been given two more years to continue his good work. The UN Secretary General made this announcement in New York.

“A recent study suggests that if every person alive today consumed at the rate of an average person in the United States, three more planets would be required to fulfill these demands.”

PPAP Programme Launch in India

The Person-to-Person Advocacy Project (PPAP) with parliamentarians has been found to reach maximum number of parliamentarians in a country.

The programme initially funded by Hewlett Foundation is being extended to India with UNFPA funding.

It is planned that Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and development (IAPPD) in cooperation with AFPPD will now conduct the PPAP Programme with a target to meet maximum number of parliamentarians in India. On February 19-25 a training course to train discussants that will meet members of parliament and tape their views on various aspects of population and development was held. Mr. Shiv Khare and Ms. Miho Yamazaki of AFPPD conducted the training with Mr. Manmohan Sharma of IAPPD. Other resource persons were Prof. P.R. Tyagi, Prof. Yadav, Prof. B. B. L. Sharma, and Mr. Deepak Gupta. The programme is funded by UNFPA/JTF.

The Asian Tsunami Tragedy

AFPPD greets the new year with mixed feelings of sorrow for the death of the thousands of innocent lives in several countries of Asia, because of a tsunami created from one of the biggest earthquakes in modern history that happened not far from Northern Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. It has brought the global community together with the outpouring of generosity to all those affected by the earthquake. With commitment to overcome the grief and with renewed energy to rebuild lives our region is hopeful for the future.

A recent study by UNFPA and the Alan Guttmacher Institute estimated that meeting women’s current unmet need for contraception would prevent each year:
• 23 million unplanned births
• 22 million induced abortions
• 1.4 million infant deaths
• 142,000 pregnancy related-deaths (including
53,000 from unsafe abortions); and
• 505,000 children losing their mothers due to
pregnancy-related causes.

AFPPD Reaching 90% of Parliamentarians in Several Asian Countries

Hewlett Funded Person to Person Advocacy Project Garners Interest in Population and Reproductive Health Issues