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24th APDA-AFPPD Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting on Climate Change and Health at Kuala Lumpur

The world population has increased from 2.5 billion in 1950 to 6.8 in 2007. Evidence highlights that human activity and conduct is producing significant global climate change, with serious implications on public health. To educate and inform on population growth, climate change and their impacts, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and AFPPD-Malaysia organized the 24th Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting on Population and Development on April 26-27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting was attended by 70 parliamentarians and policymakers from Asia-Pacific.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Kayoko Shimizu, acting Chair of APDA, said that the, “G8 Summit addresses global challenges, including the world economy and African issues; but this time, it will focus on environmental challenges by highlighting climate change and its implications. We should have an Asian consensus in this meeting to serve as the basis of discussion at the G8 International Parliamentarians’ Conference on Population and Sustainable Development, to be held in Tokyo by July”.

International efforts and collaboration are essential to overcome future challenges

A message from Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda of Japan, Chair of AFPPD, APDA, and the Japan Parliamentarians’ Federation for Population (JPFP), was delivered by Ms. Chieko Nohno, MP (Japan). He stated, “Mankind faces pressing challenges in the future: global warming, climate change, extreme poverty and the threat of new and re-emerging pandemic. As globalization proceeds and the world population continues to grow, international efforts are essential if we are to overcome these tasks and to create a society where every person can live in dignity”.

Mr. Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadziah, Deputy Minister of Finance and Chair of AFPPD-Malaysia, urged parliamentarians to discuss all factors and concerns to ensure balanced population growth that benefits every person. “There is shortage in food supply due to the conversion of land from agricultural to industrial. It is on your shoulders to find out prudent and practical ways to tackle the world issues on climate change, diseases and population”, he added.

Mr. Liow Tiong Lai, Minister of Health in Malaysia, narrated that his government has taken mitigation and adaptive measures through various ministries, agencies and NGOs. “These efforts enable Malaysia to mobilize adequate food supplies, to provide shelters, and to reduce morbidity and mortality due to natural disasters and accompanying diseases. In Malaysia, our strength in mitigating the effects of climate change lies in our healthcare infrastructures and delivery network. With the commitment by the government, we will continue on the implementation of various mitigation measures”, he informed.

Mr. Garimella Giridhar, Representative of UNFPA-CST, Bangkok urged governments to integrate demographic factors into environmental impact assessments, to promote sustainable resource management, to modify unsustainable consumption and production patterns, and to pay particular attention to ecologically vulnerable areas where population, economic activity and environmental issues are concentrated.

In a message from Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand and Secretary-General of AFPPD – delivered by Ms. Puangpen Chanprasert, Senior Public Health Technical Officer in Thailand – he highlighted that approximately 600,000 deaths occurred worldwide as a result of weather-related natural disasters in the 1990s. “Recent studies suggest that the record high temperatures of 2003 in Europe were associated with an estimated 70,000 deaths. Each year, diarrheal diseases, malaria and malnutrition kill 3 million people globally. Dengue fever is on the rise – it is estimated that up to 80 million individuals become infected annually”, he stated.

Mr. James Dawos Mamit, MP (Malaysia), presented an interesting overview on the interrelationship between population, climate change and infectious diseases. He said that climate change is the greatest threat being faced by the planet today, with rising temperatures causing more droughts and floods. The main human influence on global climate is likely to be emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Increase in average global temperature impacts the climate, resulting in altered precipitation patterns, melting glaciers, intensifying storms and rising sea level.

“South Korea is drawing up detailed plans to build a low-carbon society; such as expanding the use of new and renewable energy, and enhancing energy efficiency. Many environmental experts and activists are taking part in urging the South Korean government to take further reduction and adaptation actions”, said Ms. Han Myeong Sook, MP, former Prime Minister, Environment Minister and Chair of the Committee on Population and Development in South Korea.

Mr. Shuzo Nishioka, Senior Research Fellow of the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Japan, discussed the possible impacts of climate change in Japan. “Extreme daily precipitation, including that associated with typhoons, will further enhance over Japan due to the increase in atmospheric moisture. Rice yield in irrigated lowland areas is projected to decrease up to 40 percent”. In Japan, coastal lowlands are located below high water level, mainly in large cities; a 1 meter rise in sea level could put up to 4.1 million people at risk. It is also projected that about 90 percent of the habitat of forest species could disappear by the end of this century in Japan.

Global warming and fluctuations in weather help to spread diseases. The temperature affects the growth and survival of microbes and vectors. Weather affects the timing and intensity of disease outbreaks. “Climate is the primary factor in the epidemic of malaria, cholera, dengue, meningococcal meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, leptospirosis and rickettsial infections”, highlighted by Mr. Hasan Abdul Rahman, Director of the Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Public Health in Malaysia.

Mr. Jose Rimon, Senior Program Officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, presented the impacts of population growth on the sustainability and stability of societies. It is estimated that nearly 1.5 billion men and women will be 20-24 years old by 2015; and if these individuals are not able to find jobs, the situation will fuel political instability. “Most urban growth is occurring in slum areas. Countries with bulging youth population are likely to experience civil conflicts. Competition in the declining crop land and fresh water is also associated with civil conflicts”, he informed.

Managing population growth is a key component to stability and sustainability. Almost all surveys worldwide show that the approval and support for voluntary family planning is high. Between 1960 and 2008, contraceptive prevalence in developing countries increased from 9 to 45 percent among married women of reproductive age. However, more than 200 million women worldwide of reproductive age continue to have an unmet need for family planning. “Addressing population growth will have a significant impact on poverty, mortality, diseases and conflicts. Communities are less sustainable if living with high levels of conflict. Societies are more sustainable when health and social needs of the most vulnerable are met”, underlined Mr. Rimon.

STIs are associated with serious health, social and economic consequences; and they cause considerable morbidity and mortality. A successful approach usually involves comprehensive sex education programmes, adoption of safe sex practices, and early detection and treatment. Mr. Ho Pak Chung, Regional Chair of the International Planned Parenthood Federation - East, South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF-ESEAOR), urged governments to target young people and women in the prevention strategy, “It is important that policy-makers adopt a realistic and non-judgemental approach”.

A panel to discuss the adoption of an APDA-AFPPD Statement for the G8 Summit followed – with Mr. Jose Rimon, Senior Program Officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Ms. Kerry Nettle, MP (Australia); Mr. Chiaki Takahashi, MP (Japan) and Deputy Secretary-General of JPFP; Mr. Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua, Speaker of Samoa, Vice-Chair of AFPPD and Chair of the Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development; and Ms. Tuti Indarsih Loekman Soetrisno, MP (Indonesia)

In her closing address, Ms. Raj Karim, Regional Director of IPPF-ESEAOR, said, “This clearly demonstrates the need for us to be involved in the population field; and to be sensitive, vigilant and prepared to manage both immediate and prolonged effects of any environmental changes that may end up in crisis”.

Ms. Wakako Hironaka, MP (Japan) and acting Chair of JPFP, said, “We have adopted an inspiring APDA-AFPPD Declaration. While declarations tend to lack focus, ours has a very clear message because we had a clear objective to start with. Without the contributions of parliamentarians from Asian countries, we could not attain this outcome”.

AFPPD Executive Committee Mandated Parliamentarian Mobilization for ICPD+15

Survey Parliamentarians’ Performance on Reproductive Health Issues

AFPPD’s Executive Committee meeting, under the chairmanship of Ms. Wakako Hironaka, MP (Japan) – representing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda of Japan, Chair of AFPPD – decided to mobilize parliamentarians for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)+15 in 2009. A working group of parliamentarians will be setup to draft a programme for ICPD+15 in 2009.

One of the important decisions was to survey the performance of parliamentarians on ICPD issues – Philippines and India already conducted such a survey. The meeting reviewed the AFPPD’s report on advocacy techniques in working with parliamentarians. Mr. Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiatau, Speaker of Samoa and Chair of the Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development (PPAPD), was elected as the Vice-Chair of AFPPD.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Garimella Giridhar, Director of UNFPA-CST, Bangkok; Ms. Raj Karim, Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation-East, South East Asia and Oceania Region; and Dr.Osamu Kusumoto, Secretary General/Executive Director of APDA – apart from member parliamentarians of Australia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

Effective Advocacy Techniques in Working with Parliamentarians

Over the past 27 years, AFPPD has used a variety of advocacy strategies to keep parliamentarians engaged on population and development-related issues. The key strategies that the AFPPD employs to achieve these objectives are to hold conferences, workshops, study visits, focus groups and parliamentarian participation at the regional and international levels. Other important strategies employed were the Person to Person Advocacy Projects (PPAP) and capacity development of parliamentary staff.

On March 26-28, AFPPD, in collaboration with UNFPA-Indonesia and the Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IFPPD), organized a workshop in Bali, Indonesia to review which of these techniques are effective in motivating parliamentarians and how their role can be enhanced. Twenty two parliamentarians and national committee staffs from 10 Asia-Pacific countries attended the workshop.

To commence the workshop, Mr. Zahidul Huque, Representative of UNFPA-Indonesia, said in his opening remarks, “Asia Pacific has progressed in lowering the number of people living in extreme poverty, from 1 billion in 1990 to 641 million a decade later. To some extent, the progress is attributable to contributions of parliamentarians.” The role of the parliamentarians is to create a political environment where views on poverty eradication, sustainable development, gender equality, population and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) are translated into policies for implementation.

He further said that the 2006 global survey of UNFPA revealed that parliamentarians were personally involved in proposing 157 bills, approving 67 policies and enacting 250 laws in different countries. Most of these laws dealt with gender equality, women empowerment, gender-based violence, SRH, human rights, HIV/AIDS, population and development.

“As we are getting closer to 2015, we need to examine the effectiveness of the ongoing processes, especially in working with parliamentarians; and how far partnerships with parliamentarians have created a difference in our efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). I hope this meeting can further improve our collaboration with the parliamentarians to ensure their active participation in meeting the MDGs and the ICPD PoA”, he added.

Ms. Aisyah Baidlowi – MP (Indonesia), Vice-Chair of AFPPD and Chair of IFPPD – was involved during the implementation of PPAP in Indonesia. She narrated, “I was engaged in the discussions on reproductive health, gender and population issues. My involvement with this project in 2002 reminded me on the core principles of our national development goals on the issues that aim in creating better quality of life through sustainable development. PPAP is also in line towards reaching the fulfilment of MDGs and ICPD principles.” Parliamentarians are among the important key figures to make the enacting of laws on reproductive health, gender, and population urgent. She stressed, “The outcome of this meeting can provide us with opportunities to improve our future engagements with advocacy”.

Throughout the workshop, participants were given the opportunity to share their experiences in working with parliamentarians. A session to build understanding on advocacy was facilitated by Mr. Samidjo, National Programme Officer for Advocacy of UNFPA-Indonesia. Ms. Carla Benham, Programme Associate of AFPPD, presented the effectiveness of conferences, workshops and panel discussions as techniques in motivating parliamentarian action.

An overview of the PPAP – its concept and impacts – was highlighted by Mr. Gerard de Kort, Consultant and former Manager of PPAP in AFPPD. He informed that under PPAP, parliamentarians met to discuss ICPD issues, and their level of knowledge was assessed. All the interviews were also recorded.

Key impacts, challenges and lessons learned from PPAP in Cambodia

Reports from 5 Asian countries on the key impacts, challenges and lessons learned from PPAP were presented at the workshop. Mr. Hap Omaly, Deputy Director for International Relations of the Cambodian Parliament and in-charge of the Cambodian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, informed that from 2002 to 2003, 183 Cambodian parliamentarians and senators were interviewed for PPAP. The project assessed the current level of awareness and involvement of parliamentarians on reproductive health, family planning and HIV/AIDS.

PPAP in the Philippines provided a venue for discussing important social issues, especially reproductive health; and it helped to establish a data bank of ‘human development’ legislators. Ms. Emmylou Mendoza, MP (Philippines) underlined that 84 percent of the legislators favored the integration of population management in the government’s development planning while 87 percent supported the national policy that provided reproductive health services to poor communities. She informed, “Measures for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STI), provisions on safe motherhood, and male involvement in reproductive health were more supported; while the use of contraceptives and sex education were more opposed by the parliamentarians”.

“Mobilizing support in forms of political commitment and will towards a concrete plan of action lead to the formation of policies, increase in budget allocation and effective implementation. PPAP, one of IFPPD’s early projects, laid out the basic foundation block of its current programmes”, said Mr. Umar Zulkarnain Aziz, National Project Coordinator of IFPPD. The key findings from IFPPD suggested that 95 percent of the elected representatives had heard about population and reproductive health issues, and they mostly support gender issues. Although the local parliamentarians had good knowledge on the issues, their understanding on specific topics still need improvement – such as the way to treat HIV/AIDS-infected persons, interventions on domestic violence against women, population mobility and family welfare development.

“During the PPAP in Laos, less than 50 percent of the interviewed parliamentarians are familiar with reproductive health, AIDS, STI and gender issues”, stated Mr. Phonethep Pholsena, MP (Laos). Many of the parliamentarians expressed that the age of marriage must be more than 18, men should be involved in family planning and women should be empowered. As a result, the Lao Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development organized a workshop, concerned at population, development, reproductive health, HIV and gender issues.

Indian parliamentarians agree that male involvement in reproductive health needs emphasis

Under PPAP, the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development released a survey on “Involvement of Elected Representatives for Advocacy on Population, Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and Women Empowerment”. The survey found out that nearly all elected representatives agree that population increase is a barrier to economic growth and poverty alleviation. “It was noted that 96 percent of parliamentarians had been aware of STI but only some of them knew on its transmission methods”, said Mr. Manmohan Sharma, Executive Secretary of IAPPD

Ms. Joanna Spratt, Manager of the New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development, discussed motivational techniques for parliamentarians on study tours and field visits. Study tours are effective techniques to share experiences on certain issues, in contrast, field visits are used to observe the implementation of programmes and to have direct contact with target audiences – such as HIV/AIDS infected people. “They are both good techniques to increase the empathy of parliamentarians”, she highlighted.

Ms. Jane Singleton, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, presented the importance of media in advocacy campaigns and she provided tips for effective ways in which the media can be engaged. She informed that it is one of the most powerful ways to advocate parliamentarians who wish to influence their peers and the policies, and for national committee staff to influence parliamentarians.

Speaking on the experiences gathered and tools developed for political advocacy on maternal health, youth, HIV/AIDS and gender issues, Mr. Deepak Gupta, Senior Health Specialist of UNICEF-Indonesia, emphasized that the essential ingredient for success in developing health programmes is sustained political advocacy. Various effective advocacy tools that can be employed for elected representatives were consultations, meetings, national dailies, TV and radio forums, and study tours. He underlined, “I urge everyone to integrate political advocacy with an over-all programme approach, make a reality check in an issue, arrange media advocacy with parliamentarians, engage young leaders and assist them in evidence-based research”.

Mr. Azrul Mohd. Khalib, Advocacy Officer of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), discussed on what alternative approaches could be used in the future to motivate parliamentarians on population and development issues. He suggested, “We need to build an alliance with organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS and women development, and develop clear policy statements”. Mr. K S Seetharam, Consultant, summarized the findings of the workshop. It was found out that there are several advocacy techniques that can be applied in working with parliamentarians; and there is no single technique appropriate for all situations, thus a combination of techniques is necessary.

FACE TO FACE

“Religion Plays a Positive Role in Promoting Family Planning in Samoa”

Mr. Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua
Speaker of Parliament (Samoa), Vice-Chair of AFPPD and Chair of the Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development

What are the achievements and aberrations of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) movements in your country?

The Human Rights Protection Party gives importance to the health services in our country and the government increased the budgetary allocation for the last three consecutive years. Still, most people in rural areas have little access to health services. Absence of qualified doctors and trained nurses adds to this problem. These are the two key areas where efforts need to be made.

Had your government fully implemented the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action?

An increase in budgetary allocation for health is an indication of the government’s intention. The recently launched project to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, with the financial support of the Samoa Telecom Corporation, is another step towards that direction.

Religious beliefs have always come in between in the implementation of policies relating to family planning and reproductive health. How can the reproductive rights of people be protected?

Contrary to the public belief, religion plays a positive role in promoting family planning and reproductive health in our country. Christianity promotes healthy discussions between the Church and the people on issues such as these. I would rather say that the information on the internet on sex and related issues is trash and has left young people confused. However, the government is making efforts to uphold the reproductive rights of the people.

What steps have been taken to check the growing violence against women in your country?

The government has taken several initiatives to check violence against women in all forms by suggesting heavy penalties for the guilty.

Yes, both women and youth are empowered in our country. In fact, there are many NGOs helping women to raise their voices against any oppression. At the local level, the government is trying to help women through village councils.

SRHR of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people are important, the same with other ‘normal’ men and women. What are your comments?

I totally agree that health care providers should take care the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, equal with other ‘normal’ men and women. But I cannot say much of this.

Media has been playing a critical role in advocacy programmes of SRHR in Samoa. Both print and electronic media are playing an active role on the issue. The Ministry of Women Affairs is promoting SRHR in rural areas.

The government is trying to bring together the ministries on health and women affairs, and NGOs for the better management of health services in the country. Regarding the education of youth, we have started imparting sex education in the secondary education’s curriculum.

Do you agree that the lack of political commitment has always pushed back efforts of programmes relating to SRHR?

The political commitment to support SRHR issues is very much in place but we need to create awareness about it. However, the government should enact a legislation to make it implemented and monitored.

What message are you taking from the Hyderabad Conference, which has dealt with SRHR issues at length?

I will tell the government to involve legislatures in promoting SRHR issues and in providing safety for women.

Philippine Parliamentarians Urged Government to Utilize Family Planning Budget

Reproductive health and family planning advocates, including the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), urged all government health offices to mobilize and request fund to continue with the family planning efforts in the Philippines. “The budget for family planning is the money allocated for the people; and government health offices must take the initiative to use it where it is really targeted. It is a huge opportunity that they must immediately grab because if the amount is left unused, the fund will be realigned to other projects, and this sends a wrong message that funds on family planning is not needed after all”, said Mr. Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of PLCPD. In 2008, 50 million USD was allotted for the procurement of contraceptives but remains unused.

Ms. Thoraya Obaid Urged to Develop Capacities for Sustainable Urban Growth Management

New York, April 7-11: The 41st session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) adopted a resolution on “Population Distribution, Urbanization, Internal Migration and Development”, in which the importance of implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), particularly the access to reproductive health and family planning, was underlined. Ms. Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, focused her opening address on the role of urbanization in social and economic development, and the need for governments to develop capacities for sustainable management of urban growth. She highlighted the insufficient level of funding for the implementation of ICPD’s Programme of Action (PoA) and called on countries to increase their investments in all areas of ICPD to promote economic growth, poverty reduction and gender equality.

The commission addressed the benefits of urbanization, and underscored the links between the implementation of ICPD PoA and the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. In a final resolution, it recalled the commitment to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015, acknowledged the lack of funding for ICPD, and urged the international community to mobilize resources.

Parliamentarians at the Population, Peak Oil and Climate Change Conference in Australia

Canberra, March 14-15: Scientist and policymakers from United Kingdom, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia gathered at the conference, “Population, Peak Oil and Climate Change”, to discuss the impacts of these issues on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Speakers at the conference included Mr. Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary on International Development Assistance; Mr. Andrew McNamara, Minister for Sustainability, Climate and Innovation in Australia; and Mr. Mal Washer, Chair of the Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development. Ms. Jill Pettis, Chair of the New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development, attended the conference on behalf of AFPPD. The conference was organized by the Sustainable Population Australia.

A report released at the conference from UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health highlighted that eradicating hunger is going to be almost impossible. Seventy-six million mouths are to be fed every year, changing weather patterns, rising oil prices and competition for land to grow biofuels are making it harder to grow enough food. As food supplies become scarcer, people are forced to find other areas to farm for food and to grow biofuels. In the process, they cut down forests and exacerbate biodiversity loss.

“Parliamentarians Should be Active in Saving Girl Child”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India

New Delhi, April 29: “Every elected representative must actively participate in the campaign for saving girl child”, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India while addressing the National Meeting on “Save the Girl Child”. Describing the practice of female feticide as inhuman, uncivilized and reprehensible; Mr. Singh underlined that the discrimination against women begins at home. “The patriarchal mindset and preference for male children are compounded by an unethical conduct on the part of some medical practitioners who illegally offer sex determination services”, he added.

Stressing the need for awareness, he urged all concerned to put an end to female feticide. He asked the Ministry of Health to focus on orienting elected representatives and to use them as medium in fighting the practice. He told the Ministry of Women and Child Development that it should support women leaders to strengthen the nutrition programme in India. Urging the participation of every citizen in empowering the girl child, the Prime Minister said that the action must begin at home.

The meeting on “Save the Girl Child” was organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The inaugural session was addressed by Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss, Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Ms. Renuka Choudhury, Minister of State for Women and Child Development; and Ms. Panabaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

New Zealand Forum Briefed Parliamentary Staff on Population and Development Issues

Wellington, April 30: The New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) organized a session and a debate on population and development issues – participated by officials, advisors and representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Unit of parliament. Ms. Naomi Williams, Information and Parliamentary Coordinator, discussed the background information of NZPPD. She also provided some overview of the population and development challenges in the Pacific region.

“We Must Mobilize Political Commitment and Financing in Making Concrete Advances to Achieve Health-Related
Millennium Development Goals”

Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, addressed the Countdown to 2015
Parliamentarian Conference in Cape Town, South Africa

The parliamentarians who attended the 118th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union joined with global health experts and policy makers at the Countdown to 2015 Conference in Cape Town, South Africa on April 17-19, organized by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, to discuss the role they can play in accelerating actions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 on reducing child death and improving maternal health, respectively.

In her speech at the opening session of the conference, Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, said, “No woman should die giving life and no newborn or child should die when we know what needs to be done to save their lives. All partners should reaffirm their determination to improve maternal, newborn, child and reproductive health. We must mobilize political commitment and financing, and make concrete programmatic advances to achieve success”.

She urged participants to reach beyond health partners to achieve MDGs 4 and 5, adding that, “All actors have to work together to support nationally driven plans, strategies and health systems. We must develop common monitoring and evaluation frameworks for our programmes, and we must bring our collective will and motivation to accelerate actions”.

“To achieve our goals, we need functioning health systems with strong supply chains, well-equipped facilities and skilled health workers. We must focus our efforts to train health workers in communities where they are needed. If there are shortages of doctors, other clinical health workers can be trained to perform key life-saving functions”. Ms. Mane emphasized.

Investing in women improves the well-being of their family and the nation. It is estimated that the economic impact of maternal and newborn deaths amounts to 15 USD billion per year in productivity lost. She underlined, “It has been said that a society can be judged by how it treats women and children. I say, let us be judged by what we do to improve maternal, newborn and child health”

The conference served as a milestone to mobilize global commitment and action in maternal, newborn and child health. It also served as a major push to all actors and stakeholders to do rapidly, effectively and in better coordination. “Let us countdown to success, and to a world where women and children enjoy life, health and opportunity; and where all of us can say with conviction that we did everything we could to ensure that this happens.” Ms. Mane added.

Mr. Francisco Songane, Director Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, urged the parliamentarians, “From your experience, leadership and commitment, I encourage you to represent the ‘voices’ of women and children. I ask you to ensure that MDGs are priority on the agenda and to allocate money to address the situation”.

At the event, AFPPD-associated parliamentarians – Princess Sisowath Santa from Cambodia; Ms. Aisyah Baidlowi, Ms. Angelina Sondakh and Mr. MH Fansarullah Asa from Indonesia; Mr. Phonethep Pholsena from Laos; Mr. Nandor Tanczos from New Zealand; Ms. Ahn Myung Ock from South Korea; Mr. Nimal de Silva, Minister for Healthcare and Nutrition of Sri Lanka; and others attended the assembly.

64th Session of UNESCAP

Develop Renewable Energy for Long-Term Energy Security

Bangkok, April 24-30: The Commission session, which was attended by ministers and senior officials from 50 countries, adopted a resolution to cooperate proactively on the development of renewable energy, in an effort to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to enhance long-term energy security. In addition, the session adopted several other resolutions on issues such as the Millennium Development Goals, resilience to disasters and transport. Speakers of the event included Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of Thailand; Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP; and Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP. AFPPD was represented by Ms. Carla Benham, Programme Associate. The findings from a joint report by the United Nations and Asian Development Bank, entitled “A Future Within Reach 2008”, were also discussed at the session.

Without High Level of Political Support, it is Impossible to Control HIV/AIDS

“Stronger leadership and political commitment on AIDS is urgently needed in Asia”, highlighted by a recent report “Redefining AIDS in Asia – Crafting an Effective Response” of the Commission on AIDS in Asia – where Mr. JVR Prasada Rao, Director of UNAIDS-Asia-Pacific, and Ms. Nerissa Corazon Ruiz, MP (Philippines) and Chair of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, were members.

Globally, successful HIV responses have been driven by strong commitment and leadership

The key findings and recommendations of the report suggest that without high levels of political support, it is impossible to overcome the obstacles that block effective programmes from controlling the pandemic.

Addressing AIDS brings to the fore controversial issues which mainstream society prefers to avoid – like sex work, drug use and homosexuality. Social taboos go hand-in-hand with the stigma and discrimination which people infected with HIV experience and which sabotage HIV responses. In few places, courageous leadership from political and social leaders has challenged these taboos, defused stigma and mobilized the public.

Asian countries with strong leadership have reversed the growth of their HIV epidemics

Asian leaders in places such as Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Tamil Nadu in India had the foresight to recognize the threat of AIDS early on; they provided leadership that proves vital for reversing their epidemics. But such cases are the exception to what has been until quite recently a generalized lack of high-level commitment and leadership with respect to AIDS programmes in Asia.

Evidence gathered by the Commission shows that more political leaders in Asia are taking up the AIDS agenda. Many national leaders have begun to provide some leadership support to AIDS programmes. This is evident in the larger commitment of resources, the creation of stronger governance structures for programme delivery, and the more meaningful involvement of affected communities in some places. At the same time, current responses in most countries are still too limited to reverse the epidemics. Leaders should and can do more.

Few leaders in Asia have made AIDS a genuine national priority. Efforts to create a supportive environment for HIV interventions remain scarce. In the past five years, hardly any country in Asia has brought its laws in line with the urgent need to provide those people most at risk of infection with HIV-related services. In many countries, the rights of people living with HIV are not yet explicitly safeguarded. Where top level commitment does exist, resources often do not reach the provincial and local levels, leading to uneven, unpredictable and inefficient HIV programmes. Moreover, few government bureaucrats recognize the importance of the active involvement of communities. Resource commitments still fall short of the levels needed to halt and reverse the epidemic.

The Commission acknowledges the important role of parliamentarians in AIDS advocacy in Asia. Some politicians have made valuable efforts to build awareness among their constituencies, lobby for HIV-related legislation, ensure that intellectual property laws support equitable access to medicines, press for more HIV resources, and hold their governments accountable for their countries’ HIV responses. Parliamentary committees on HIV have been set up in a number of countries. The report indirectly mentioned AFPPD at few places by stating, “Increasingly, regional networks of parliamentarians are also focusing on issues related to HIV and sexual and reproductive health”.

Asia’s countries have the opportunity to reverse the HIV epidemics and undo the damage being done. Seizing that opportunity requires stronger leadership across the board. Leaders should begin by clearly demonstrating their support for HIV strategies that are pragmatic and of proven effectiveness.

Indonesian Forum Working on Regional AIDS Legislation

West Nusa Tenggara, April 30: The Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development organized a meeting, funded by AFPPD’s small grant, in preparation of a local regulation on HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Full article will be issued in AFPPD’s May-June 2008 newsletter.

Repositioning Family Planning on the Development Agenda

by Jyoti Singh
Permanent Observer to the United Nations of ‘Partners in Population and Development’,
and former Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA

United Nations, March 12: Family planning is a central component of reproductive health, as defined by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). But the Conference gave reproductive health a broad-based character – by linking family planning with the treatment and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), the reduction of maternal mortality, and the promotion of maternal health and sexual and reproductive health of both men and women.

Within this comprehensive framework of reproductive health, ICPD’s Programme of Action proposed that all countries should strive to make reproductive health accessible as soon as possible and no later than the year 2015.

Subsequent to the ICPD, the goal of universal reproductive health was endorsed by a number of other major international conferences. However due to the political manoeuvring by a small group of countries, the goal of universal reproductive health by 2015 was not included among the goals of the Millennium Declaration, adopted by the heads of states and governments at the UN summit in 2000. This situation was only rectified in 2005 when the MDG+5 Summit agreed to include reproductive health as an additional target to be achieved.

While the goal of universal reproductive health services, including family planning, is clearly a priority for the international community; the progress towards implementing this goal at the national level has run into several obstacles and difficulties. First of all, there is a problem of integrating separate services in the area of reproductive health. Family planning and treatment of STDs have been traditionally provided through other sections of the health system and HIV/AIDS-related services.

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA take the position now that family planning and HIV/AIDS services should be integrated as far as possible, and they are urging countries to move in this direction. However, there is a resistance to such integration from separately entrenched programme managers and civil servants, as well as from international donors.

There are problems relating to cultural or religious traditions. What kind of sexual or reproductive health information should be provided to adolescents? And further on, what kind of access should adolescents have to contraceptive supplies and services? The international consensus, as outlined at Cairo on this subject, is in favor of giving adolescents greater access to information and services. But the interpretation of the consensus at the country level depends on how a national consensus on this question is developed. Civil society organizations should play a major role in building up such a consensus that takes due account of cultural sensitivities.

Abortion is another subject that arouses serious debate and passion. Cairo agreed that abortion is not to be regarded as a method of family planning, but it is a serious health concern and should be treated as such at the national level. Whether abortion should be legal or not, it is ultimately a question to be resolved by laws and regulations under the national jurisdiction. This consensus has held at the international level despite acrimonious debates in several international meetings.

Asia-Pacific is home to 3.7 billion people, which amounts to 60 percent of the world population. The share of Asia-Pacific, in terms of the number of people living in social and economic poverty, is larger than the share of the world population. Little progress has been made and a large number of people have become newly impoverished, as social and economic supply systems are dismantled with integration in the global economy. Mr. Jyoti Singh’s article from IPS is a reminder to the need for family planning.

Costs become a paramount consideration when the governments, in partnership with the private sector and the civil society, seek to achieve the goal of providing universal reproductive health services by 2015. Over all, developing countries are allocating large amounts to provisions of health services, including family planning; but the total allocations in this sector hide the fact that a few countries in Asia account to the major part of these allocations and most of the countries remain woefully short of the resources required to make the ICPD goal a reality.

The problem is further aggravated by the fact that the international assistance for the sector presents a very distorted picture compared to what was envisaged at Cairo. Since Cairo, the percentage of international assistance allocated to family planning has gone down from 55 to 9 percent. While the support for HIV-AIDS services is now running at 10-12 USD billion a year, the support for family planning has not grown much and has remained stagnant.

Similarly, the support for maternal health services remains quite low while the estimates for maternal deaths that can be attributed to pregnancy-related causes have not gone down in 20 years. The basic research, data and population policy analysis programmes also suffer from totally inadequate funding.

Our goal in the immediate future should be to refocus both the national and international attentions on strengthening political commitment and support for the achievement of the ICPD goal of universal reproductive health services by 2015, including family planning. The achievement of this goal must be seen as part of the comprehensive efforts to implement the MDGs.

Investing for Women Empowerment for Economic Growth Highlighted

Bangkok, March 7: “Investing in Women and Girls”, which highlights the importance of financial and other resources for the promotion of women empowerment, and the effects of investing in women on the economic growth and development of the country, was the theme of the International Women’s Day. Increasing resources for women empowerment has benefits to families and societies, and it contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, and Ms. Gwi-Yeop Son, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, opened the Women’s Day celebration. The event featured the keynote remarks on “Financing for Gender Equality” of Ms. Thelma Kay, Chief of the Emerging Social Issues Division of UNESCAP. A dialogue on “Investing in Gender Equality and Freedom from Violence” was chaired by Ms. Jean D’ Cunha, Regional Programme Director of UNIFEM-East and Southeast Asia. AFPPD was represented by Programme Associates: Ms. Passawee Tapasanan and Ms. Carla Benham.

European Forum Discussed Public Health Policies for
Reproductive Health and Women Rights

Stockholm, April 28-30: The European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) and the Swedish All-Party Parliamentary Group organized a conference to discuss public health policies and attitudes toward reproductive health and women rights in Europe. With 70 participants from parliaments and NGOs, the conference discussed the underlying issues that drive toward restrictions in reproductive health and women right policies. In addition, EPF launched the “Political Party Mapping” that helps to influence the sexual and reproductive health and rights’ positions of political parties.

Threat of Increasing Population to the Environment

Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment

Bangkok, March 8: “The best way to protect the forests is birth control”, said Ms. Anongwan Thepsuthin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in Thailand. Increasing population in communities near forests has led to increasing deforestation. “I don’t think birth control violates human rights. We have to do this because increasing population is posing a serious threat to forests”, she underlined. There are more than one million families of forest dwellers living in protected forests. “A serious birth control scheme should be implemented among communities. Overpopulated villages lead to sanitation problems and untidiness, which could have a bad impact”, she added.

Source: Bangkok Post

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