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| Issue October to December 2000 |
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| Indochina Parliamentarians Seminar on RH and Sustainable Development | |
PARLIAMENTARIANS SHOULD GRASP THE IMPACT OF POPULATION INCREASE - Mr. Yoshio Yatsu, MP, Chairman of AFPPD, Message to Indochina Parliamentarians |
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| (From left) Mrs. Yoshiko Zenda, UNFPA Representative to Cambodia; Mrs. Men Sam An, MP (Cambodia), Chairperson of CAPPD; and Mr. Tsugao Hirose, Executive Director of APDA/AFPPD Tokyo, at the Opening Ceremony of the Indochina Parliamentarians Seminar in Phnom Penh | |
Phnom Penh – The Cambodian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (CAPPD), under the chairmanship of Mrs. Men Sam An, MP (Cambodia), organised the Indo-China Parliamentarians Seminar on "Reproductive Health and Sustainable Development" in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 7th and 8th December 2000, in cooperation with the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Mrs. Men Sam An, MP (Cambodia) and Chairperson of the CAPPD, gave a welcome address. She pointed out current issues facing Cambodia: proper practice in family planning; reproductive health; unsafe abortions; HIV/AIDS and STDs; domestic violence; and sex trade; and urged parliamentarians to exchange views and shared experiences on these issues.
Mr. Tsugao Hirose, Secretary General of the APDA, Japan, presented the address of Mr. Yoshio Yatsu MP, Chairman of the AFPPD. Mr. Yatsu welcomed the CAPPD as a full member of the AFPPD. Mr. Osamu Kusumoto represented APDA, Japan. Mr. Yatsu pointed out that population increase is a major problem in Cambodia. At present Cambodia’s population increases at a rate of 2.49%. If this rate is to continue, Cambodia will double its population in 28.9 years. Children who are born must have employment as they mature. The population issue is not one that can be resolved as soon as certain measures are put in place. Even if best efforts are pledged today, can sufficient investments be made in providing the education for children when they reach school age? And what jobs can they find when they are ready to work? These are issues that must be resolved over a few decades when the necessary policies are adopted. The more the policy responses to, the population issues are delayed. There will be serious economic and environmental impact for many years after the measures have been adopted. He believed that the first step to finding a solution to the problem is for parliamentarians in leadership positions to fully grasp the impact of the population increase, understand the international environment, and develop a realistic national development plan. Reduce Maternal Dealth
Dr. Mam Bun Heng, President Council of RHAC and Secretary of State, Ministry of Health, and Dr. Ouk Vong Vathiny, Executive Director of RHAC, presented papers on Adolescent Health Situation and Programme in the Region. Dr. Vathiny reported that abortion law was adopted by the National Assembly in October 1997. Currently the Ministry of Health is in the process of formulating relevant policies and guidelines. Little is known about abortion rates in Cambodia. Youth Centre In order to attract young people, "Youth Centres" have been established at RHAC clinics with recreation facilities. If our young population does not have access to proper reproductive health facilities, then the future for our country’s development is bleak. It is therefore imperative that Cambodia’s political leaders support the efforts being undertaken in reproductive health in Cambodia. "Without their support nothing can be achieved," urged Dr. Vathiny. The Session was chaired by Princess Sisowath Sata, MP and Vice-Chairperson of CAPPD. Dr. Hong Sun Hout MP, Senior Minister and Minister of Health/Chairman of the National AIDS Authority, spoke on Reproductive Health Situation and Programme in the Region. He began his presentation by addressing reproductive health problems in Cambodia and the Ministry responses to the problems. He reported that in December 1997, the National Safe Motherhood Policy and Strategy was developed and formulated as an integral part of birth spacing within a comprehensive package of policy for maternal and childcare. Mr. Tao Xiping, MP (China), chaired the Session. Mrs. Yoshiko Zenda, UNFPA Representative to Cambodia, presented a paper on Programme and Perspectives of ICPD Implementation. She stated that in Cambodia the emphasis is placed on Reproductive Health, Youth and Status of Women. We have also worked very closely with other agencies on HIV/AIDS which has become a major issue. She further said that Cambodia has made steady progress in the implementation of ICPD Programme of Action. Parliamentarians have played major role in important legislation. The ICPD Programme of Action (POA) represents a paradigm shift from narrow demographic goals to improving the quality of life of individuals through awareness, information and choices and access to services. ICPD promotes reproductive rights as human rights. It also calls for the provision of quality sexual and reproductive health services and information. ICPD focuses on issues and individuals as impact of gender relations on women’s health and rights; adolescent’s sexual health; male involvement/responsibility; unsafe abortion; sex education; and harmful traditional practices. ICPD implementation relies on:
This Session was chaired by Dr. Thongphanh Chanhtalanonh, MP, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Social Culture Affairs, Lao PDR. HIV and AIDS
Asia’s highest levels of infection continue to be recorded in Cambodia, where an ever-improving surveillance system suggests that HIV is well established in the general population in all provinces. HIV prevalence among pregnant women in 1999 exceeded 2% in 12 out of the country’s 20 provinces. At the same time there has been progress on some fronts. For instance, the number of Cambodian sex workers reporting always using condoms rose from 16% in 1996 to 78% in 1999. Infection rates in the general population remain relative low in Viet Nam, but they are on the rise. Senator Dr. Prasit Pitulkija, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Thailand, chaired, and Congressperson Ms. Rosenda Ann Ocampo from the Philippines was the Rapporteur of the Session. Role of Parliamentarians
Mr. Tao Xiping, MP (China) presented a paper on The Situation and Challenges of Reproductive Health in China. Mr. Tao pointed out difficulties and challenges in the reproductive health including family planning and urged parliamentarians to pay more attention to the education development. The Parliamentarians adopted a declaration affirming their commitment for the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population an development programme. The declaration was presented by Mrs. Khuon Sodary MP, Treasurer of CAPPD.
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 Parliamentarians from Combodia |
 Parliamentarians from China |
 Parliamentarians from Lao PDR |
 Parliamentarians from Thailand |
 Parliamentarians from Vietnam |
 Parliamentarians from the IndoChina Seminar |
MRS. OBAID FOR STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP WITH AFPPD New York – Mrs. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director Designate of the UNFPA, in a reply to AFPPD Chairman, Mr. Yoshio Yatsu’s congratulations letter, addressed: "I thank the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) for their commitment to issues of Population and Development. The role that AFPPD has played to ensure the active partnership between parliamentarians and UNFPA has been admirable and most sustainable. The support of Parliamentarians to issues of development in general and population, in particular, is both very critical and essential and I would like, in turn, to congratulate you for the long standing excellent work that AFPPD has accomplished. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the partnership between AFPPD and UNFPA. Through our collective efforts, we will meet the many challenges of the 21st Century that face the implementation of the recommendations of the Cairo Conference (1994) and the follow-up ones of the United Nations Special Session on Population and Development (1999)." |
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National Parliamentarians Seminar in China |
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POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN CHINA DISCUSSED
The Vice-chairman of the ESCH Committee, Mr. Zhang Huaxi, presided over the meeting and the ESCH Committee Chairman, Mr. Zhu Kaixuan, made the opening remarks. The Vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Mr. Jiang Chunyun, attended the opening ceremony and presented a speech. AFPPD Chairman, Mr. Yatsu, made the remark of congratulations in the opening ceremony. There were over 50 participants including the parliamentarians of the national, provincial and municipal congress, the high-level officials from State planning Commission, State Family Planning Commission, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Land and resources, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and State Statistical Bureau, the members of NGO’s organisation such as China Family Planning Association, and the professors from the Population Research Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Beijing Economy and Trade College. The ESCH Committee Chairman, Mr. Zhu Kaixuan, expressed gratitude to AFPPD for its support in his opening remarks. He pointed out that since AFPPD established in Beijing in 1981, we could say that Beijing was the birthplace of AFPPD. China as an AFPPD member would perform the commitments, push parliamentarians to take action, strengthen the exchanges and co-operations with the AFPPD members. Population issue is fundamental In the opening ceremony, the AFPPD Chairman Mr. Yatsu stressed that the population issues is fundamental to all development and environment issues. The higher the population pressures the greater the environmental load. Therefore potentially rich but vulnerable environment of the western region could be greatly impacted resulting in serious damage. The involvement of the parliamentarians for the western region is important. Mr. Yatsu said that the Chinese government deserves their whole-hearted congratulations for perceiving the potential problem and undertaking a large-scale forestation programme in the western region. This project is epoch-making with respect to recovery and maintenance of fresh water resources and the environment. In terms of population, the western region is known for its diversity with many ethnic groups having their respective culture and religion. In other words, care and sensitive consideration is needed in preparing population measures. High fertility rate The NPC Vice-chairman Mr. Jiang Chunyun pointed out that the west of China included 12 provinces, region and cites covering 70% of total area of the country. The population occupied 28% of the total in China. But the economic and social development lagged behind in coastal and Western China due to some reasons. The fertility rate was high and the reproductive pattern was in the transition. The percentage of illiteracy and semi-illiteracy remained large. The infant mortality rate exceeded the average state level. The present population situation is not compatible with the economic and social development in the West. To optimise industry structure, control environment deterioration and rise the people’s living standards needs government to attach an importance to the reproductive health programs that help to reduce population growth and improve the life quality. At a long-term view, the improvement of the people’s life quality is a key and influential factor that make a success of the west development strategy.
The meeting lasted for two days. Participants discussed the extensive issues including reproductive health, sustainable development and parliamentarian’s role in population and development. After the meeting, the NPC ESCH Committee delivered the proposals about the population and development issues in western China to the NPC Standing Committee and the departments concerned of the State Council. Some local people’s congress expressed that next year, they would hold such a local parliamentarian’s meeting on population and discuss how to foster active involvement of local parliamentarians in formulation, implementing, monitoring and evaluating strategies, policies and programmes in the field of population and development. Ms. Chiharu Hoshiai of APDA/AFPPD also attended the meeting. |
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Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians Conference in India |
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MR. WOO, KOREAN MP, ELECTED PRESIDENT OF APPCED
The Vice-President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Krishan Kant inaugurated Conference on Environment and Development. Addressing the Parliamentarians of the Asia Pacific Region, Shri Krishan Kant expressed his concern at the growing environmental degradation for which he felt that both developed and developing countries were responsible. He cautioned that actions of mankind should not disturb the ecological balance. The Vice-President spelt out various factors responsible for environmental degradation. He observed that productivity of land was diminishing alarmingly which was posing a serious threat to food security. He expressed his concern at the large scale deforestation causing soil erosion. Unplanned urban growth is yet another factor responsible for today’s problems. In his address to the Conference, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri G.M.C. Balayogi felt that those who misuse environment and continue to do so at excessive and unsustainable levels on a per capita basis should pay for its rehabilitation. Shri Balayogi said that environmental protection could not be isolated from the general issues of development. He expressed his concern at widespread poverty and stressed the importance of brining in economic reforms that promote efficient planning and utilisation of resources for sustainable development through economic and social policies. Shri Balayogi underscored the need to work collectively through international institutions like the APPCED towards evolving a long-term perspective for protecting out planet and sustaining life on it. Recalling the past efforts made by India towards a common quest for sustainable development, Dr. (Smt.) Najma Heptulla, Chairman Rajya Sabha and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Council highlighted the role of Parliamentarians’ in tackling various environmental issues. Dr. (Smt.) Heptulla pointed out that population explosion was the single major factor responsible for polluting the environment. Recalling Indian Parliamentary Union’s supports to Rio Declaration, she expressed the hope of getting full cooperation from APPCED. In brief address, the President of APPCED Mr. Woo Taik Chung said that Parliamentarians could mobilise funds for production and conservation of environment. He felt that both formal and informal education was indispensable for an effective public participation to ensure environmental protection. He recalled the efforts made by the international community in Rio way back in 1992. Mr. Woo Taik Chung, MP, of Republic of Korea was elected president of the APPCED. The meeting also elected Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrix D’Souza (India) and Lt. Gen. Opas Ratanaburi (Thailand) as Vice-Presidents. |
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Over 40 parliamentarians from
the Indo-China region namely, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, along with
20 specialists and experts from UNFPA, Ministry of Health of Cambodia the Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia
(RHAC), and international NGOs, attended the seminar. The AFPPD Secretariat was
represented by Ms. Vipunjit Ketunuti, Programme Associate of AFPPD.
In the opening remarks, Ms.
Yoshiko Zenda, UNFPA Representative to Cambodia, congratulated Cambodian parliamentarians
for establishing the CAPPD, and encouraged parliamentarians on their return to be better
equipped to lobby their governments to allocate greater resources for the realisation of
the ICPD goals and the effective implementation of population and development
interventions.
Dr. Hong Sun Huot MP,
Minister of Health of Cambodia, as a representative of H.R.H. Prince Norodom Ranariddh,
President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, gave an opening address. He
shared with the participants his major concerns with regard to reproductive health and
sustainable development as follows:
Mr. Geoff Manthey, Country
Programme Adviser, UNAIDS Cambodia, gave a presentation on HIV/AIDS and STDs Situation
and Programme in the Region. Mr. Mathey presented an overview of the status of the
global and regional AIDS situation based on new data released recently for World AIDS Day
2000 as well as an outline of actual and possible responses to the epidemic in the region.
Mr. Manthey said that in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand, 2% or more of the adult
population is currently living with HIV; while in the Philippines, Japan, and Hong Kong,
levels are below 0.1%.
Ms. Luwalhati R. Antonino,
Congressperson from the Philippines and Chairperson of the Philippine Legislators’
Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), gave a presentation on behalf of AFPPD on
Role of Parliamentarians in Population, Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS. She
emphasized that parliamentarians play an important role not only in reviewing and amending
legislation, but also monitoring the progress of development programmes, and educating and
motivating people in their constituency in the fields of population, development and
health. Mme Nguyen Thi Than, MP (Vietnam), Chairperson of the Vietnamese Association of
Parliamentarians on Population and Development (VAPPD) and Treasurer of AFPPD, chaired
this session. 
The Closing Ceremony was
addressed by Mrs. Men Sam An, MP Chairperson of CAPPD; Mme. Nguyen Thi Than, MP Treasurer
of AFPPD; and Samdach Heng Samrin, First Vice-President of the National Assembly of the
Kingdom of Cambodia, Honorary Member of CAPPD.
Beijing
– The Asian Forum of Parliamentarian on Population and Development (AFPPD) and the
Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee (ESCH Committee) of the National
People’s Congress held the Seminar on the Population and Development in the West of
China in Beijing on 3rd and 4th November 2000. 
The population
issue should be put at a key position and be integrated into the social and economic
development plan. We should stress on the work of advocacy and education in the
reproductive health including family planning. A service network for the reproductive
health should be established and improved. Family planning policy should integrated with
the assistance to farmers in their endeavours to have a comfortable life. The national and
local people’s congress should involve and make contributions to develop the west. 
Hyderabad
(India) – The 8th General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific
Parliamentarians Conference on Environment and Development (APPCED) was held in Hyderabad,
India, from 13th to 16th November 2000 and hosted by the Parliament of India. The
delegates from 20 countries approved a declaration. The conference also called
parliamentarians of the Asia-Pacific to strengthen procedures and industrial mechanisms to
implement an oversea environmental related measures and to monitor programmes. LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF IAPPD PROJECT IN JAIPUR |
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Jaipur (Rajesthan) – The IAPPD-UNFPA Project on Advocacy with elected representatives was launched in Jaipur (Rajesthan), India, in November 2000.
Picture: Mr. Lakshman Singh, MP, Vice-Chairman of AFPPD, lighting the lamp. Other seen are Dr. Urmillaben Patel; Dr. Girija Vyas, MP; Mr. Girdharilal Bhargara, MP; Mr. Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajesthan; Mr. Manmohan Sharma, Executive Secretary, IAPPD; and Mr. Pratap Chowdhery, Secretary, Rajsthan Government. |
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Indonesia/Vietnam |
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INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS SEMINAR Jakarta – The First Indonesia National Parliamentarians Meeting on Environment was organised on 2nd November 2000 by the UNFPA Indonesia and the Ministry of Environment. The meeting was attended by MPs, NGOs and UN agencies, and population was a major discussion
National Committee to be formed Mr. Akbar Tandjung convened a meeting of Social, Health, Environment and other related Committee Chairmen in his chamber to discuss the Indonesian membership of the Asian Forum. It was agreed that steps should be taken to establish a National Committee of Parliamentarians on Population and Development comprising of parliamentary committees of the Indonesian Parliament. |
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VIETNAMESE PARLIAMENTARIANS (VAPPD) RECOMEND NEW POLICIES
Plan for 2001
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AFPPD Executive Committee Meeting (Thailand) |
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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND AFRO-ASIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS MEETINGS HIGHLIGHTS OF 2001
The Asian Forum now in its 19th year of operation has been gaining strength and success in mobilising parliamentarians not only in Asia but globally. Mr. Kunio Waki and Mr. Colin Hollis, MP (Australia) proudly mentioned that the parliamentarians movement on population has now spread to all continents with the inauguration at the Caribbean Movement of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (CMPPD) in the Bahamas on 20th November 2000, and the Inter-European Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IEFPPD) in Paris on 4th and 5th December 2000. It is to be remembered that the Asian Forum was the first forum established in 1980-1981.
The Executive Committee also approved plans to organise a Central Asian Parliamentarians Meeting in Krygyzstan in August next year.
The Executive Committee called upon the Government of Japan not to cut overseas development assistance, especially on population programme. |
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Europe |
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INTER-EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS FORUM INAUGURATED
Marjatta Vehkaoja, MP (Finland), was elected as the first Chair of the IEPFPD, Elena Poptodorova, MP, as Vice-Chair (Bulgaria) and Chris McCafferty, MP (United Kingdom), was elected as Treasurer. Five new All-Party Parliamentary Groups from Austria, Bulgaria, France, Ireland and Portugal were welcomed as new full members. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Kunio Waki, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, described the growing strength and inter-action of parliamentarians worldwide, "united in their concern about population, reproductive health and development issues and united in their willingness to take action." Other speakers at the meeting included representatives from other regional parliamentary forums, IPPF Director General Ingar Brueggemann and Lyn Thomas, Director of the IPPF European Network, which organised and facilitated the meeting. Mr. Colin Hollis, MP (Australia), Secretary General, AFPPD, assured IEPFPD of all assistance and announced that with the formation of Inter-European Forum, all continents of the world have parliamentarians groups on population. Each group working on the population issue finds the approach that best suits their purpose. The Asian Forum has found that each Parliament, having its own group, delivers the best results. In fact one of the requirements to be a member of the Asian Forum is to have a Committee within the Parliament working on Population and Development issues. Mr. Hollis was of the opinion that that these groups can only be really successfully if they are bi-partisan. "Parliaments and, indeed, Members of Parliament, come and go, but it is important that the national groups are on a sound footing, so that regardless of elections, the national group will continue." "During the years of out existence, the emphasis of the work of AFPPD has changed from population questions alone to much broader development issues – gender equity, domestic violence, food security, access to safe drinking water and the impact of HIV/AIDS. All these and many more are an integral part of the population questions. "Increasingly we will be looking at broader issues including the growing refugee situation which increasingly is impacting on many parts of the globe, be it refugees caused by civil unrest or environmental refugees caused by people forced off their land. "Water and land degradation are central to security. Two thirds of the world’s population live in water scarce or water stressed areas. The reality is that there will be two billion extra people in the next 25 years. He sometimes wonder if we have lost sight of food security as an issues. Too many people feel that food security is an issue that has been conquered, but over the next 25-30 years the world will have to double food production yet water salinity is an increasing problem as is the loss of farm land and the urbanisation of much of the world. "There is no need for him to tell a group such as this that globalisation is an issue that impacts on us all. Some see it as a threat, others as a way forward. In any case it is an aspect of today’s life. At the Asian Forum we plan to organise an international conference of parliamentarians on globalisation, population and development next year." Said Mr. Hollis. Mr. Hollis promised all assistance AFPPD can, and stressed that the AFPPD is prepared to work with all national groups and exchange knowledge to ensure the issue of population and development is placed on the international agenda. Mr. Moustapha Ka of the Forum of African and Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FAAPPD); and Ms. Billie A. Miller, MP, Deputy Prime Minister (Barbados) of the Inter-American Forum also spoke on the occasion. The IEPFPD is supported by IPPF European Region and other organisations. |
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JAPANESE PARLIAMENTARIANS ACTIVITIES Tokyo – The Japanese Parliamentarians Federation on Population (JPFP) organised several events to educate and inform Japanese parliamentarians on population issues. JPFP organised a meeting of its members for Ms. Angela Gomec, President of IPPF and Ms. Ingar Brueggemann, Director General of IPPF. The JPFP also arranged Dr. Nafis Sadik to meet Japanese parliamentarians, Dr. Taro Nakayama and Mr. Shin Sakurai. Mr. Katsuhito Asano, M.D. and senior state secretary for Foreign Affairs meeting with IPPF officials. Mr. Kunio Waki, Deputy Executive Director of the UNFPA had met with JPFP, also hosted Chinese Family Planning Minister and Mongolian parliamentarians delegation. Dr. Nafis Sadik addressed a JPFP seminar of parliamentarians in the parliament building on partnership between Japan and the UNFPA. Good number of parliamentarians attended. |
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Caribbean/New Zealand |
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CARIBBEAN MOVEMENT OF PARLIAMENTARIANS ESTABLISHED
Mr. Kunio Waki at the opening session pointed out that parliamentarians as representatives of people have crucial role not only as a member of the legislative side of the government but also a change agent in their constituency. In the Caribbean, reproductive health and adolescent health are major focus of the programme. Parliamentarians can play a vital role in changing the attitude of the people, including youth and women. He further said that the government of Japan has established a one-million dollar Trust Fund with the UNFPA for Parliamentarians Activities on Population and Development. This Caribbean Meeting of Parliamentarians is one of the projects supported by this trust fund. Mr. Colin Hollis, in his observation, said that the parliamentarians movement for population which was stated in Asia has now spread all over the world. UNFPA is the first UN agency that realises the importance of the role of parliamentarians. There are several success stories of parliamentarians involvement in population and development issue. The AFPPD will make all efforts to make the CMPPD an effective organisation. Mr. Oyebade Ajayi, UNFPA Representative to the Caribbean, who played a vital role in the development of the CMPPD, stated that National Committees of Parliamentarians on Population and Development have been established in some countries of the Caribbean, and others will follow soon. Mr. Ajayi hoped that the CMPPD will go a long way in promoting reproductive health and adolescent health in the region. |
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PARTNERS MEET WITH NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENTARIANS
The Group also heard about Partners’ interest in the Pacific. Although Partners currently has no members in the region, it believes that Pacific Island Countries could benefit from working with other southern developing countries an din turn share their own expertise. |
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NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENTARIANS PREPARE FOR CHOGM The New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development under the Chairmanship of Ms. Steve Chadwick, MP, has agreed to recommend that ICPD related issues feature on the agendas of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Brisbane in October 2001 and the Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting in Christchurch in November 2001. The Group is currently working on an agenda in item and is keen to ensure that reproductive health issues and basic education are discussed. |
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Other news |
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CANADA’S UNFULFILLED COMMITMENT ON WORKING TOGETHER Ottawa – Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) held a joint news conference for the Canadian release of The State of World Population 2000 report. Alanna Armitage, Programme Officer, UNFPA, gave an overview of the annual report and answered the media’s questions. Katherine McDonald, executive Director, ACPD, highlighted Canada’s unfulfilled financial commitments to reproductive health and population programmes. Two actors associated with Insight Theatre, a Planned Parenthood Theatre Group, gave a dramatic interpretation of the lives of young people described in the report. Many NGOs, government representatives and local media attended this event that received wide media coverage across Canada. A partnership approach to the report release allowed both organisations to share resources and be more cost-effective thus making it an equally successful project for UNFPA and ACPD. |
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AFRICAN FORUM GENERAL ASSEMBLY The General Assembly of African and Arab Parliamentarians Forum on Population and Development (FAAPPD) is planned to take place in Amman, Jordan, on 24th – 25th January 2001. This will be FAAPPD second General Assembly. AFPPD plans to attend the same. SWITZERLAND VOTES TO LEGALISE ABORTION The House of Representatives in Switzerland has voted in favour of legalising abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, Swissinfo reports. The proposal would require consulting their doctors regarding medical risks and obtaining information on the alternatives to abortion. Furthermore, women would also have to "submit a written request" for an abortion. In this instance, if the protocol was not followed, "it would be the doctor, rather than the woman who, was legally responsible." |
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HOUDA KANOUN OF TUNISIA NOW AMBASSADOR TO SWITZERLAND Ms. Houda Kanoun, M.P. from Tunisia who has been an active parliamentarian on population and development issue and member of Steering Committee of AFPPD organised international population conferences specially in the Hague. She was also a member of the Executive Committee of Forum of African and Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FAAPPD). Ms. Houda Kanoun has been appointed as the Tunisian Ambassador to Switzerland. Asian Forum sends her congratulations. PROPOSAL FOR SMALL GRANT PROJECT The National Parliaments, Committee’s on Health Population, Environment in National Parliaments and National Committee of Parliamentarians and Regional Parliamentarians’ Groups on Population and Development are invited to submit innovating programme proposals to mobilise parliamentarians on population, environment, reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, water resources and legislative review up to US$ 25,000. For further information contact: Small Grant Project, AFPPD |
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IRANIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT THAILAND AND INDONESIA Tehran – 12 Members of Parliament from Iran have been expected to visit Thailand and Indonesia in February 2001 to observe Reproductive Health, Population and education Programmes for Young People. The Minister of Education of Iran will be the leader of the delegation. The visit is sponsored by UNFPA Iran and will be hosted by AFPPD. PARLIAMENTARIANS MEETING ON SOCIAL ISSUES IN BRAZIL Porto Alegre – The first world social forum is planned to take place in the city of Porto Alegre in Brazil from 25th to 30th January 2001. The social forum is the world meeting of parliamentarians and municipal and provincial governments. |
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Season’s Greetings …Wishing… AFPPD Members and Readers A Happy and Prosperous New Year 2001 |
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Women in Local Governance Conference |
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WOMEN PROVIDE LEADERSHIP BY FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES More than 650 women in local government gather at UN Conference Centre : Women in Local Governance Conference for Habitat
The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Mr. Kim Hak-Su, spoke at the observance of UN World Habitat Day 2000 held at the UN Conference Centre, Bangkok. Mr. Kim said that while women make up more than half of the population in the region’s cities, very few women are able to reach positions of power in urban local governments. "The reasons are multiple: patriarchal social systems; social and cultural prejudices; financial dependence of women; lack of media support, exposure to political processes and training opportunities for women; family and child-care responsibilities; the high cost of seeking and holding office; and the criminalization of politics." Local government is the only level government where women can enter political life with relative ease, as the costs of mounting election campaigns are relatively low and issues at the local level tend to motivate women to enter politics, he added. "Local governments also are good training grounds for women politicians who want to reach higher levels of elected or appointed office in government." Among the speakers participating in this year’s observance, held under the theme "Women in Local Governance," were Governor Samak Sundaravej of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, who gave the keynote address, Mr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel, Regional Coordinator, United Nations Urban Management Programme/United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), Dr. Suteera Thomson Vichitranonda, Gender and Development Research Institute, Dr. Chamniern Paul Vorratnchaiphan, Building Together Association, Mayor Premruedee Champoonod, Pitsanulok Province, and Mayor Penpuk Srithong, Ubolrajathanee Province. The event was co-organized by ESCAP, Gender and Development Research Institute, Building Together Association, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Nathaniel von Einsiedel of UNCHS (Habitat) said it was increasingly being accepted that bad governance and poor policies are the foremost cause of poverty in the cities. His agency’s Gender and Urban Governance Campaign aimed to increase roles for women in the decision-making process and ensure that city authorities give on-going attention to the inclusion of women and women’s organization in local governance. "These two objectives are critical to address the problem of the under-representation of women as local level decision makers," he noted. ESCAP has been working on the issue of women in urban local governance since 1977. Currently, it is preparing for the Asia-Pacific Summit of Women Mayors and Councillors scheduled for early 2001. As part of its preparation for the Summit, ESCAP is also overseeing preparation of State of Women in Urban Local Governments reports in 14 countries of the region. (United Nations Information Services) |
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Mr. Akbar Tandjung, President of the
National Assembly of Indonesia, opened the meeting. The opening ceremony was also
addressed by Mr. Nesim Tumkaya, UNPFA Representative to Indonesia; Dr. J.R. Nereus Acosta,
MP (Philippines), AFPPD Representative; and Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director, AFPPD.
Experts in environment and population fields urged parliamentarians to give serious
attention to population growth and environment’s rapid degradation. 
Hanoi – With support from UNFPA, the Vietnam
Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (VAPPD) conducted various
advocacy programmes on population and development among elected officials. Also in the
year 2000, VAPPD in collaboration with different agencies has planned to carry out some
activities as follows:
Bangkok
– Violence Against Women, Afro-Asian Parliamentarians Meeting, and Small Grant
Project were some of the important decisions made at the AFPPD 28th Executive Committee
Meeting held at the Siam Inter-Continental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand on 9th December 2000.
Mr. Yoshio Yatsu, the Chairman of the AFPPD presided. The participants were member
parliamentarians from Australia, China, India, Krygyzstan, Japan, Malaysia, the
Philippines and Vietnam. Other important participants were Mr. Kunio Waki, Deputy
Executive Director of UNFPA, New York, and Mrs. Ingar Brueggemann, the Director General of
the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), London, both of whom came
specially to attend the Asian Forum Executive Committee Meeting. 
The Executive Committee expressed its
grateful thanks to the Government of Japan for establishing a one-million dollar Trust
Fund for Parliamentarian Activities with the UNFPA. The Asian Forum will be a main
executing agency for this trust fund. The Asian Regional Seminar on "Violence against
Women", "Afro-Asian Parliamentarians Meeting on Population and Development"
and "Small Grant Project" are the projects to be implemented under grant
received by AFPPD from the Japan Trust Fund. 
The Executive Committee in a resolution expressed appreciation for
the contribution of Dr. Nafis Sadik, out-going Executive Director of the UNFPA, in the
development of the parliamentarians’ movement worldwide specially the Asian Forum and
assured newly appointed Executive Director, Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid of Saudi Arabia of its
full cooperation. 
Paris – The Inter-European Parliamentary
Forum on Population and Development (IEPFPD) was officially inaugurated on 4th and 5th
December 2000 in Paris. 
Bahamas
– The Caribbean Movement of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (CMPPD)
organised a conference in the Bahamas which was attended by the parliamentarians from all
Caribbean countries; Mr. Kunio Waki, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA; Mr. Colin Hollis MP
(Australia), Secretary General of AFPPD; and IAPG Representative. The conference took
place from 22nd to 24th November 2000 in the Bahamas. 
Wellington
– Dr. Pudjo Rahardjo and Gule Afruz Mahbub from Partners in Population and
Development, Bangladesh, recently met with members of the New Zealand
Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development. They discussed Partners’
South-to-South initiative, which aims to improve reproductive health programmes and
policies in developing countries.
Bangkok,
3rd October – Women in decision-making positions in government
provide "transformative leadership" by redefining political priorities and
focusing more on the environment, human development and building sustainable communities.