1.   Emerging Economy Parliamentarians Discuss ODA Initiatives

Bangkok – Over 40 parliamentarians and experts from six Asian emerging economy countries were joined by two European nations for the Regional Consultation on “Emerging Economies and Population: Reproductive Health Programs,”  from August 30-31; organized by AFPPD with the European Parliamentary Forum (EPF) and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.   The consultation aimed to sensitize Asian parliamentarians from emerging economy countries on regional overseas development initiatives, in particular reproductive health, and promote cooperation between developing countries and least developed countries within the framework of South South Cooperation.  Asian Parliamentarians led by AFPPD also attended a meeting with the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) and Open Society Institute (OSI). The issues of decriminalization of HIV/AIDS and Harm Reduction were discussed.

 2.   Parliamentarian Capacity Building Seminar in Japan

Tokyo – The “Parliamentarians’ Capacity Building Project on Accountability and  Aid Implementation for Population and Development Issues” organized by the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP) in cooperation with AFPPD and United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA),  was held from September 13-16.  Hon. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Chairman of AFPPD and former Prime Minister of Japan opened the four day event.

 3.   IMPO at the WHO Regional Meeting

Bangkok - The 63rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia took place 7-10 September.  The International Medical Parliamentarians Organization (IMPO) was represented by Dr. Jetn Sirathranont, Senator of Thailand; and Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD was an observer.  The annual meeting aims to review progress made on health issues and to lay down a roadmap for future action, including issues such as the progress made on MDG5 (maternal health), and national, regional and global health strategies.

 4.   AFPPD at Informal Consultation  on Compulsory Centers for Drug Users

Bangkok – UNODC Regional Center for East Asia and the Pacific, and UNAIDS Regional Support Team  organized a meeting of stakeholders on Compulsory Centers for Drug Users (CCDUs) in East and Southeast Asia from 2-3 September.  The meeting discussed the situation and treatment of drug users at the CCDUs.  Mr. Shiv Khare, AFPPD Executive Director, was invited to make a presentation on Parliamentarians’ understanding of the overall Harm Reduction program, as well as the role they can play in making CCDU voluntary instead of compulsory.

The two day meeting emphasized that CCDUs can only be effective when they respect the rights of those who are most vulnerable.    Currently CCDUs in the region lack the capacity to provide adequate psycho-social and mental health support for drug users, and have been proven to be not cost effective. Not only do the incarcerated suffer high relapse rates, these centers also lack proper HIV prevention mechanisms.  Current recommendations from the UN are to close the CCDUs

 5.   AFPPD Secretary General at RH Manual Launch

Bangkok -  A revised field manual to safeguard reproductive health for communities in crisis situations was launched by the UNFPA,  in cooperation with the Australian government, World Health Organization  (WHO) and  International Planned Parenthood Federation  (IPPF)  on September 14, and hosted by the Australian Ambassador to Thailand H.E James Wise at his residence  Hon. Dr. Pinit Kullavayijaya, Secretary General of AFPPD and Senator from Thailand, spoke congratulatory words at the event, supporting the publication of this vital document which will be distributed to crisis zones across the world. Others who spoke at the event included Mr. Najib Assifi, Deputy Regional Director of UNFPA Asia- Pacific; Dr. Anna Whelan, Regional Director,  International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF); Dr. Cynthia Maung, founder and Director of the Mae Tao Clinic in Thailand.

 6.   RH Bill in the Philippines One Step Closer

Manila - A House Bill in the Philippines which would provide universal access to natural and artificial family planning methods, including contraceptives, just got one step closer to being passed, according to Hon. Edcel C. Lagman, House Minority Leader and AFPPD Deputy Secretary General.   While the bill is strongly opposed by the Catholic Church, President Benigno Aquino III recently made a statement that he is supportive of voluntary planning and informed choice, and that “the government is obligated to inform everybody of their responsibilities and their choices.”  Hon. Lagman further emphasized that “This is not about pills and condoms only.  This is not about sex or religion.  This is about health, rights and sustainable development.” 

 7.   First Ever National WomenDeliver in the Philippines

Manila – Over 150 participants, including 70 national and local parliamentarians, rallied in support of maternal and newborn health at the first Philippine WomenDeliver, organized as a follow-up to the international WomenDeliver conference in Washington last June.   On September 15, the first day of the conference, a National and Local Legislators Forum on Maternal Health was organized by the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD).

 8.   Anti-Choice Amendments Defeated in European Parliament

Brussels - A number of anti-choice amendments which threatened to significantly weaken the progressive language used on sexual and reproductive health in the European Parliament’s Committee for Development to the draft Report on “Health Care Systems in sub-Saharan Africa and Global Health” have been defeated. The European Parliamentary Forum (EPF) produced an amendment analysis which provided arguments on why to reject the anti-choice amendments, and disseminated a voting alert to the Members of the Development Committee, in cooperation with other partners based in Brussels who work on sexual and reproductive health and rights issues.

 9.   First Malaysian School Opens for Pregnant Teens

Kuala Lumpur – The first school for pregnant teens has opened in the southern state of Malacca, Malaysia, promising privacy and protection to pregnant teens at the same time as providing them education.  It is hoped that the school will help young women overcome the stigma of having children outside of wedlock.   Approximately 70 babies abandoned so far this year, left on doorsteps, rubbish bins and public toilets.  Young people in Malaysia are expected to abstain from sex until marriage.

The root of the problem is lack of sex education in schools. While the women’s ministry has been advocating for years that students be taught health and reproductive course, religious groups block the idea amid fears it will encourage more teens to get pregnant.

 10.   Pacific Islands Forum Leaders on Violence Against Women

Vanuatu – Pacific Islands Forum leaders acknowledged an agreement to set up a reference group on the topic of violence against women at the latest 41st Forum meeting which took place Aug 3-6 in Port Vila. The reference group was originally agreed upon in 2009.   However, Amnesty International has expressed disappointment at the poor progress made to address violence against women in the region, which has some of the highest rates of gender based violence in the world.    

 11.   Timor-Leste Slow Implementation of Domestic Violence Legislation

Dili/Suai – a new law which criminalizes domestic violence is still awaiting implementation in Timor-Leste.  The law, drafted with UNFPA support a decade ago, has awaited the prior approval of the penal code, which was only recently achieved in 2009. The legislation is currently undergoing translation from Portuguese into Tetun, the local language.

In a nation where in 2009 eight out of ten crimes reported to the Vulnerable Persons Unit (VPU, set up to investigate crimes against women and children) were for domestic violence,  to date no one has been locked up for the crime of domestic violence.

 12.   AFPPD Population Policy Tracking Initiative

Bangkok – AFPPD is pleased to announce a new initiative, the Policy Tracking and Monitoring Unit, which will undertake the creation of a population and reproductive health policy database.  Population policy developments will be sent out by email to parliamentarians, UN representatives and other relevant professionals in the field of population and development to keep them informed and up-to-date on current issues. If you wish to be added to this list, please email the afppdpolicytrackingunit@afppd.org with the words “AFPPD Population Policy Tracking” in the header.   

 13.   UNFPA Moving Location

UNFPA New York Headquarters is moving from its current location in the Daily News Building to a nearby premises. The move is expected to be completed by October 15.  Phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.   The new address is:

United Nations Population Fund
605 Third Avenue, 4th, 5th and 6th Floors
New York, NY 10158

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