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1.
General
Election Concluded in New Zealand
New Zealand –
Following the General Election in New Zealand,
the Asian Forum was informed by the secretariat
of the New Zealand Parliamentarians Group on
Population and Development (NZPPD), a member of
AFPPD, that several of their active members are
no longer members of parliament. AFPPD would
like to take this opportunity to express our
sincerely appreciation for all the commitment
these members have provided in the effort to
strengthen ICPD’s position within the region.
AFPPD has also been informed that eight young
parliamentarians (define as parliamentarians who
are under 35 years old) were elected in the
General Election..
2.
Australian MP Visits Thailand
Thailand – Hon. Ms.
Lee Rhiannon, Senator of Australia and a member
of Parliamentary Group on Population and
Development Australia (PGPD) was in Bangkok to
attend the AFPPD-UNFPA Focus Group Meeting on
Policy Tracking and Monitoring. During her visit
in Bangkok, she also visited the UNFPA Office
and met with Ms. Nobuko Horibe, Director of
UNFPA Asia and the Pacific Regional Office.
AFPPD Executive Director met with Ms. Melanie
Poole, the new coordinator for PGPD, and
discussed future cooperation. Currently, PGPD is
hosted by Care Australia.
3.
AFPPD Policy Tracking and Monitoring Unit
Enhanced
Thailand – Population
and development policy experts, practitioners,
and parliamentarians in Asia and the Pacific met
in Bangkok, Thailand, on 16 December 2011 to
discuss about the Policy Tracking and Monitoring
Unit of AFPPD. The focus group meeting was
opened by Hon. Dr. Jetn Sirathranont, Senator of
Thailand. Two other members of parliaments,
including Hon. Ms. Lee Rhiannon, Senator of
Australia, and Hon. Ms. Luzviminda Ilagan,
Congresswoman of the Philippines, also
participated. During the discussions,
participants shared ideas and suggestions, which
will be used for future development of the unit.
4.
IAPPD and
ICOMP Organize a Consultation on Maternal Health
and Rights
India – National
Consultation on Maternal Health and Rights:
Issues and Challenges in India with specific
focus on Bihar and Jharkhand was held by Indian
Association of Parliamentarians on Population
and Development (IAPPD) in cooperation with
International Council on Management of
Population Programmes (ICOMP) Malaysia and UNFPA
on 15-16 December 2011 in Bihar, India. The
event was participated political leaders,
experts on health and population related issues
and the media.
5.
European
Parliamentary Advocacy Experts Met in France
France – The European
Parliamentary Forum on Population and
Development (EPF) in partnership with the
Information and External relations Department (IERD)
of UNFPA conducted a European All-Party
Parliamentary Groups and Secretariat Meeting in
Bordeaux, France during 5-6 December 2011. The
meeting is another effort to strengthen
parliamentary advocacy on ICPD issues following
the strategic meeting of IERD UNFPA New York,
UNFPA focal points for parliamentary advocacy
representatives, and regional parliamentary
networks in Krabi, Thailand on 17 December 2011.
Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD,
represented AFPPD at the European All-Party
Parliamentary Groups and Secretariat Meeting.
6. UNFPA
Executive Director Visits South Korea
Korea – Dr. Babatunde
Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, visited
South Korea to strengthen partnership with
parliamentarians, civil society, media, and
young people within the country. Dr. Osotimehin
stressed the importance of achieving MDG5,
emphasizing on reproductive health. During his
visit, Dr. Osotimehin met with Hon. Ms. Sook Mee
Son, who is a member of Korean National
Assembly. Ms. Son said that she will coordinate
in an effort to establish a parliamentary group
to work specifically on MDG5. Korean
Parliamentary League on Children, Population and
Environment (CPE), a member of AFPPD, has
assisted in Dr. Osotimehin’s meeting with
parliamentarians.
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