INFORMATION SERVICE

May 2008

AFPPD Chair, Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, Advocates ICPD Issues at TICAD

On 28 May 2008, at the Opening Session of TICAD IV in Yokohama, Japan, Prime Minister Mr. Yasuo Fukuda addressed representatives from 52 African and donor countries and officials from the United Nations, and raised the importance of population and related issues to Africa's development.

He emphasized that the "issue of population in Africa is one that must be addressed for the development of the economy and the stability of society. It has a profound effect on the attainment of the MDGs, with impacts on poverty, education, gender, the environment, and reproductive health."

He also mentioned his role as Chair of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) by saying that "I have for some time chaired the dialogue among Asian and African national assembly members that share a common awareness of the [population] issue and have continued my efforts to promote exchanges among these members."

Prime Minister Fukuda further noted that this year marks the halfway point as we work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and outlined a range of measures that Japan will be undertaking to assist Africa reach the MDG targets.

"It is impossible for us to close our eyes to the difficulties our African friends are facing, including the problem of infectious diseases. Japan intends to extend a hand to our African friends who are striving hard. Let all of us renew our determination to achieve the MDGs."The range of initiatives outlined by Prime Minister Fukuda that Japan will take in this regard, include training one hundred thousand people in Africa over the next five years as health workers, and expanding to Africa, Japan's "Maternal and Child Health Handbook", which has already been introduced in Indonesia and other Asian countries and delivered good results.

Japanese Parliamentarians' Push

Earlier on 15 May 2008, a delegation from the Japanese Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP), comprising Members of Parliament Ms. Kayoko Shimizu, Mr. Chiaki Takahashi, Ms. Chieko Nohno and Ms. Wakako Hironaka, along with Dr. Kusumoto, Executive Director of the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), met with Prime Minister Fukuda and urged him to highlight the issue of population and reproductive health at TICAD and the G8 Conference.

Good Governance will Improve Reproductive Health Management: AFPPD Panel

Parliamentarians from India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand represented AFPPD and spoke on various panels and workshops at the BKBK and UNFPA sponsored 2nd International Conference on Reproductive Health Management, in Bali on 6-8 May 2008. The major theme of the panel discussion organised by AFPPD, was that good governance improves reproductive health management.
The parliamentarians also emphasized the need to highlight population growth and family planning as part of reproductive health, as in Third World countries growing population is hampering the fruits of development being enjoyed by people. The Conference was opened by Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director Programme of UNFPA.

Ms. Thoraya Obaid of UNFPA at JPFP General Assembly

Ms. Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA and Ms. Safiye Cagar, Executive Director, External Relations Division of UNFPA met Japanese parliamentarians to discuss programme and resources for population and reproductive health issues, on 3 June 2008. Seen in the picture are Ms. Obaid, Ms Cagar and Dr. Kusumoto, Executive Director, APDA at the Tokyo offices. They were in Tokyo to address the TICAD IV Conference.

Sri Lanka Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, Despite Relatively Low Prevalence

A recent study conducted by the Centre for Policy Studies in London, indicates Sri Lanka is vulnerable to a potential HIV/AIDS epidemic despite the country's relatively low HIV/AIDS prevalence. According to the study, UNAIDS has estimated Sri Lanka's adult HIV/AIDS prevalence at less than 0.1%.The study, titled "HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka", found that although the officially recorded number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the country was 862 in July 2007, the actual figure was much higher. UNAIDS estimates that the number of people living with the disease is about 5,000. The study found that the Western province of the country accounts for about 60% of cases, the Central and North Western provinces account for 8%, and the North Eastern province accounts for 7%.According to the study, various factors make the country vulnerable to a potential HIV/AIDS epidemic, including a large population of commercial sex workers, migrant workers, military personnel, internally displaced people, refugees and injection drug users, as well as a high incidence of unsafe sexual practices, such as low condom use. The study noted that poverty is the main cause of commercial sex work and human trafficking. In addition, gender-based violence and the lack of power women have to negotiate sex and safer-sex practices have increased women's vulnerability to HIV, according to the report.

- The Kaiser Network Report

Pacific Workshop: The Role of Parliamentary Committees

On 16-17 April 2008, the National Parliament of Solomon Islands and the Centre for Democratic Institutions, in conjunction with the UNDP Solomon Islands Parliamentary Strengthening Project, organized a training workshop on the role of parliamentary committees with an emphasis on engaging the community through committee work.The aim of the workshop was to assist the National Parliament ensure that its parliamentary committees can perform their proper roles. Members of Parliament gained a greater appreciation of the value of parliamentary committees as a means of 'taking Parliament to the people', thus enabling Members to be better informed about community views; of providing a bridge between Members' constituents' concerns and the broader community; and of promoting public debate. Mr. Quinton Clements, Deputy Director, Centre for Democratic Institutions, Senator The Hon. Kay Patterson, Parliament of Australia, The Hon. Moses Maladina, Member of Parliament, Papua New Guinea, and Mr. Steve Reynolds, Clerk Assistant of Committees, Legislative Council, New South Wales, facilitated the workshop.

Advocacy with Nepal's Constituent Assembly on Reproductive Health

AFPPD in cooperation with other like minded organizations and Ms Chitralekha Yadav, Deputy Speaker, Legislative Assembly, will work to highlight the issue of population, family planning and reproductive health and rights with newly elected members of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal.