INFORMATION SERVICE

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2004

This year is the 10th Anniversary of the ICPD Programme of Action to celebrate ICPD the progress that have been made in different countries, lessons learnt and also the challenges for the next 10 years.

The IPPF in cooperation with Population Action International and Family Care International organized one of the largest attended Global Roundtable on ICPD at 10. Around 600 NGOs, family planning activists, parliamentarians and UN agencies attended. Parliamentarians, representatives of Regional Parliamentarian groups were quite active at the roundtable. They met with NGOs from their own region. Mr. Yoshio Yatsu MP, Chair of AFPPD addressed the opening session with Dr. Steven Sinding, Director General IPPF, Dr. Thorya Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA. Dr. Taro Nakayama, MP Japan and Chair of Japan Parliamentarians Federation on Population and APDA addressed the dinner reception. Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon of the Philippines, Dr. Surya Chandra, MP (Indonesia), and Al Haji Abdullah Salifu of the African Forum and Bille Miller of the Inter-American Forum and Ruth Genner of the Inter-European Forum and others also addressed the roundtable.

A special meeting on Reproductive health supplies was convened at the UK Parliament by UN foundation in cooperation with Inter-European parliamentarians Forum. Mr. Lakshman Singh, MP India and Vice Chair of AFPPD and Tony Worthington UK spoke on contraceptive supply with many others parliamentarians.

On 21-23 July 2004 the first roundtable “Countdown 2015: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All” for Southeast Asia and Oceania Region was organised by the International Planned Parenthood Federation-East and South East Asian and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) in collaboration with Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population & Development (AFPPD) and Asia Pacific Alliance (APA) at Kuala Lumpur. AFPPD sponsored 15 parliamentarians and others to attend the roundtable. Mr. Yoshio Yatsu, MP Japan and Chair of AFPPD gave a special address at the opening ceremony. Hon. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Speaker of Parliament of Fiji, Ms. Steve Chadwick, New Zealand, Mr. JR Nereus Acosta, Philippines, Dr. Sang Guowei, China, and Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, Thailand were part of a panel. The Roundtable was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at Hotel Istana, Mr. Bill Musoke and Dr. Giridhar Giri of UNFPA addressed the roundtable, which was organized by Dr. Raj Karim, Director IPPF ESEAOR.

On 4-6 August 2004 the second IPPF roundtable for the South Asia Region ([IPPF/SARO) in collaboration with UNFPA/CST for South and West Asia (SAWA) held in Kathmandu, Nepal. AFPPD helped organize a parliamentarian's panel with MPs from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Ms. Neena Puri, President of IPPF and Ms. Madhubalanath, Regional Director for South Asia, Mr. Wasim Zaman, Director UNFPA/CST Kathmandu addressed the roundtable.

More than 75 members of parliament from the Asia-Pacific countries assembled at the Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Conference on Environment and Development organized by the Parliament of Fiji and APPCED, initiated by CPE of Korea (an AFPPD member). The meeting was held in Suva, Fiji from 18-20 August 2004. Mr. Yoshio Yatsu, MP (Japan) and Chair of AFPPD said that parliamentarians must be aware of their degrading environment to the extent that it will be difficult to repair if immediate steps are not taken. The conference was also addressed by Mrs. Meyong Soo Han, MP (Korea) and Chair of APPCED, Hon. Prime Minister of Fiji, H.E. Laisenia Arase and Mr. Keneti Fautato, Assistant Regional Coordinator of UNEP for the Pacific. The opening ceremony was chaired by Hon. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Speaker of Fiji Parliament.

The 53rd Executive Committee Meeting of AFPPD was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 20th of July 2004 at the Hotel Istana. The Executive Committee reviewed AFPPD Activities for the first half of 2004 and discussed future activities of AFPPD. They approved collaboration with UNAIDS and UNEP. Before the meeting, members of the Executive committee were invited to a Lunch hosted by President of Senate of Malaysia, Hon. Senator Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Abdul Hamid bin Pawanteh. at the Parliament of Malaysia. Mr. Bill Musoke, Deputy Director, UNFPA Asia Pacific Division and Mr. Giridhar Giri, Director of UNFPA/CST E & SE Asia attended the Executive Committee meeting on behalf of UNFPA and Dr Raj Karim represented IPPF.

A preparatory meeting for the 2004 International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action to be held in Strasbourg, France from 18-19 October 2004, was held between UNFPA and Regional/Global Parliamentary Groups on 16 August 2004 in New York City. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Safiye Cagar, Director, Information, Executive Board and Resource Mobilisation Division, IERD. In attendance were also representatives from UNFPA Geographical Divisions. The agenda included discussion on the outline and purpose of the IPCI/ICPD Strasbourg Conference and a look at the programme for the conference. An update of logistical arrangements was given by Mr. Neil Datta, IEPFPD Secretary; IEPFPD will be hosting the conference and will make preparations of the conference. Parliamentarians' attendance was presented by regional parliamentary groups including the European Forum, the African Forum and the Asian Forum. After the meeting regional parliamentary groups met with their respective geographical division representative to discuss final arrangements for the conference. 

AFPPD held a training course in collaboration with UNFPA/CST East and South East Asia, for AFPPD national committee staff from 26-30 July 2004 in Bangkok. The training focused on monitoring and evaluation. It was facilitated by Dr. Peter Chen, Adviser on Adolescent Reproductive Health of UNFPA/CST. There were thirty-eight participants from our various national committees and 8 resource persons from UNFPA/CST and UNDP Malaysia conducted the training. Dr. Giridhar Giri, Director UNFPA/CST Bangkok and Senator Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit opened the training course.