INFORMATION SERVICE

November 2004

World Parliamentarians at Strasbourg affirm commitment to urge ICPD issues in MDG Goals

Strasbourg: Around 250 parliamentarians, Ministers, non-governmental officials and UN representatives from around the world assembled at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 18-19 October for the 2004 International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action hosted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and organized by Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (IEPFPD) and UNFPA in cooperation with AFPPD, FAAPPD, and IAPG.

The opening ceremony was addressed by The Rt. Hon. Terry Davis, Secretary General, Council of Europe. Mrs. Thoraya A. Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA and Dr. Steve Sinding, Director of IPPF gave the keynote speeches. Ms. Safiye Cagar, Director, IERD-UNFPA also addressed the conference. A panel of six ministers from Kenya, Egypt, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands highlighted the continuing efforts to meet the Cairo goals.

The conference's first session was moderated by Ms. Imelda Henkins, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA, centered on “10 years after Cairo---Success & Constraints”. Similarly, importance was also given to a panel discussion on programs in resource mobilization and creating an enabling environment.

Parliamentarians also discussed HIV/AIDS, millennium development goals, population, reproductive health, and adolescent reproductive health. They also considered reproductive health in emergency situations, food, water, population and environment, gender and women empowerment, maternal mortality and morbidity in various groups.

The conference adopted a statement known as Strasbourg Statement of Commitment in which parliamentarians' from around the world committed themselves to work for various ICPD issues. Some of the important commitments include:

"To ask UN to establish in 2005 during five-year reviews of MDG a ninth MDG goal based on ICPD to make sexual and reproductive health accessible to all by 2015."

"To strive to devote at least 10 percent of national development budgets and development assistance budgets for population and reproductive health programmes."

"To report regularly on progress through parliamentary groups and to meet in two years in Bangkok"

USA: Senator John Kerry in a statement released on October 13, 2004 marking the 10-year anniversary of the International Conference on Population and development expressed support for the rights of women and families around the world.

“Ten years ago, I joined a bipartisan delegation from U.S. Congress to attend the meeting of governments in Cairo, Egypt to discuss the pressing health and development challenges facing the world. The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development brought together 179 diverse nations with different cultures, religions, and traditions in a shared promise to improve the health of families' and promote global environment.

On the 10th anniversary of that historic conference, we recognize that the world has transformed since then. We have seen some notable improvements in global health and women's empowerment, but women continue to face serious challenges, such as intolerably high rates of maternal mortality, rising obstacles to family planning services and the HIV/AIDS pandemic which affects tens of millions around the world.

We must do more to address the needs of women, to ensure they and their children live healthy lives. As president, I will reaffirm America's leading role in the fight for the rights of women around the world. I will repeal burdensome restrictions on family planning, restore U.S. funding to the United Nations Population Fund, and double U.S. funding to fight AIDS. Today, I commend the hundreds of world leaders and advocates who have committed their continued support for the goals set at the Cairo conference in 1994.”

New Chair of Indonesia Forum

Indonesia: Mrs. Hj Aisyah Baidlowi, daughter of the former president of Indonesia has been elected as the new chair of the Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IFPPD). Also worth noting is that after the new parliament election, Ms. Baidlowi became Chair of Commission Nine, which is the commission on population and health.

The Philippines: The Philippine Legislators Committee on Population & Development (PLCPD) held its annual general assembly after the election of the 13th Congress. The new officers of PLCPD are:

Executive Officers: Sen. Rodolfo F. Biazon, Rep. Juan Romeo Nerus O. Acosta, Rep. Jose Carlos, V. Lacson, Rep. Lorna C. Silverio. Vice Chairpersons: Rep. Gilbert Cesar C. Remjulla, Rep; Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz. Rep. Darlene Magnolia. Chairpersons of Special Committees: Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, Rep. Emilio C. Macacias II, Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, Rep. Josefina M. Joson. Board Members: Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers., Rep. Del R. De Guzman, Rep. Francis Joseph G. Escudero, Se. Juan M. Flavier, Rep. Ma Imelda R. Marcos, Rep. Liza Largoza-Maza, Sen. Manuel A. Roxas III, Rep. Cynthia A. Villar.

During both activities, lively discussions ensued among the newly elected officers and members of PLCD on the current developments regarding the bills on population and reproductive health filed in both Chambers of Philippine Congress. They also discussed possible strategies for the passage of the organization's priority measures, namely the Reproductive Health Care Act, Integrated Population and Development Act, National Land Use Act, and Foreign Debt Policy. It is to be noted that all population advocates mentioned above were elected in the Philippines' parliament.

Around 50 parliamentarians from Pacific islands met in Fiji on October 13, 2004 to discuss HIV/AIDS situation, prevention strategies, and the roles parliaments can play to tackle HIV/AIDS. The 1st Conference for Pacific Parliamentarians in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS was organized by the parliament of Fiji in cooperation with UNFPA and AFPPD. Dr. Nafis Sadik, special envoy of U.N. Secretary General, and Sen. Dr. Malinee, secretary general of AFPPD and resource person for ADB and others addressed the conference.

Did you Know?

The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133 B.C. London, England reached the mark in 1810 and New York, USA made it in 1875. Today, there are over 300 cities in the world that boast a population in excess of 1 million.