INFORMATION SERVICE

April 2007

Indian MP at Madrid HIV/AIDS Meeting

Mr. Sachin Pilot, young MP from India, represented AFPPD at technical seminar entitled, "Advocacy and International Initiatives in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS" which aimed to strengthen Spanish NGDOs and public administrations working in development in order to better address the challenges posed by the HIV epidemic in developing countries. Mr. Sachin Pilot at the roundtable shared Indian experiences on the challenges and opportunities for advocating on HIV/AIDS, alongside with Mr. Carles Campuzano, MP of Spain, who spoke on the roles of parliamentarians on advocacy and development issues. The event was organized by Plataforma ONG Sida y Desarrollo of Spain.

Fiji Foreign Minister Visits Bangkok

Foreign Minister of Fiji, Special Representative of UNAIDS, and former Speaker of Fiji and Vice-President of AFPPD, Hon. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, visited Bangkok on April 23. He was facilitated by AFPPD at a dinner which was attended by Parliamentarians, UN Officers and NGOs’ representatives. He informed that even as a Foreign Minister, HIV/AIDS is an important part of his diplomatic efforts.

Malaysia Plans to host International Parliamentarians’ Conference

AFPPD Executive Director, Shiv Khare, AFPPD-Malaysia President, Dato Haji Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, Malaysian parliamentarians, and Ms. Ramah Osman, Executive Director of AFPPD-Malaysia, discussed on strengthening of AFPPD-Malaysia and agreed on a common strategy. It was also agreed that AFPPD-Malaysia will celebrate the 50 Years of Malaysian Independence by organizing an International Parliamentarians’ Conference in Kuala Lumpur. AFPPD assured full cooperation during the discussion. In addition, AFPPD Executive Director also had a meeting with Dr. Raj Karim, Regional Director of IPPF, and discussed mutual cooperation.

Dam Carol Kidu of PNG Honored

The US Government has awarded Papua New Guinea MP, Dame Carol Kidu, AFPPD Alumna, with the Secretary of State’s Award for International Women of Courage. Dame Carol was recognized for her courage and leadership in advocating social justice and women’s rights and advancement in Papua New Guinea.  Source:NZPPD News

New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group Reports on Youth SRH

The New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development prepared a report, Youth Sexual Health: "Our Health, Our Issue," which was presented to the Minister of Health, Pete Hodgson, at a launch on April 3rd. The report is the result of an open hearing held in December 2006 that provided an opportunity for key government agencies, NGOs and other individual experts to present submissions to parliamentarians around youth sexual and reproductive health issues. The report calls for a cross-government approach to improving youth sexual and reproductive health through developing a teenage pregnancy strategy and establishing a Ministerial Taskforce. Katarina Lindahl, Secretary General of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, was a guest speaker at the launch. Katarina was on a visit to New Zealand organized by New Zealand Family Planning's international development unit (FPAID), during which she met with government officials, MPs and NGOs to discuss the Swedish experience of working on youth sexual and reproductive health. Source:NZPPD News

Pregnancy Counseling Legislation in Australia

The Parliamentary Group on population and development (PGPD) in Australia is following up on the Programme of pregnancy counseling in Advertising Bill. Senator Troeth informed that senators has agreed on suitable terms of preference and the Bill will be placed on the legislation agenda in the next few months. Source:PGPD

Portugal and Mexico Legalize Abortion

Portuguese and Mexican Parliamentarians have voted to legalize abortion. Meanwhile, European High Court on Civil Rights have delivered a Judgment in favor of a Polish woman who was denied abortion though doctors have told her she may face irreversible damage to her eyes if she gave birth. She indeed became partially blind after giving birth.

US Congressional Support for International Family Planning

The new Democratic Congress is showing a strong commitment to strengthening U.S. funding and support for international family planning and reproductive health programs. Three important new pieces of legislation have already been introduced in Congress—the Prevention Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth (PATHWAY) Act, the Global Democracy Promotion Act, and the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act of 2007.

Women’s Equality Amendment Reintroduced in US Congress

March 29-Women’s ENews reported that Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) reintroduced the Women’s Equality Amendment, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment, with optimism that it will pass this year due to a changed political climate. The move followed a conference of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, where hundreds lobbied Congress on several women’s rights issues. “A bolder effort is clearly needed to finally live up to out commitment of full equality,” Senator Edward Kennedy said in a statement, “The Equal Rights Amendment alone cannot remedy all discrimination, but it will clearly strengthen the ongoing efforts of women across the country to obtain equal treatment.”

A Setback in US

The US Supreme Court-in a stunning setback for reproductive rights-ruled on April 18th to upload the Federal Abortion Ban. This ruling, which Justice Ginsburg called “alarming,” effectively overturns 30 years of precedent and announces that women’s health is no longer a paramount concern. Source:Center for Reproductive Rights

World Bank and Reproductive Health

The World Bank under the new leadership is systematically denying funding for Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programme.

The Bank’s Executive Board last week refused to approve World Bank Programme which has given low priority to family planning and reproductive health. However, the Programme was only approved once Family Planning and Reproductive Health were properly mentioned. Earlier, National Parliamentarians' Committees, particularly Australia , Japan, and several other Asian countries protested the World Bank for removing Family Planning and Reproductive Health from their agenda.

2 Asian NGOs Received UN Population Awards

For the first time in its 17-year history, the United Nations Population Award is being bestowed upon four laureates, two individuals and two institutions, for their contributions to work in population, health and welfare.

This year's honourees are Allen Rosenfield, a professor at Columbia University in New York; Hossein Malek Afzali, Deputy Minister for Research and Technology with the Iranian Government; the Algerian National Population Committee; and Malaysia's National Population and Family Development Board.

Dates to Remember

Special Note

Please note afppd@inet.co.th which receive all list serve will be replaced by asianforum@afppd.org. Further, all correspondent e-mails are to be sent to afppd@afppd.org.