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INFORMATION SERVICE

The AFPPD E-mail Information Service is issued every month to subscribers in order to provide information and news on AFPPD members' and other parliamentarians' activities around the world. If you are interested in subscribing to AFPPD's e-mail information service, please contact AFPPD's Secretariat 

Celebrating 25th year


August 2006

AFPPD-IAPPD's Person-to-Person Advocacy Report Released by Prime Minister

Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, released a report entitled “Person-to-Person Advocacy with Parliamentarians on Populations Issues” on August 23, 2006 at the Parliament House.  The report was based on the interviews of 250 parliamentarians from both Lower and Upper Houses and was conducted by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD), with the support from AFPPD. The original Person-to-Person Advocacy Project (PPAP) was funded by Hewlett Foundation and similar surveys had been conducted in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and the Philippines.  India was the extension of the survey. 

Dr. Singh said, “I am absolutely delighted to release this survey.  I compliment the IAPPD for undertaking this survey and for continuing your efforts in a vital area of national importance.  I believe this brings together some very interesting and provocative material on the perceptions and approach of our elected representatives in a vital area of national policy.  I do sincerely believe that the elected representatives, at all levels, must play a more active role in educating the people and in raising our people’s awareness on vital social and economic policy issues”.

The report indicates that a large number of parliamentarians did not have enough information about HIV/AIDS transmission.  The event has received wide press coverage both local and international.  International Herald Tribune gave the heading "Indian Law Makers Lack Facts on HIV, Reuters said "MPs Caught Out on Lack of AIDS Awareness", and Gulf News mentioned "Law Makers Shockingly Misinformed on AIDS".

AFPPD Statement to the XVI International AIDS Conference

In the statement during the XVI International AIDS Conference which was held in Toronto, Canada from August 13-18, 2006, Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, Senator (Thailand) and Secretary-General of AFPPD, a platform of health and population parliamentary committees from 27 Asian and Pacific countries reminded the delegates at the conference that political will is essential to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

The political will would only be achieved if the elected representatives have sufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS.  AFPPD’s person-to-person advocacy survey with parliamentarians in five Asian countries showed that a large number of representatives do not have enough information and have several misconceptions about HIV/AIDS.  Dr. Sukavejworakit also emphasized that this issue needs to be addressed first.

Australian Parliamentarians' Roundtable on SRH & MDGs

The Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (APGPD) held a public roundtable discussion in August on the topic of “Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Australian Aid Program – The Way Forward”.  This was the first such event held by the APGPD and will be followed by a second session on Monday, September 11.

Parliamentarians, academics, NGO representatives and practitioners had an interesting morning discussion regarding sexual and reproductive health of the Australian aid program in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The APGPD Secretariat will prepare a report after the second roundtable discussion.