INFORMATION SERVICE

February 2004

AFPPD at JICA Capacity Development Workshop

Ms. Lim Kee Moi, Senator from Malaysia and Mr. Shiv Khare attended and posted a room paper on political commitment for capacity development at the JICA and UNDP sponsored International Capacity Development Workshop in Tokyo on 4,5 and 6 February.  Political Dimensions of capacity development is an important aspect and was one of the recommendations.

Population and Education Seminar in India

The IAPPD in cooperation with AFPPD, UNFPA and the Government of India organized a National Legislative Seminar on Education and Population at Rajkot, Gujrat on 13 and 14 February.  It was addressed by Mr. Jyoti Singh, President Population 2005 and Former Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, Mr. Nizamuddin, Former Director of UNFPA Asia Pacific Division and it was attended by more than 100 legislators.

5^th Parliamentarian Conference of the World Bank

Paris was the venue of 180 parliamentarians to meet for the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank.  A special meeting of all parliamentarian groups and agencies working with parliamentarians was also convened and a possible coordination mechanism was discussed.  The PNoWB was attended by Senator Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit and Mr. Shiv Khare, they also attended a special sub-committee on HIV/AIDS. Ms. Wakako Hironaka, Member of House of Councillors of Japan was elected as one of the Board Members of PNoWB with Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit.  Dr. Malinee also had a special meeting with Mr. James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank. 

Chinese Officials Receive Briefing

Thirteen officials from China, who were attending a training course on advocacy at Asia-Pacific Development Communication Center (ADCC) Dhurakitjpundit University in Bangkok, visited AFPPD on 23^rd February to receive information on AFPPD programmes.  They also met with the members of the Senate Committee on Public Health, where they were briefed by Senator Dr. Virapong Skolkitivat, Chairperson of the Committee, Senator Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, Secretary General, AFPPD and Senator Jon Ungpakorn.

Study Visit to Yemen

The Parliamentary Network on the World Bank will sponsor a parliamentarians study visit to Yemen in early April with special focus on HIV/AIDS.

International Women's Day

March 8 is International Women's Day celebrated throughout the world.  The theme this year is Women and HIV/AIDS.  In honor of celebrating this day the Thematic Working Group on Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality, of which AFPPD is a member, co-organized an event at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok with the National Council of Women of Thailand (NCWT).  The event was opened by Ms. Keiko Okaido, Deputy Executive Secretary and Officer-in-Charge of the UNESCAP Secretariat, it was also addressed by UN Resident Coordinator Mr. J.K. Robert England and Ms. Yowvares Shinawatra, President of NCWT.  The keynote address on “Women and HIV/AIDS was given by Ms. Kathleen Cravero, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS.  This was followed by a panel discussion, the panelist were Senator Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, MD, Secretary General AFPPD, Mr. Chanuyth Kosirinond, Director, Office of Women's Affairs and Family Institution, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Hon. Udomprachathorn, Monk, Phrabahtnampu Temple, Dr. Sriwanna Poolsappasidh, Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Public Health, and Mrs. Somboon Suprasert, Advisor, HIV/AIDS Research Project, Thai Red Cross.  A film festival was also held in UNCC Theater throughout the day that covered women and gender issues in the UNESCAP region.

Mekong Leaders Consultative Meeting on Women and AIDS

On the occasion of International Women's day, UNIFEM, UNICEF and UNAIDS have called together a select group of leaders from 5 countries in the region to bring attention to these issues and to explore how regional and national leaders can begin to address these issues within the context of the national responses to HIV and AIDS in the region.  The Mekong Leaders Consultative Meeting on Women and AIDS is envisaged to be a forum of prominent leaders in the region-both men and women-to discuss various means to address women's and gender issues in regional, national and community responses to HIV/AIDS.  Senator Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, Senator Jon Ungpakorn and Senator Meechai also addressed the meeting.