INFORMATION SERVICE

February 2007

APDA Parliamentarians Meeting Discuss Population and Sustainable Development

Tokyo, February 22-23: The 23rd Asian Parliamentarians Meeting on Population and Development on theme "Population and Sustainable Development-Toward the Next Twenty-Five Years" was organized by Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), in cooperation with AFPPD. The event is also inline with the 25th anniversary of APDA.

The meeting was officially opened by Dr. Taro Nakoyama, MP (Japan) and Chairperson of APDA/JPFP; and addressed by Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, MP (Japan) and Chairman of AFPPD; Ms. Pamela Delargy, Chief of the Humanitarian Response Unit of UNFPA; Dr. Gill Greer, Director General of IPPF; and Ms. Chikage Ohgi, President of the House of Councilors in Japan.

The meeting gathered around 40 parliamentarians from 20 countries to review the efforts of parliamentarians on issues related to fresh water resources, energy and food production, potential threat of infectious diseases and establishing effective control mechanisms on this regard, impact of international labor migration on developing countries of Asia, and aging population problems as well as the achievements and future challenges on population and sustainable development issues of the region with future outlook towards the next 25 years.

APDA on its 25th Year

Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), which has the credit of involving prime ministers and ministers in Japan on its work, has been successfully keeping the interests of Japanese parliamentarians on population and development-related issues alive.

The 25th anniversary dinner was addressed by Mr. Hakuo Yanagisawa, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare; Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Mr. Toshikatsu Matsuoka, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. APDA also honored those who were involved since its founding.

Dr. Boonyawongvirot of Thailand, New Secretary General of AFPPD

The 60th Executive Committee meeting of AFPPD in Tokyo was chaired by Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, MP (Japan) and Chairman of AFPPD.

The members approved the nomination for the Secretary General post of the AFPPD of Mr. Prat Boonyawongvirot, MP of the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand and permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health; and also requested Ms. Malinee Sukavejworakit to be an Advisor to AFPPD, further leveraging her experience in population and development issues.

During the meeting, planned program of activities and participation request for 2007 were presented to the attention of the members. Ms. Steve Chadwick, the Chairwoman of the Standing Committee on Women of AFPPD, informed the members about the expected 5th Asian Women Ministers' and Parliamentarians' Conference to be held in Beijing, China. Sen. Beksultan Tutkushev, MP (Kazakhstan), noted that the Central Asian Parliamentarians meeting will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Refers to Population Growth for Water Problem

Islamabad, February 26-March 3: The Pakistani Prime Minister, Mr. Shaukat Aziz, opened the 13th Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians Conference on Environment and Development (APPCED) by referring to population growth as one of the major factors of water scarcity and pollution. Many other experts also indicated population as a factor in water issue.

President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, received over 70 parliamentarians from 21 countries. The event was organized by the Senate of Pakistan and Korean Parliamentary League on Children, Population and Environment (CPE). AFPPD was represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Shiv Khare.

TB/HIV Policy Report in Thailand

Bangkok, February 14: The Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University; in collaboration with Public Health Watch, the Open Society Institute (USA); organized the launch of the TB/HIV policy report in Thailand.

The launch event consists of panel discussion and presentation on TB research findings to highlight TB/HIV policy and services in Thailand. The meeting also aims to obtain expert feedback on the research report entitled, "TB Policy in Thailand: A Civil Society Perspective", which examines the Thai government's response to TB. Around 70 attendees; including policymakers, academics, representatives from international agencies, government officials and other stakeholders; participated during the half-day event. AFPPD was represented by its Programme Associate, Mr. Philip Nalangan.

RHIYA Good Practices Dissemination Meeting

Bangkok, February 7-8:The EU/UNFPA Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) has officially come to a close this year as the RHIYA Good Practices Dissemination Meeting took place to bring together and conclude the RHIYA initiatives in all seven projected countries. The event was opened by Mr. Bill Musoke, Deputy Director of the Asia Pacific Division of UNFPA.

RHIYA is the collaboration of the European Union (EU), the UNFPA, European and local NGOs in carrying out EC/UNFPA Initiative for Reproductive Health in Asia (RHI), most particularly the high-risk population in 7 selected nations, i.e. Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. Initiated in 2003 and ended in 2007, RHIYA, the projects were evidently successful in changes the lives of youths region-wide by creating an enabling environment, advocating for policy development, providing services and comprehensive programmes, as well as educating and communicating with youngsters on sexual reproductive health.

Parliamentarians in Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia were also got involved in the project. Ms. Passawee Tapasanan, Editorial Associate of AFPPD, attended the meeting.

Ms. Chadwick Statement on the Eve of the UN Commission

Ms. Steve Chadwick, MP (New Zealand) and Chair of the Standing Committee on Women of AFPPD, on the eve of the UN Commission on the States of Women being held in New York, asked member states to support the initiative of creating a new comprehensive UN agency for women.

She also asked member states to give priority to the implementation of laws related to violence against women as well as children and give special attention to sex tourism. Ms. Chadwick called upon parliamentarians, especially women parliamentarians, to be more forceful to bring out issues of women and children inside and outside the parliament. Additionally, she announced that the AFPPD will hold an Asian conference on Women Ministers and Women Parliamentarians in Beijing, to examine the states of the implementation of laws related to women, especially violence against them.

Person-to-Person Advocacy in Lao PDR

Lao Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (LAPPD) completely conducted a survey, under the Person-to-Person Advocacy Programme. Fifty four MPs, which include women, were interviewed on population and development issues; including HIV/AIDS, status of women and other related issues. A report will soon be available.

Orientation of MPs in Lao PDR

LAPPD will organize an Orientation Workshop for new LAPPD members to be held at the end of March. Approximately 37 participants, including 20 members of the concerned departments of Lao National Assembly, are expected to partake in the event.

Women Deliver Conference

Family Care International will organize an international conference on "Women Deliver" in London by October 18-20 of this year. Interested NGOs and activists need to log-in on their website, http://www.womendeliver.org, for more details.