INFORMATION SERVICE

February 2008

AFPPD Reviews Advocacy Techniques in Working with Parliamentarians

AFPPD has been working with parliamentarians and other elected representatives for the past 26 years, and has been experimenting with several methodologies to motivate parliamentarians on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) related issues. AFPPD plans to examine which of these advocacy methods are effective in encouraging parliamentarians to make ICPD issues part of their agenda. Therefore, AFPPD is cooperating with UNFPA-Indonesia and the Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development to organize a technical workshop to "Review Advocacy Techniques in Working with Parliamentarians" on March 27-29 in Bali, Indonesia. Twenty parliamentarians and parliament committee staff are expected to attend.

Financing for Gender Equality Parliamentarian Dialogue at the UN Commission on the Status of Women

New York, February 27: A parliamentary dialogue on "Financing for Gender Equality" was hosted by the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF), in parallel to the 52nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The dialogue aimed to provide a platform for discussion between decision-makers and civil society in the role of parliamentarians and stakeholders play in formulating innovative financing commitments for gender equality and empowerment of women. The European parliamentarian delegation included Ms. Petra Bayr of Austria, Ms. Antje Blumenthal of Germany, Ms. Ingrida Circene of Latvia, Mr. Alexander Graf Lambsdorff of Germany, Ms. Christine McCafferty of UK, Ms. Mechthild Rawert of Germany, Ms. Sonja Sjoli of Norway, Ms. Johanna Sumuvuori of Finland, Ms. Karin Woldseth of Norway, and Mr. Milorad Zivkovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ms. Chieko Nohno, MP (Japan); Ms. Joanna Spratt, Manager of the Family Planning International Development; and Ms. Jane Singleton, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance; attended the dialogue in behalf of AFPPD.

First Global Parliamentary Forum to Fight Human Trafficking

Vienna, February 12: The first Global Parliamentary Forum to Fight Human Trafficking, a part of UN's global initiative to fight human trafficking, was attended by parliamentarians from 116 countries. The forum discussed practical measures to increase measures aiming to prevent human trafficking and to bring perpetrators to justice. Lack of information and disjointed response were named as reasons that enable human trafficking to continue.

Development Forum in Thailand Taking Shape

Bangkok, February 22: A development forum - aimed to be a platform to discuss and share experiences on the challenges in the issues related to development, human rights, governance, poverty eradication and democracy - is taking shape in Thailand. More than 20 development professionals and researchers from various NGOs, UN agencies and universities participated in the forum. AFPPD was represented by Programme Associates: Ms. Passawee Tapasanan and Ms. Carla Benham. The first meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mr. Muhammad Musa, Regional Director of CARE; moderated by Mr. John Samuel, International Director of ActionAid.

Ms. Donya Aziz and Ms. Kashmala Tariq Reelected in Pakistan Polls

Ms. Donya Aziz and Ms. Kashmala Tariq, both alumnae of AFPPD, got elected in the recent elections in Pakistan.

India's Law Commission Proposed Bills to Combat Child Marriage

40th Session of CEDAW Discussed Women Rights

Geneva, January 14 - February 1: The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) held its 40th session to examine various country reports on how these countries are implementing their obligations under the CEDAW convention. The committee discussed issues on women's rights and empowerment, social security, education and violence against women; and highlighted the accomplishments, shortcomings and recommendations in the implementation of CEDAW.

Funding for Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS by Global Fund Advocated

Addis Ababa, February 26: The International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Population Action International held a meeting on "Mobilizing for Reproductive Health and HIV Integration", aimed to increase the funding of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS by the Global Fund to Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The meeting reviewed country experiences in submitting proposals to the Global Fund, along with a coordinated advocacy plan that links the global and national-level advocacies.

Fiji Approved Workplace Law Against Sexual Harassment

Suva, February 5: Fiji's cabinet approved the National Policy on Sexual Harassment in Workplace, under the Employment Relations Promulgation. Sexual harassments in workplaces have to be addressed to ensure quality and productive work in an environment free of intimidation and sexual harassment. The policy ensured that all the stakeholders must prevent any form of harassing behaviors from occurring and to support people who feel sexually harassed to find appropriate solutions.

President George Bush's 2009 Budget to Cut 30 Percent in Sexual and Reproductive Health Programmes

Washington DC, February 4: US President George Bush's proposal for Fiscal Year 2009 will cut 30 percent of funding for international family planning, and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) programmes. The reduction will occur despite the growing need for SRH care in developing countries. It will have a devastating effect to women who rely on family planning services, and it will increase the rate of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. The proposed budget was criticized for putting politics over women's health, proposing devastating funding cuts of 570 million USD in the family planning and increasing funding of 27 million USD for the ineffective abstinence-only programmes.

Searching for Right Person

The Asia-Pacific Alliance (APA) is a network of NGOs, overseas development agencies and philanthropic foundations from donor countries in the Pacific. It promotes implementation of the Programme of Action, adopted and supplemented by the key actions of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the 21st Special Session of the UN General Assembly on ICPD+5. APA is looking for a new Regional Coordinator who will be responsible in coordinating, implementing and monitoring the activities of the organization; and in providing the overall management of the secretariat. All applications should be sent to jackie.edmond@familyplanning.org.nz on or before March 21.

Dates to Remember

AFPPD is currently engaged in the preparation for the following events:

• AFPPD, UNFPA-Indonesia and the Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development's Technical Workshop to "Review Advocacy Techniques in Working with Parliamentarians" on March 27-29 in Bali, Indonesia.
• AFPPD's "Parliamentarian Session on Political Participation for the Management and Good Governance of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Related Issues" at the 2nd International Conference on Reproductive Health Management on 6-8 May in Bali, Indonesia.
• Asian Population and Development Association and AFPPD's Parliamentary Seminar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in April (to be confirmed)
• AFPPD, the Parliament of Tajikistan and the Government of Japan's Central Asian Women Parliamentarians' Conference on "Status of Women and Role of Parliamentarians in Central Asia" on September 2-4 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.