INFORMATION SERVICE

January 2005

AFPPD New Years Greetings

AFPPD Greets the New Year with mixed feelings of sorrow for the death of the thousands of innocent lives in several countries of Asia, because of a tsunami created from one of the biggest earthquakes in modern history that happened not far from Northern Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. It has brought the global community together with the outpouring of generosity to all those affected by the earthquake. With commitment to overcome the grief and with renewed energy to rebuild lives our region is hopeful for the future. In view of this tragedy, with so many deaths and the coverage of the state of living in many of these countries, we believe as population advocates we should be moved to create greater change. It is a reflection of the population issues and environmental issues that persist in many parts of our regions.

The Japanese Parliamentarians Federation on Population (JPFP) celebrated 30 years of it's existence as a pioneer parliamentarians organization. On 7 th December 2004, Dr. Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director UNFPA, Mr. Steve Sinding, Director General of IPPF, Mr. Sultan Aziz, Director of Asia-Pacific Division UNFPA, Ms. Safiya Cagar, Director, Information Executive Board in Resource Mobilization Division all came to congratulate the Japanese Parliamentarians for their support and contribution to population and reproductive health programmes. They were joined by Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, Senator of Thailand and Secretary General of AFPPD, Senator Beksultan Tutkushev, Vice-Chairperson of AFPPD and Population NGO, Academics and Members of Parliament from Japan.

One Hundred Fifty Medical Parliamentarians want RH as MDG

The Senate of Malaysia hosted the 6th International Medical Parliamentarians Conference with an Asian Focus on “MDG's – Poverty and Health: Connecting Parliamentarians With Ground Realities” on 13-14 December 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The participants discussed issues such as poverty, MDG's and its impact on health including reproductive health. Roles of medical parliamentarians in promoting these issues were also discussed. Efforts were made to expose medical parliamentarians with some case studies so that they are informed of real situations from different parts of Asia. The conference resulted with a unanimous statement that population and reproductive health should be part of the MDGs as stated in Strasbourg Parliamentarians Declaration. The medical parliamentarians also received the address from the Prime Minister H.E. Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which was presented by the Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Hon. Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Bin Tan Sri Abdul Aziz, MP.

Sponsored by UNFPA Country Offices, AFPPD organized two study visits of parliamentarians from Indonesia and Bangladesh so that they could experience first hand knowledge about HIV/AIDS programme in Thailand. They were briefed by UNFPA/CST, APLF/UNAIDS, PPAT and other Thai organizations. They also met with Thai parliamentarians. The Bangladesh group also visited, the Philippines and Indonesia.

AFPPD is happy to announce that the Asia-Pacific Workshop of Academic Parliamentarians will be held from 8-9 March 2005 in Krabi, Thailand. National parliamentary Committees are invited to nominate two parliamentarians who have been teachers and professors to attend this important conference. The workshop will seek their views about legal and policy changes in population education and communication.

Parliamentarians discuss Disease Prevention Cooperation at Asia-Pacific Forum

Ha Long city, Vietnam Parliamentarians met at the 13th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) from the 10th to the 13th of January to discuss the importance of increasing cooperation on dealing with such diseases as bird flu and HIV/AIDS and inter-cultural exchanges.

The Vietnamese delegation stated that with increased trade and movement of people across borders, the spread of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and bird flue has become a global problem. Thus, cooperation among countries to respond to epidemic outbreaks without causeing negative impacts on trade and investment, the momentum of regional economic development is urgent. They also emphasized cultural exchange.