INFORMATION SERVICE

August 2008

AFPPD Conferences in September

The AFPPD is organizing two gender-related events in September. The Central Asian Women Parliamentarians Conference on the Status of Women in Central Asia was just held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 3-4 September, 2008.  On 23-24 September, the 6th Asian Women Parliamentarians’ and Ministers’ Conference on Financing Health Millennium Development Goals (with a focus on health and gender) will be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. These meetings are organized in cooperation with UNFPA, the Government of Japan and local parliament.

1st Central Asian Women Parliamentarians Meeting

The 1 st Central Asian Women Parliamentarians meeting, consisted of women parliamentarians from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, was opened by the Hon. Mr. Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev, speaker of the Tajikistan parliament and addressed by Mr. Khaled Philby, UNFPA Representative for Central Asia, and Hon. Mr. Beksultan S. Tutkushev,  Senator from Kazakhstan and Deputy Secretary-General of AFPPD for Central Asia. A video message from Ms. Thea Fierens, Regional Director of UNFPA for Central Asia, was also screened. The meeting discussed issues such as the role and input of women parliamentarians into development, legislative basis and social politics in the interests of women and gender equality, and education of women and girls. Contributions were made by UNFPA consultant Ms. Katy Shroff, UNICEF consultant Ms. Sherrill Gregory. Quite open discussion led to a joint statement at the end of the conference. Women NGOs of Tajikistan also participated.

AFPPD Standing Committee on Women Gives New Directions

The Asian Forum Standing Committee on Women, chaired by Hon. Ms. Steve Chadwick, MP and Minister of Women’s Affairs of New Zealand, took place 20-21 August at the Parliament of New Zealand. 12 women parliamentarians from Asia-Pacific countries attended and reviewed the work of AFPPD’s gender-related programs. While expressing satisfaction, they also expected more women parliamentarians involved and advocacy for higher women representation in elected offices.

The meeting coincided with UNIFEM’s MDG 3 Torch relay around the world. Minister Chadwick received a MDG 3 Torch from Denmark at the parliament house in the presence of AFPPD Standing Committee members from Asia-Pacific.

Steering Committee of the 5th APCSRHR

The 5 th Asia-Pacific Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (APCSRHR) will be held in Beijing, China, on 18-20 October, 2009. In 2007, the 4 th APCSRHR, attended by 1,300 NGO representatives and others, took place in Hyderabad, India. A steering committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Baige Zhao, Vice Minister of National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC), met in Taicang, China on 28-29 August and made several important decisions to kick start the process of organizing the 2009 conference. Dr. Gill Greer, Director-General of International Planned Parenthood Federation, is co-chair and AFPPD is a member of the steering committee.

Nominations for Parliamentarians Who Champion ICPD

The Asian Forum will initiate a program to identify and recognize parliamentarians from Asia-Pacific who have dedicated themselves to the promotion and implementation of ICPD at the national level. If you know any parliamentarians in your country who deserve this recognition, please send their name and country to afppd@afppd.org as soon as possible but not later than 20 October 2009.

Women’s Participation and Political Commitment is Crucial in Combating HIV/AIDS – Ms. Thoraya Obaid

UNFPA Executive Director Ms. Thoraya Obaid had a very busy schedule at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. She spoke at the Meeting of Ministers of Health and Education in the Latin America and Caribbean region, the Meeting of the Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America, the inauguration of Women’s Networking Zone Global Village, and a satellite session titled “The Intersection Between Violence Against Women.”

The most important were her addresses to first ladies and ministers of health and education. She talked about political commitment for prevention, treatment and care of people affected by HIV/AIDS as well as the role of young people and the important role women play.  “One of the most important commitments political leaders have made to youth is the commitment to provide accurate and comprehensive HIV prevention information and education,” said Ms. Obaid, while addressing the meeting of Ministers of Health and Education of the LAC region. “Women’s participation is one of the most important interventions that can bring greater gender sensitivity in the response to HIV and AIDS,” Ms. Obaid also told a group of first ladies and women leaders.

New Director at the Asia Pacific Regional Office of UNFPA

Ms. Nobuko Horibe is the new director of UNFPA’s Asia-Pacific Regional office. Before this appointment, Ms. Horibe had served as UNFPA Representative in Lao DPR and Deputy Director of UNFPA’s Division of Oversight Services.

Iran’s Parliamentarian Group Elects New Chairman

Hon. Mohsen Koohkan, MP, has been elected as the new chairman of the Iranian Parliamentarians on Population and Development Committee (IRPPDC), succeeding its former chairman, Dr. Ahman Khas-Ahmadi.

Thai Privy Councilor: Population Policy Demands Attention 

Burgeoning world population, climate change and food and energy shortages could result in a major crisis in the next 20 years and would test Thailand’s preparedness to confront such a crisis, warns Privy Councilor Kasem Wattanachai at the Thailand Vision 2027 seminar on 16 August, 2008. He recommended the government to revise the population policy because the proportion of Thailand's poor is anticipated to surge over that period. He also suggested that the government take action to ensure more transparency, democracy and justice.

UN: Empowering Women Key to Achieving MDGs

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) organized a forum titled “Where’s the Power in Women’s Empowerment?” on 4 August 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. It examined issues related to women’s empowerment and the achievement of the gender-related MDGs, as well as power relations and violence against women. Speakers stated that while advances in policies and legislation were needed to enable women to take up their roles in society, real change and progress depend on the removal of obstacles to empowerment, including entrenched structures, values and power relations which shape local policies, communities and cultural beliefs and women’s daily lives. Development goals in Asia and the Pacific will be endangered if unequal power relations are not challenged and transformed, ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer told the forum. AFPPD Executive Director Shiv Khare attended this forum.

Parliamentarians Attended AIDS Conference in Mexico

The XVII International AIDS Conference, held on 3-8 August in Mexico City, was attended by AIDS activists, government officials, funding agencies and NGOs, including parliamentarians of AFPPD’s national committees from India, Philippine, Vietnam and other countries. Organizers of the conference called it a success, but insisted that the work of AIDS 2008 must live far beyond the duration of the conference to fulfill its true potential. The International AIDS Society hopes to improve accountability at all levels by documenting all conference proceedings, including commitments made, and making such information accessible to all. An impact report and rapporteur reports have been prepared and can be found on www.aids2008.org.

Documentary on India’s Preference for Sons Broadcasted by BBC

Partially funded by UNFPA, a new documentary titled “No Country for Young Girls” aired on BBC in August 2008, spotlighting the issue of 700,000 missing girls in India as a result of the country’s preference to have male children. Recent UNFPA studies warn that prenatal son selection in several Asian countries, including India and China, could result in severe social consequences – such as a surge in sexual violence and trafficking of women – in the coming years.

US Analysis: Funding Family Planning Clinics Saves Government Money

Publicly funded clinics that provide women with reproductive health care save government money, a recent analysis concludes. In the analysis done by the Guttmacher Institute in New York, researchers state that the government saves $4 for every $1 it spends providing family planning. Please visit http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/2008/07/31/index.html to download the analysis.