INFORMATION SERVICE

January 2007

Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians Promise to Get Involved in HIV Prevention

Bangkok, January 24-25: In spite of the availability of funds, HIV and AIDS continue to spread. Several observers pointed some factors, including the lack of accountability and transparency in the program; where parliamentarians can play effective roles. With this view, the AFPPD had organized an "Asian Parliamentarians' workshop on HIV and AIDS with Focus on Accountability and Transparency" which was attended 35 parliamentarians, NGOs and UN officials coming from Asia-Pacific region.

Parliamentarians from selected Asia-Pacific countries discussed with experts from UNAIDS, UNFPA and FHI the causes and possible ways to prevent more infection, and the status of accountability and transparency. At the end of the workshop, each parliamentarian made personal commitments before going back to their respective countries.

"Report to Australian Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (APGPD) on the issues raised at this conference; in particular, raise concerns about the epidemic at PNG and how Australia is dealing with accountability and transparency in regards to its donor programs", said by Mr. Ian Hunter, MP (Australia). Papua New Guinea's Minister for Health, Sir Peter Barter, emphasized that he will introduce standard reports that will be acceptable to the donors and government and increase VCT centers and tests. Ms. Riffat Javaid, MP (Pakistan), added, "I would register my concern regarding HIV/AIDS, first of all to the Federal/Provincial Minister of Health. Secondly, I would like to discuss this issue with the Chairperson for Standing Committee for Health. I will talk to all my friends and colleagues in the opposition to put up questions in the parliament".

IPCI Makes Waves at National Level

The "International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI)", which took place in Bangkok on November 2006, is being followed at national level..

• Ms. Kirsten Brosbol, the Chair of the newly established Danish Parliamentary Network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, sent a daily update on the IPCI proceedings from Bangkok.
• Hilde Vautmans, MP (Belgium), covered IPCI on her website, organized a press conference and reminded Belgian Minister for Development of his promise to deliver on a policy note on sexual and reproductive health and rights in development.
• Janina Andersson, MP (Finland), kept a daily web-blog on her experiences at IPCI and the Bangkok study tour.
• George Tsereteli, MP (Georgia), reported on IPCI in plenary session of the Georgian Parliament and at a South Caucus Youth Festival on HIV/AIDS prevention organized in the framework of the EC-UNFPA Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in the South Caucasus (RHIYC).
• Zeynep Uslu, MP (Turkey), spoke of IPCI on her website.
• Malahat Hasanova, MP (Azerbaijan), has organized a meeting with fellow MPs to brief them on IPCI and to create an all-party parliamentary group.
• Alvaro Alonso, MP (Uruguay), has sent the Bangkok Statement of Commitment to the entire Congress.
• Telma Sandra De Souza, MP (Brazil), issued a press release on IPCI.
• Maria Cristina Perceval, Senator (Argentina) and President of the Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (IAPG), will present the results of IPCI at a briefing on 18 December, which will take place in the Senate and will be attended by NGOs, CSOs and provincial authorities.
• Australian parliamentarians issued a press release on IPCI to coincide with the World AIDS Day.
• The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) reported on the outcome of IPCI in its November issue of AFPPD E-News.
• The European Parliament Working Group on Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and Development (EPWG) sent out an email report of the outcome of IPCI to all of its members.
• The European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) has sent out a special report on IPCI through the Worldpoplist.
• The New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development covered IPCI in its e-newsletter (12 December 2006).
• Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit, Secretary General of AFPPD, informed the Committee on Public Health members of the Thai National Legislative Assembly about the commitments made at the conference.
• Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IFPPD) organized a briefing session on IPCI with its parliament members.
• The Executive Committee of AFPPD, held under the chairmanship of Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, MP (Japan), decided to incorporate the IPCI commitment in 2007 program as a follow-up.

Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Russia  

Moscow, January 25: The 15th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum took place in Moscow. Parliamentarians from 28 states of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from the US, Japan, China and Australia, have convened in the Russian capital. APR is an economic and political region, grouping around 50 states, and united by trade relations.

NZPPD Report Recommends Action to Fight Poverty in PNG

A New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development report on the MPs' April study tour to Papua New Guinea makes recommendations to MPs and the international donor community of action needed to fight poverty in PNG. Duncan Kerr attended the tour as a representative of the PGPD. Key recommendations include: establishing mentoring partnerships between parliamentarians in New Zealand and Australia with parliamentarians in PNG, to foster accountability and build political leadership; providing sustainable and predictable funding in core programme areas; establishing health clinics at schools; and establishing a "champions" community leaders scheme in all sectors to raise awareness and break down taboos around issues such as sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, and violence against women.

Women Deliver's Conference in London

Women Deliver will gather over 3,000 health professionals, social scientists, advocates for women's rights and major political and public figures in a conference at London on October 18-20, 2007. The conference theme, "Invest in Women-It Pays", addresses the urgent need for greater investment in women's health, and safe pregnancy and childbirth.

A key target audience will be ministers of finance, planning and health from selected developing countries; making the case to them that investing in maternal and newborn health will help them achieve their nations' goals for poverty reduction and economic growth.

Upcoming AFPPD Events