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January 2008

Parliamentarians at the Asian Consultation on Prevention of HIV Related to Drug Use

Goa, January 28-31: The first Asian Consultation on Prevention of HIV Related to Drug Use, which was organized by the Asian Consortium on Drug Use, HIV/AIDS and Poverty, brought together more than 400 HIV/AIDS service providers and Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) from 20 Asian countries. A parliamentarian forum and workshop were organized by AFPPD at the consultation, and a statement of commitment called for policymakers to develop policies and programs aimed at decriminalizing injection drug use; developing HIV education, prevention and treatment programs for IDUs; and encouraging the public to make behavior changes aimed at reducing the spread of the virus among IDUs. More than 20 parliamentarians, ministers and others attended AFPPD's forum and workshop.

South Asian Parliamentarians Focus on Maternal Mortality

Haryana, January 10-11: As a follow-up to AFPPD's brainstorming meeting on "Parliamentarian Advocacy for MDGs" in Bangkok, Thailand, a conference on "South Asian Parliamentarians Meet on Achievements of MDGs - Focus on Maternal Mortality (MDG 5)" was organized by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD), in cooperation with UNFPA and UNMC. The event was attended by parliamentarians from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and representatives from UNFPA-CST, UNMC, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India. Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana; Prof. P.J. Kurien, MP and Chair of the Standing Committee of IAPPD; Mr. Minar Pimple, Deputy Director of UNMC, Asia-Pacific; Mr. Wazim Zaman, Director of UNFPA-CST, Kathmandu; and Ms. Girja Vyas, Chair of the National Commission for Women of India addressed the sessions. Various determinants and consequences of maternal health were discussed in the conference.

Indonesian Forum Branch Formed in West Java

West Java, December 27-January 3: To continuously enhance the commitment of the Indonesian parliamentarians to population and development issues, the Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IFPPD) established local forums in Tasikmalaya and Bandung of West Java. The inauguration was addressed by Mr. Ruzhanul Ulum, Chair of IFPPD-Tasikmalaya; Mr. Hakim Sorimuda Pohan, Vice-Chair of IFPPD; and Mr. HMQ Isawara, Chair of IFPPD-West Java.

New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group at the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum

Auckland, January 20-24: Around 138 delegates from 27 member countries attended the 16th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF). The event, presided by Ms. Margaret Wilson, Speaker of the House of Representatives in New Zealand, focused on diverse range of topics - including politics, security, economy, environment, law, human rights and education. The New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) briefed the participants - including parliamentarians, government officials and NGO representatives - on how population and development lie at the core of addressing many of the focus areas of APPF, and the role parliamentarians play in these issues.

MDGs and Human Rights in Asia-Pacific Lagging Despite Economic Progress

Bangkok, January 16: A panel presentation on key priority concerns for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and human rights staged by UN Information Center (UNIC)-Bangkok, focusing on how these issues resonates throughout Asia-Pacific region; and why, despite economic progress, Asia is lagging behind in meeting the MDGs. The open forum, "MDGs and Human Rights in Asia-Pacific - the Way Forward", was attended by UN officials, experts, and representatives of NGOs and civil society. The panelists included Ms. Shalini Dewan, Director of UNIC-India; Mr. Homayoun Alizadeh, Regional Representative for Southeast Asia of OHCHR; Ms. Thelma Kay, Director of the Emerging Social Issues Division of UNESCAP; Mr. Minar Pimple, Deputy Director of UNMC, Asia-Pacific; Ms. Sarah Ireland, Regional Director of Oxfam, Great Britain; and Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD. The panel was chaired by Mr. Kiyo Akasaka, UN Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information.

European Parliamentarians' Study Tour to NigerNiamey, February 5-11:

The European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) organized a week-long study tour for six parliamentarians to Niger which will focus on the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), commodities and supplies and population growth. The study tour, hosted by UNFPA-Niger and the Nigerian Parliamentary Network on Population and Development, offered a deep insight into how the impact of population and SRHR policies impact the country's development. It will include visits to various local NGOs and projects dealing with SRHR issues, and meetings with state officials and local parliamentarians.

IFAD President Assured Vietnamese Parliamentarians of Continued Support

Hanoi, January 14-18: During his official visit to Vietnam, Mr. Lennart Bage, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), pledged IFAD's continued support to hunger alleviation and agriculture development in Vietnam at a parliamentarian meeting organized by the Vietnam Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development. He signed an agreement worth 40 million USD of aid for the country and an agreement to set up IFAD's representative office in Vietnam. IFAD and AFPPD have worked together to involve parliamentarians in food security issues.

Egypt Lawmakers Aim to Help Rape Victims

Cairo, January 1: Egyptian lawmakers want to give rape victims the right to have an abortion. An estimated 20,000 rapes occur in the country annually and abortion is illegal in all forms. Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning, declared that any woman pregnant by rape must abort the baby immediately in order to maintain 'social stability'.